This is a must read twice. Maybe three times. It's strength is in the research. Jamison did her homework and the result is a large book of academic weight made readible by her gift of language and respect for audience. I warn against skipping around. Without having her entire thesis in context one can err in the assumption that Jamison proposes that people are made great by insanity. At all costs manic depression must not be romanticized. Does Jamison dance a little too close to that assumption? I have to read it again. ( )