A Brotherhood of Tyrants: Manic Depression and Absolute Power [Hardcover]

Jablow Hershman (Author), D. Jablow Hershman (Author), Julian Lieb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1994

D Jablow Hershman and Julian Lieb uncover manic depression as a hidden cause of dictatorship, war, and mass killing. In comparing these three tyrants, they describe a number of behavioural similarities supporting the contention that a specific psychiatric disorder - manic depression - can be one of the key factors in such political pathologies as tyranny and terrorism.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Having already weighed in on mental health and creativity in The Key to Genius: Manic Depression and the Creative Life (1988), Hershman and Lieb move on to the mental health of three famous dictators. Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin all manifested elements of mania and depression from their earliest years, the pair avers. They draw on a variety of literature--some of it well known, some dating from a century or longer ago, some coming from the medical literature--to support their arguments as, presenting their subjects' lives chronologically, they emphasize incidents that fit the manic-depressive pattern. Although some of these events are common knowledge, others are not, and it is the latter that add special weight to the book's thesis. Hershman and Lieb then turn from biographical incidents to concentrate on particular elements of character and personality that serve to underline some of their points. An epilogue, which seems out of place, deals briefly with contemporary mass killers of considerably lesser impact--David Koresh, Jeffrey Dahmer, Jim Jones, and Colin Ferguson. William Beatty

Product Details

• Hardcover: 219 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879758880
• ISBN-13: 978-0879758882
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating perspective on history, rarely explored, April 14, 2002

By 

D. L. Paulson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Brotherhood of Tyrants: Manic Depression and Absolute Power (Hardcover)

I don't know why I bought this book, and I didn't read it for several years after I bought it, but one day I picked it up, and I couldn't put it down! It is a most unusual and fascinating perspective on what drove three men to absolute power and madness - that all three of them shared similar mental illnesses. True? Perhaps. Interesting? I have read it at least twice since. A must read!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting pathology of notorious rulers, February 18, 2005

By 

J. N. W. Bos "Joan" (Utrecht, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Brotherhood of Tyrants: Manic Depression and Absolute Power (Hardcover)

The authors are quite convincing in their portrayal of Hitler and, especially, Napoleon as Manic Depressives. Their case of Stalin, however, is completely unconvincing; Stalin clearly was a psychopath.

Napoleon was a charismatic leader, but he completely abandoned his army both in Egypt and in Russia. With the bi-polar disorder, the authors have found a convincing explanation for the extremes of his behavior.

In the case of Hitler, I want to refer to the book "When Illness strikes the Leader" by Post and Robins. They describe how Hitler was taking coke and speed simultaneously. Cocaine produces a sense of well-being and confidence that can mount to feelings of elation and grandiosity. Hitler's doctor, Morell, administered his notorious patient a wide array of sedatives. Hitler confessed: "If I had not got my faithful Morell, I should be absolutely knocked out!" Hitler's addictions could also explain his successive symptoms of elation and depression.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an interesting view of history, March 4, 2003

By 

Avery Z. Conner (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Brotherhood of Tyrants: Manic Depression and Absolute Power (Hardcover)

This book provides a new perspective with which to examine some of history's most notorious leaders. I agree that Hitler and Napoleon seemed to exhibit symptoms of mania, though I'm not sure about Stalin. I'd say in general, many leaders throughout history may have been manic or hypomanic. George Custer and Alexander the Great, for example. An entertaining and somewhat controversial read. Avery Z. Conner author of "Fevers of the Mind"