Sent Before Their Time: Genius, Charisma, and Being Born Prematurely

What do Sir Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and Buddha have in common?

They were all born prematurely. Tiny, weak, and brain-damaged, they very nearly didn't survive. But, just about pulling through, they went on to change the world. And so did Rousseau, Goethe, and Moses, despite being born tiny and many months early.

In Sent Before Their Time, Edward Dutton, who was born 3 months early himself, explores the massive and disproportionately high impact that people born prematurely or with low birth weight have had on world history.

Key Highlights:

• Mental Characteristics of Preemies: Dutton reveals that the mental traits caused by being born prematurely—being a 'preemie'—are precisely those associated with the heights of genius and spell-binding charisma.
• Personal Insight: The analysis includes an eye-opening account of Dutton's own preemie childhood, providing a unique and personal perspective.
• Evolutionary Theory: Dutton presents an evolutionary argument for preterm birth, suggesting that under the harsh Darwinian conditions before the Industrial Revolution, groups with an optimum number of surviving preterm children—and, therefore, geniuses and inspiring individuals—had a better chance of winning wars and succeeding in the battle of Darwinian selection.

This fascinating exploration sheds light on how those born "sent before their time" have shaped history and influenced the world in remarkable ways.