The New York Times bestseller
“A glistening psychological history, faceted largely by the biographies of eight famous leaders . . .” —The Boston Globe
“A provocative thesis . . . Ghaemi’s book deserves high marks for original thinking.” —The Washington Post
“Provocative, fascinating.” —Salon.com
Historians have long puzzled over the apparent mental instability of great and terrible leaders alike: Napoleon, Lincoln, Churchill, Hitler, and others. In A First-Rate Madness, Nassir Ghaemi, director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center, offers a myth-shattering exploration of the powerful connections between mental illness and leadership and sets forth a controversial, compelling thesis: The very qualities that mark those with mood disorders also make for the best leaders in times of crisis. From the importance of Lincoln''
