A First-Rate Madness

Nassir Ghaemi draws on the careers and personal plights of such notable leaders as Lincoln, Churchill, Gandhi, JFK, and others from the past two centuries to build a controversial and compelling argument: the qualities that mark those with mood disorders—realism, empathy, resilience, creativity—also make for the best leaders in times of crisis. By combining analysis of historical evidence with the latest psychiatric research, Ghaemi demonstrates how these qualities have produced brilliant leadership under the toughest circumstances. Ghaemis authoritative analysis offers powerful tools for determining who should lead us. But perhaps most profoundly, he encourages us to rethink our view of mental illness as a purely negative phenomenon. The most common types of insanity can offer vital societal benefits—however high the price for those who endure these illnesses.