Shortly before her 13th-birthday, Ellen Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Flagrantly manic and terrified that medications would impair her creativity, she began a years-long struggle to find mental stability while retaining her passions and creativity. Forney finds inspiration from the lives and work of other artists and writers who suffered from mood disorders, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O'Keeffe, William Styron, and Sylvia Plath. She also researches the clinical aspects of bipolar disorder and what studies tell us about the conundrum of attempting to 'cure' an otherwise brilliant mind. Forney's memoir provides a visceral glimpse into the effects of a mood disorder on an artist's work.