A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness in Science and Inquiry

Oct 19, 2014 David Rubenstein rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, psychology, history

Nassir Ghaemi describes a strong correlation between mental or mood disorders, and leadership. Many of the world's best leaders in times of crisis had mental disorders--not very severe, but sufficiently ill so that they handled challenges with more realistic outlooks than so-called "normal" people. However, they do not do well during normal times. They do not make good managers.

On the other hand, "normal" people--which he calls "homoclites", can be good leaders during normal times. But they oft Nassir Ghaemi describes a strong correlation between mental or mood disorders, and leadership. Many of the world's best leaders in times of crisis had mental disorders--not very severe, but sufficiently ill so that they handled challenges with more realistic outlooks than so-called "normal" people. However, they do not do well during normal times. They do not make good managers.

On the other hand, "normal" people--which he calls "homoclites", can be good leaders during normal times. But they often do poorly when faced with extraordinary challenges.

Ghaemi's evidence for his hypothesis is largely anecdotal. He describes the lives of some of the world's great leaders during times of crisis; Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, General Sherman, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin Roosevelt, and Gandhi. He showed how adversity due to mental illness often prepared them for challenges later in life. Churchill was an active politician during the early twentieth century, but became a political "has-been" during the 1930's. However, he foresaw the Nazi threat before any of the so-called "normal" politicians like Chamberlain. Ghaemi attributes Churchill's insight to the challenges he faced with manic depression.

Ghaemi contasts General Techumseh Sherman, who took big risks during the American Civil War, with the more staid General George McClellan. Sherman suffered from hallucinations, was suicidal and depressed. John F. Kennedy suffered from a number of physical and mental problems. Franklin Roosevelt was challenged by the adversity of polio. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi had depression, and contemplated suicide. Nevertheless, all of these leaders took risks, were courageous, and were great leaders. Ghaemi contends, however, that during normal times, these leaders were ineffective. On the other hand, leaders like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and Neville Chamberlain were ineffective leaders during times of crisis, as they were mentally "normal", and were simply not prepared for times of adversity.

The book also discusses Hitler and other Nazi leaders during the World War II. Ghaemi discusses how Hitler had mental problems that were exacerbated by bad medical treatments. Ghaemi argues that Hitler's example also is evidence in favor of his hypothesis--but I am not convinced, and he turns around and shows how many (but not all) of the Nazi leaders were "normal" from a psychiatric point of view.

This is definitely a thought-provoking book. While I found it difficult to believe that Ghaemi's hypothesis is generally applicable to all leaders, he shows enough evidence to prove that the effect is not mere correlation--there is probably some causation in effect, too. Anybody interested in psychology and history would find a lot of compelling insights in this book. ...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Charlene rated it it was ok

The history was captivating. I could even see myself making some of these diagnoses over sips of tea and conversation with a friend. But, the speculation and storytelling was really extreme.

If you can put aside the main point, the mental health diagnoses, this is a very entertaining and satisfying read.

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Sep 24, 2011 Windelbo rated it really liked it

This book was fantastic. It made me think about what it means to be a leader and what it means to be mentally ill. While the author's evidence for the mental illness of many of his historical subjects is not always entirely convincing, that doesn't end up being the point. Instead, the point is to recognize that people who have the ability to be visionaries and leaders in crisis are often the ones who are not happy with the current state of things. Those who are 'normal' and happy have no reason ...more

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