Of God And Madness is the story of Adam, an emotionally troubled young man whose spiritual journey enables him to become a godly adult. Adam is a child of a Jewish woman (a palace concubine) and the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Raised in palatial surroundings by a French Catholic governess, Adam is exposed to the teachings of all three of the religions of Abraham, as he is tutored by an Armenian Christian music teacher, a Muslim imam, and a Jewish rabbi. In this intriguing saga, which spans the first fifty years of the last century, Adam comes of age during the tumultuous end of the Ottoman Empire while attempting to maintain his own precarious sanity. Ensnared by the havoc created by World War I in Istanbul and World War II in Paris, as well as the turmoil in Jerusalem during the final years of British rule, Adam struggles to make sense of God. This is the story of a man who began searching for God and ended up finding himself. "A passionate tour-de-force of faith and psyche and a captivatingly transformative journey." —Deepak Chopra "What a provocative and evocative work! Dr. Karasu continues to astound the reader with his imagination and originality! Each page is a marvel. His book, Of God and Madness, is a magnificent culmination of the spiritual trilogy he began with his earlier books, The Art of Serenity and The Spirit of Happiness. Of God and Madness speaks with brilliant eloquence to the universal nature of yearnings for the soulful and spiritual, and challenges the reader most profoundly. This deeply moving book is a passionate tour-de-force of faith and psyche and a captivatingly transformative journey. "—Deepak Chopra, author of How to Know God "Of God and Madness is more than just an exquisite read. It is a breathtaking experience of our quest for the meaning of meaning. Often hilarious, a book for our times, Dr. Karasu's unfolding of a life journey can enable us to reach a higher level of self-understanding and achieve serenity and fullness in our own lives. His passion and eloquence engages our hearts and souls with every word. I could not put it down. Neither will you."—Marcella Bakur Weiner, Ph.D., co-editor of Psychotherapy and Religion: Many Paths, One Journey "A masterpiece! Of God and Madness made me laugh, cry, and cherish every moment of my life. T. Byram Karasu is a master storyteller, a brilliant writer, and a tender guide into the mystery, depth, and power of love. Don't miss this book."—Gary Zukav, author of The Seat of the Soul and The Dancing Wu Li Masters "What a beautiful and fascinating book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Even readers who are not versed in Ottoman history and culture will be enthralled by Adam's extraordinary story."—Vamik Volkan, M.D., Coauthor of The Immortal Atatürk Cover photo: The Hagia Sophia (in Greek it means "The Holy Wisdom"), located in Istanbul, Turkey, which served originally as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and later as an Islamic mosque, is now a secular museum. Cover photo: The Hagia Sophia (which translates as "The Holy Wisdom"), located in Istanbul, Turkey, which served originally as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and later as an Islamic mosque, is now a secular museum. About the Author
T. Byram Karasu, M.D., is the Silverman Professor and University Chairman in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of Montefiore Medical Center. He is the author or editor of fifteen books, including the seminal Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders and two best sellers, The Art of Serenity and The Spirit of Happiness. He is currently the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Psychotherapy and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Karasu is a scholar, renowned clinician, teacher, and lecturer, and the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Psychiatric Association's Presidential Commendation. He lives in New York City and Westport, Connecticut. |
