I love watching a savant in action…it never gets old.
Daniel Tammett can recite Pi to 22,000 digits:
I’m gonna start a list of the best documentaries on savants. I’ve only watched a few so far but this one on Daniel will surely rank in the top 10.
Thanks to Ky Dickens of “The Telepathy Tapes” for mentioning Daniel in her awesome audio documentary about non-verbal autistic folks who have savant-like skills.
Trailer for “Daniel Tammet: The Boy with the Incredible Brain”
Watch “Daniel Tammet: The Boy with the Incredible Brain”
You can watch “The Boy with the Incredible Brain” for free by clicking the video embed below:
If the above link doesn’t work, there’s another free link on YouTube here.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 95/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: May 23, 2005
My Review of “The Boy with the Incredible Brain”
“The Boy with the Incredible Brain” profiles math and language savant Daniel Tammet.
It’s directed by Steve Gooder who has nailed docs before such as the Malaysian Lake Monster episode of “River Monsters” (S9. E5), 2 episodes of “Nature” and “Extraordinary People”.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Daniel recited 22,514 digits of Pi by memory in a live session that lasted over five hours—and he didn’t mess up once.
- He learned Icelandic, one of the hardest languages in the world, in just seven days. Then, he went on live TV in Iceland and spoke it.
- Daniel says numbers appear to him as shapes, colors, and textures. For example, he sees the number 9 as “intimidating,” while 6 feels like a “black hole” or a void.
- He was challenged to divide 13 by 97 and calculated it to over 100 decimal places—faster than a computer could.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Daniel had a life-changing seizure when he was 4 years old, which doctors say rewired his brain. After that, he began to “see” numbers in ways no one else can.
- His ability to learn languages is mind-blowing. He explained that he doesn’t just memorize words—he sees patterns and shapes that help him understand the grammar and flow.
- The film shows an incredible meeting between Daniel and Kim Peek. While Peek has a photographic memory and knows entire encyclopedias by heart, Daniel uses his visual connection with numbers to solve problems.
- As a child, Daniel found comfort in numbers because they didn’t confuse him like people did. He would spend hours counting leaves or solving math problems alone.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Daniel was tested by scientists using Play-Doh to model the shapes he sees for numbers. They tested him over two days, and he created almost the exact same shapes each time.
- When scientists showed him a fake version of Pi, he got upset. He said it felt like parts of the “beautiful” number were missing or broken. His emotional reaction backed up the fact that he sees numbers in a unique and personal way.
- Another savant in the film, Orlando Serrell, developed a strange talent after being hit in the head with a baseball. He can name the exact day of the week and weather for any date in history since his accident.
- The doc also features Dane Bertino, a savant artist who draws with incredible precision. Even though his art is amazing, he struggles with social skills and language.
- In Tokyo, schools teach kids to use imaginary abacuses to solve math problems. After years of practice, these kids become “human calculators.”
Wrap Up
Daniel Tammet’s story doesn’t just perform amazing mental feats—he explains what’s happening in his head, which helps scientists better understand the brain.
The film also shows how Daniel’s talents helped him overcome the challenges of autism.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc