Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Althoughbornintoawealthyandprominentfamily,frombirthJamessufferedlife-threateninghealthissues:aneyeproblemthatlefthimtemporarilyblindedasachild;aterriblestomachconditionthatcausedexcessivevomitingandforcedhimtoadoptanobscureandhighlysensitivediet;troublewithhishearing;backspasmssobadthatfordaysatatimeheoftencouldn’tsitorstandupright.

           Duetohishealthproblems,Jamesspentmostofhistimeathome.Hedidn’thavemanyfriends,andhewasn’tparticularlygoodatschool.Instead,hepassedthedayspainting.Thatwastheonlythinghelikedandtheonlythinghefeltparticularlygoodat.

           Unfortunately,nobodyelsethoughthewasgoodatit.Whenhegrewtoadulthood,nobodyboughthiswork.Andastheyearsdraggedon,hisfather(awealthybusinessman)beganridiculinghimforhislazinessandhislackoftalent.

           Meanwhile,hisyoungerbrother,HenryJames,wentontobecomeaworld-renownednovelist;hissister,AliceJames,madeagoodlivingasawriteraswell.Williamwasthefamilyoddball,theblacksheep.

           Inadesperateattempttosalvagetheyoungman’sfuture,James’sfatherusedhisbusinessconnectionstogethimadmittedintoHarvardMedicalSchool.Itwashislastchance,hisfathertoldhim.Ifhescrewedthisup,therewasnohopeforhim.

           ButJamesneverfeltathomeoratpeaceatHarvard.Medicineneverappealedtohim.Hespentthewholetimefeelinglikeafakeandafraud.