In the author’s note to Smartest Kids in the World, and How They Got that Way, Amanda Ripley writes: “I didn’t care deeply about charter schools, vouchers, tenure, or other policy hang-ups….

The same thing happened to the two smartest kids in my class, a guy and a girl. They both got accepted into Ivy League schools and then had to dropout after they developed serious mental health ...

Mathematics and statistical analysis are a big part of that. But, in the end, it’s still a game played by people. And, in the long run, talent will usually trump strategy.

OK, I'd love to hear what you think. Anyone out there ever been labeled the smartest kid in the class? (I'm thinking there are a lot of you reading right now.) How have you handled it?

Earlier, we told you about the 10 smartest kids in the world. They are ranked by a site called Brilliant.org, which asks users progressively harder math and science problems.