This book examines the lives and achievements of over 1,000 extraordinary men and women to address age-old questions about the relationship between mental illness and greatness. Filled with colorful anecdotes about many of the most eminent persons of our times, the book delves into many of mankind's greatest achievements, the special attributes of those who accomplished them, the unique circumstances of their lives, and the characteristics of their families. Written with a sophistication that will appeal to a professional audience and an accessible style that invites the general reader, this engaging volume reveals the factors that predict exceptional creative achievement.