The Insanity Hoax: Exposing the myth of the mad genius is an eye-opening, entertaining, and reassuring look at the (false) link between talent and mental illness. Written by long-time All About Jazz contributor and psychologist Dr. Judith Schlesinger, The Insanity Hoax has become a textbook at Temple University as well as the Royal College of Music in London, and is now available at amazon.com in Kindle as well as “real” book format.
At theinsanityhoax.com, you can use PayPal for paperback gift copies—they will be mailed directly to your genius by the author with the handwritten, personal inscription of your choice.
About the book
This groundbreaking book sheds new light on an old and destructive stereotype: the idea that the highly talented must suffer a lifetime of psychological torment in payment for their exceptional gifts. Despite exaggerated professional claims, widespread popular assumptions, and the dramatic parade of “mad geniuses" in the media, no one has ever proved that creative people are more prone to psychopathology than any other group. The Insanity Hoax tracks this fantasy's history from its birth in ancient Greece to today, showing how Plato's benevolent “divine madness" slowly darkened into a symptom of bipolar disorder — and why the myth is too deeply embedded in society to ever disappear. Psychologist, educator, and jazz writer Dr. Judith Schlesinger uses her three decades of research and creative and clinical experience to make a convincing case, while providing a witty and entertaining read.
At theinsanityhoax.com, you can use PayPal for paperback gift copies—they will be mailed directly to your genius by the author with the handwritten, personal inscription of your choice.
About the book
This groundbreaking book sheds new light on an old and destructive stereotype: the idea that the highly talented must suffer a lifetime of psychological torment in payment for their exceptional gifts. Despite exaggerated professional claims, widespread popular assumptions, and the dramatic parade of “mad geniuses" in the media, no one has ever proved that creative people are more prone to psychopathology than any other group. The Insanity Hoax tracks this fantasy's history from its birth in ancient Greece to today, showing how Plato's benevolent “divine madness" slowly darkened into a symptom of bipolar disorder — and why the myth is too deeply embedded in society to ever disappear. Psychologist, educator, and jazz writer Dr. Judith Schlesinger uses her three decades of research and creative and clinical experience to make a convincing case, while providing a witty and entertaining read.
