My experience was similar to his in one respect, specifically the quote that suggests he first had a fairly normal life when he went to grad school at age 17. I

My experience was similar to his in one respect, specifically the quote that suggests he first had a fairly normal life when he went to grad school at age 17. I left home for the first time to go to college at age 16, specifically graduate school in mathematics at Harvard. In retrospect, it seems to have been a fairly normal experience in leaving home and going to college. It helped me that I was friends with Ran Donagi (started in my department at age 17, had the office next to mine, and accepted my invitation to be my roommate), and that Ofer Gabber (started grad school at 16) was around in the next dorm room to the right, being even more awkward than I was. (At least I didn't have a language barrier ...)