The Arabian Prophet: A Life of Mohammed from Chinese and Arabic Sources (1921)

This book is a description of the authoras last bout with mania. It is a story going back to 2005 when he was stricken with a huge attack of anxiety, suspiciousness, sleeplessness, and preoccupations that left him helpless and constantly worried. The issue, in part, was that he had a PhD in psychology and was something of an expert in gerontology. He kept a diary in the hope that he could use it for constructive purposes. The diary involves his growing up in the Bronx, his schooling, his relations with his parents and friends, and his female ties. There was a series of frightening happenings that give rise to excitement and an interesting story. There is much attention paid to serious mental illness, but a story told by a person caught in the trap of the illness is a unique occurrence. Also there is a startling feature at the end of the book, of a schizophrenic medical doctor and some of his reflective views.