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A First-Rate Madness
Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness
A First-Rate Madness (2011) argues that some of the world’s most effective leaders were able to achieve such heights because of their experiences with mental illness. Conversely, the book makes the argument that while mentally healthy leaders may succeed when the world is running smoothly, their mental health actually inhibits their leadership abilities in times of upheaval.
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Nassir Ghaemi is a psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center. He also lectures on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His research specialisms include depression and bipolar disorder. He has published over 200 scientific articles and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association.
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A First-Rate Madness
Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness
- Read in 10 minutes
- Audio & text available
- Contains 6 key ideas
Synopsis
A First-Rate Madness (2011) argues that some of the world’s most effective leaders were able to achieve such heights because of their experiences with mental illness. Conversely, the book makes the argument that while mentally healthy leaders may succeed when the world is running smoothly, their mental health actually inhibits their leadership abilities in times of upheaval.
Key idea 1 of 6
Some mental illnesses may improve leadership abilities.
Key ideas in this title
- Some mental illnesses may improve leadership abilities.
- Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi struggled with depression, which conceivably led them to advocate non-violent resistance.
- Churchill and JFK’s struggles with mental health benefited the world, but mania in a leader can also lead to disaster.
- Tony Blair and George W. Bush’s sound mental health did not help them lead.
- Recognizing the relative benefits of mental illness will aid in de-stigmatizing it.
- Final summary
