The human brain is a wondrous thing, highly complex and highly functional. However, the control centre of our feelings, thoughts and actions can sometimes go out of sync. Some reasons for this are known, such as genetic factors, hormonal effects or trauma. In other cases, we are still in the dark. In an extreme case scenario, the brain may create bizarre delusions – masterful narrations that the people affected fi nd completely conclusive and reasonable. Monika Niehaus has compiled 36 such disorders ranging from love madness and the gourmand syndrome – where gourmet food becomes the purpose of life – to people who desire nothing more than to have their limbs amputated. She tells gripping tales of famous and not so famous cases. With sensitivity and a considerable dose of humour she takes us into the history of art and literature, and presents scientifi c explanations. This fascinating book shows that our brain is a genius – and madness is quite often NOT inexplicable.