Ask Dr. Notebook: Is It Possible To Be Too Smart?

Hoping to become a policeman in New London, Conn., Robert Jordan, a corrections officer, took the exam and scored well. In fact, too well. The town dropped the top 63 scorers, perhaps thinking they would be too intellectually restless to walk a beat. Now Jordan is suing the town, arguing that he’s been discriminated against because he’s intelligent. How common is it to be too smart for one’s own good? Apparently, very.

1 RENE DESCARTES Appointed tutor to Queen Christina of Sweden, who orders him to write a ballet in verse and a comedy in five acts and to rise at 5 a.m. to teach philosophy. He catches a chill and dies of pneumonia.

2 GALILEO GALILEI Empirically confirms that the earth moves around the sun. Is forced to recant and sentenced to house arrest.

3 DAVID PUTTNAM Producer of classy films like Chariots of Fire is named chairman of Columbia Pictures. Soon disparages the work of Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray and Bill Cosby. Departs before long.

4 LANI GUINIER, 5 ROBERT BORK Both write provocative articles that elevate their reputations. Both get nominated to high positions. Then, sadly, their enemies read the articles.

6 THEODORE KACZYNSKI Math professor believes civilization has gone haywire. Writes unsigned article about it. Brother reads it. Thinks, “Sounds like Ted!”

7 PLAYBOY MAGAZINE Editors have the bright idea to run a pictorial feature on “The Women of Mensa.” Issue sells poorly.

8 BRAINIAC An ambitious scientist is bent on world domination, but Superman–who is smart but not too smart–stops him.

–By Edgar Ortega Barrales

Got a question for Dr. Notebook? Send an e-mail to Letters@time.com or write Dr. Notebook at TIME, Room 2328, Time & Life Building, New York, N.Y. 10020.