My Book Pick: A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness
- Director, Kayukawa Clinic, Yuhei Kayukawa, M.D.
- Aug 8
- 1 min read
Aichi Insurance Physicians’ Newspaper
September 15, 2016
Nassir Ghaemi
Penguin Publishing Group
2016
Joan of Arc and Jesus Christ are said to have heard the voice of God. Meanwhile, it was a pessimistic business leader who avoided the danger of the bursting of the bubble by refraining from land speculation even during a period of prosperity.
An Iranian psychiatrist has proposed a hypothesis based on psychopathographical studies of major events in world history: highly intelligent but conventional people — ordinary individuals, or homo normalis — tend to perform well in stable times but may prove ineffective in times of crisis.
The author focuses on leaders in fields such as politics, the military, and business, presenting the bold argument that, in times of crisis, people with mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia may sometimes demonstrate superior leadership abilities. As examples, he discusses figures such as Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the American Civil War and CNN founder Ted Turner. At the same time, he also examines leaders considered psychologically “normal.”
Neville Chamberlain, regarded by those around him as a sensible and reasonable person, failed with his policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany, whereas Winston Churchill, who was considered unstable because of bipolar disorder, succeeded in leading Britain through its darkest hour. The psychiatric field of psychopathography has explored the complex relationship between creativity and madness.
The saying that “genius is only a step away from madness” has long been familiar. What makes this book particularly refreshing is the author’s boldness in not limiting his psychiatric analysis to historical figures who have passed away, but also discussing contemporary political leaders.
