Great Lawyers: "A First-Rate Madness" by Nassir Ghaemi explains them

"And how much suicidal ideation do you have?"

Will that be a question high-powered law firms will be using in vetting newbies and laterals?  And not to knock them out of the box but to determine if they are mentally broken enough to make a great lawyer.

NEWSWEEK has an article by Tony Dokoupil examining the correlation between outstanding performance, especially during crisis, and what society would define as mental illness.  The platform for this discussion is the book by Tufts director of the Mood Disorders Program Nassir Ghaemi.  In that book "A First-Rate Madness," Ghaemi shows how an abnormal brain is needed to solve abnormal problems.  Dokoupil observes:

"Perhaps the nicotine-free, no-drama Obama won't do after all."

We have already known of course that in the abnormally demanding business and profession of law, there is more than the average  number of mood disorders and suicides.  Historically, those lawyers who had been game-changers, such as Abraham Lincoln and Clarence Darrow, had their emotional challenges.  Atticus Finch might have lost his case because he was too ordinary. 

On "Boston Legal," one-time master of the legal battle Denny Crane was almost delusional and emerging legal star [although he would probably never make partner] Alan Shore was likely a borderline personality.  Alicia Florrick on "The Good Wife" became a promising lawyer after she was jolted by her husband's affair from her normal upper middle class housewife role.  At his peak, real-life attorney and thought leader Alan Dershowitz had never been the white-shoe player. 

The rub with being emotionally aberrant is its management. Systems have to be navigated.  That requires a high level of emotional intelligence.  Here is my free e-book on that Download CUsersjasneDocumentsjg.

Comments

[Moncler Frakke]

I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.

[Georgia Moritz]

I think mental health, so-called is a greater danger than illness, in that it's so widespread. We are degrading the environment, including the social network, to a point that we may not be able to eat or even breathe, in tne future, but "what, me worry?" Al Gore and others try to spread the word, but what impact is it having?
Maybe it helps, but you don't have to be bipolar to come to your senses. Jesus was a great leader to say the least, and what he did was fast for forty days and forty nights; native Americans fast on vision quests for four. Mohammed instituted Ramadan for the specific purpose of inducing empathy among his followers. The Catholics have Lent.
In precivilized times, I think nobody had to deliberately fast and pray. Nature sent droughts and winters--some months used to be called "starving moons". And in those days there was no job security and nobody was insulated from uncertainty or the need for sudden decisions.