The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America

by John D. Gartner

Hypomanics are driven to call attention to themselves. They crave attention, not only for the considerable pleasure it brings them, but because one must be noticed to advance.

“You ask me when I first longed for glory,” he wrote in his memoir. “I can recall no time when I did not love stories of glorious deeds, or have dreams of traveling the world in search of

Hamilton was in intolerable pain and felt he had to do something.* Action made him feel better—even if it took the form of self-destructive acting out.