Divine Madness : Ten Stories of Creative Struggle

by Kottler, Jeffrey A.

• ISBN13: 9780787994136
• ISBN10: 0787994138
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-15
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

"Madness can afford the individual certain resources and abilities that are not available to others. The fantasy life, free flight of ideas, distortions of reality, and heightened senses . . . offer a unique perspective on the world." -From the IntroductionWhy do some extraordinary individuals overcome mental anguish and produce brilliant creative artistry that is often enhanced by their madness? New York Times best-selling author and noted psychologist Jeffrey Kottler explores this fascinating question in Divine Madness. His book is filled with the compelling stories of emotional turmoil that many great artists have undergone as they struggle for success and survival.Jeffrey Kottler writes about the dramatic and tragic lives of cultural icons Sylvia Plath, Judy Garland, Mark Rothko, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Charles Mingus, Vaslav Nijinsky, Marilyn Monroe, Lenny Bruce, and Brian Wilson. In this riveting book, Kottler highlights the personal story of each of these extraordinary individuals and analyzes how they struggled to overcome their emotional hardships.Divine Madness clearly differentiates between those who surrendered to their illness, often taking their own lives, and those who managed to endure and even recover. Kottler details how their profound psychological issues affected their lives and work, their great productivity and success, and how they strove to achieve some kind of personal stability.The fascinating and brilliantly told stories in Divine Madness help us to find meaning in the incredible lives of these artists. They also serve as an inspiration for those who are grappling to rise above their own challenges and limitations and express themselves more productively and creatively.

Author Biography

Jeffrey Kottler PhD is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton, and author of 60 books, including the The New York Times bestseller The Last Victim, and several books for Jossey-Bass, including On Being a Therapist, Beyond Blame, and The Mummy At The Dining Room Table.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
The Nature of Madness and Creativity: Myths and Realities	1	(8)
Perfected in Death	9	(24)
Sylvia Plath
Under the Rainbow	33	(22)
Judy Garland
Painted in Blood	55	(22)
Mark Rothko
Living Up to His Legend	77	(26)
Ernest Hemingway
A Great Lake of Melancholy	103	(26)
Virginia Woolf
Musical Hallucinations	129	(24)
Charles Mingus
A Method to His Madness	153	(26)
Vaslav Nijinsky
Killed by Kindness	179	(36)
Marilyn Monroe
Sick and Dirty Comic	215	(28)
Lenny Bruce
Afraid of the Water	243	(28)
Brian Wilson
Interpretations of Meaning in the Lives of Creative Geniuses	271	(14)
Notes	285	(18)
References and Further Reading	303	(8)
About the Author	311