Lincoln’s Great Depression

That’s the cover line on the October issue of The Atlantic. The cover story, written by Joshua Wolf Shenk, is described this way: “Abraham Lincoln fought clinical depression all his life, and if he were alive today, his condition would be treated as a ‘character issue’—that is, as a political liability. His condition was indeed a character issue: it gave him the tools to save the nation”

I’m not a historian, and I wouldn’t dream of arguing about whether Lincoln saved the nation. I’m not that keen on politics either, so I have no idea how much of a liability a diagnosis of clinical depression would be – now or then. But I am curious about depression and creativity.

Here are the salient points the author —and I—wish to discuss: “…Lincoln’s melancholy is part of a whole life story; exploring it can help us see that life more clearly, and discern its lessons. In a sense, what needs ‘treatment’ is our own narrow ideas—of depression as an exclusively medical ailment that must be, and will be, squashed; of therapy as a thing dispensed only by professionals and measured only by a reduction of pain; and finally, of mental trials as a flaw in character and a disqualification for leadership.”

Shenk organizes the Lincoln story piece into three sections—three stages of melancholy (a wonderful word): fear, engagement, and transcendence. He says melancholy is defined as “fear and sadness without [apparent] cause,” and he likens it to a “dark heart … often marked by periods of withdrawal and sometimes utter collapse.” In the next stage, engagement, one turns from the question of whether one could live to how one will live. Finally, in the last stage, “the dark soil of melancholy … yields fruit.”

Uh. OK. Maybe. It’s been said that some of our greatest artists were depressed. We all know about Van Gogh. What about you? Are you more creative when you’re down? Is there a breaking point? If you’re too depressed and can’t get out of bed, you obviously aren’t going to be creative. Do you need to get past that stage – to transcendence? And how many people are capable of doing that? Where does that inner strength come from?

What are your feelings on antidepressants? I’ve spoken to many men who feel antidepressants just numb you and don’t let you experience a full range of emotions. That can’t be good. [Full disclosure: I take an antidepressant, but I never feel numb and definitely experience every emotion there is to feel. Sometimes all at once. Kidding. Really.] Surely not everyone who is depressed is also a creative genius, right? Or does depression give you certain insights (the author of the Lincoln story believes this) that fuel creativity? Non-depressed people may not even realize all the insights they’re missing out on.

: )

Thoughts?

iTunes Oddness This Morning

My inspiration this morning is coming from an unlikely source: Someone else's iTunes music list.

I feel a little guilty for listening to 103204's music (for that is how I know him), but it's so goofy, I can't help myself.

When I turned on iTunes at work this morning, a music sharing icon was listed among the sources. This is the first time I've had one of those, so I clicked on it. (Yeah, curiousity killed the cat and i'm certainly running short on lives, but what the heck.) Turns out I have my preferences set to look for shared music on the network (but not to share music, though I might do that later). 103204 must have his preferences set to share music, so I've got his favorite songs.

I'm assuming 103204 is male because most of the music 95% is Indian/Bangladesh/Asian (the other 5% is a strange mix of American pop, including Wham!, John Denver, Bruce Springsteen and boy bands). And there are a group of developers in the building -- all male -- from India or Bangladesh. I forgot where. So, one of them must be on my pub's network. And I'm sharing his music.

It reminds me so much of the jukeboxes in diners (few have them any more). You put in your quarters, think you're going to hear the songs you keyed in and instead hear what some other table is playing. But it's a cool community thing too.

A Magazine I Love: The Atlantic

I keep threatening to write about my favorite and not-so-favorite magazines. But I’ve decided instead to tackle one or two at a time … as they inspire me.

First up: The Atlantic. I read The Atlantic from cover to cover each issue. I’m somewhat embarrassed to say that I don’t always understand all that I read, nor do I retain it all. But I “grok” enough of it. Sometimes I start at the back of an issue and read the book reviews first. Sometimes I read the short snippets of news and statistics first. Sometimes I just dive in and read it front to back. I believe The Atlantic has both conservatives and liberal writers; I’m honestly not 100% sure. Everything I read always makes some sense to me. Whenever I’m done with an issue – and I’m usually a month or so behind – I want to share it with someone. I’ve brought issues into work—giving them to people or leaving them in obvious places. I want to go up to people and say, you’ve got to read this.

The past few issues have been wonderful. Like many Americans, I didn’t quite like all of the recent cover story and follow-up pieces by a French journalist traveling in the footsteps of Alexis de Tocqueville. I didn’t always like his attitude and his not-so-favorable impressions of the United States. But I’m not jingoistic, so I wasn’t exceptionally upset by the articles.

I’ve learned tons of stuff about the Supreme Court in recent issues – including how little trial experience our justices have, how often ignore they their own precedents and how most environmental decisions are based on interstate commerce laws! One nit to pick: I don’t like the pretend question and answer format used by the law columnist. I guess it does help make it all easier to understand, but I also feel like I’m reading the writings of someone suffering from multiple personality disorder. (He seems especially pleased when he has asked himself a good question.)

The cover story on how Arafat may have prevented the Palestinians from having a state and/or self-rule was eye-opening. What a mess one person can make.

Now I’m practically caught up and reading the October issue before the end of October (I’m quite proud of myself). The cover story is on Lincoln and whether he might have been suffering from chronic depression. And this is what has most inspired me to write.

That will be the subject of my next post.