A First-Rate Madness

Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness

By: Nassir Ghaemi

Narrated by: Adam Barr

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's "depressive realism" to the lackluster leadership of exceedingly sane men as Neville Chamberlain, A First-Rate Madness overturns many of our most cherished perceptions about greatness and the mind.

Critic reviews

“A glistening psychological history, faceted largely by the biographies of eight famous leaders . . . A First-Rate Madness is carefully plotted and sensibly argued.” —The Boston Globe

“Ghaemi isn’t the first to claim that madness is a close relative of genius, or even the first to extend the idea into politics. But he does go further than others . . . His explanations are elegant, too—intuitively accurate and banked off the latest psychiatric research.” —Newsweek

“A provocative thesis . . . Ghaemi’s book deserves high marks for original thinking.” —The Washington Post

“Ghaemi is a remarkably disciplined writer, and he examines both psychiatry and history with impressive clarity and sensitivity. A First-Rate Madness will almost certainly be one of the most fascinating books of the year, not just because of the author's lucid prose and undeniable intelligence, but because of his provocative thesis: 'For abnormal challenges, abnormal leaders are needed.'” —NPR.org

“Provocative, fascinating.” —Salon.com

Excellent read.

Engaging and informative with clarification on historical leaders and the events that shaped our world. Shows us we are all somewhere on the neurotic spectrum and leaders are not immune.

Ghaemi is brilliant.

I loved the deep dives into the historical figures and their temperaments. Temperaments are something which isn’t often taken seriously these days.

Thought-provoking

The similarities between great leaders and depression are uncanny. He delves into why some of the most outstanding leaders in history likely had depression, bipolar disorder, and its closely related relative hyperthermia and dysthymia.

Solid, evidence-based

Loved the insight as a doctor of public health. Author is a psychiatrist and professor at Tufts.

not scientific

This is frustratingly not "scientific" as author claims. Study sample is hand picked to prove his theory. Uses one study of all white men to define "normal" and misses obvious counter points. Horribly unpersuasive.