The Danger to be Sane
Creativity and the Eccentric Mind
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-78770-620-0 (ISBN)
Description
A brilliant, quirky reflection on the relationship between creativity and madness
In this bold and deeply researched blend of memoir, essay, literary analysis, psychological reflection, and intellectual sleuth story, Montero draws on psychology, neuroscience, literature, and the testimonies and biographies of authors and artists to weave a fascinating narrative on the connection between creativity and mental instability.
With narrative elan, Montero paints a fascinating fresco of the ways in which the brain works, breaking down all the aspects that influence creativity and miraculously reassembling them before the reader's eyes over three hundred gripping pages. Like a masterfully plotted detective story, each clue leads readers one step closer to new definitions of the creative act, and of what is and is not "normal". The Danger to be Sane is a moving and inspirational homage to minds and lives that are outside of the mean.
In this bold and deeply researched blend of memoir, essay, literary analysis, psychological reflection, and intellectual sleuth story, Montero draws on psychology, neuroscience, literature, and the testimonies and biographies of authors and artists to weave a fascinating narrative on the connection between creativity and mental instability.
With narrative elan, Montero paints a fascinating fresco of the ways in which the brain works, breaking down all the aspects that influence creativity and miraculously reassembling them before the reader's eyes over three hundred gripping pages. Like a masterfully plotted detective story, each clue leads readers one step closer to new definitions of the creative act, and of what is and is not "normal". The Danger to be Sane is a moving and inspirational homage to minds and lives that are outside of the mean.
Reviews / Votes
"A must-read essay by one of Spain's most well-known writers." * The Riveter * "A book that absorbs and grips the reader." * Juan Jose Millas, El Pais * "An incandescent, wise, brilliant book." * Hector Abad-Faciolince, El Espectador *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Europa Editions (UK) Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78770-620-0 (9781787706200)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2026
Europa Compass
€15.59
Available for download
Persons
Rosa Montero is an acclaimed novelist and award-winning journalist. A native of Madrid and the daughter of a professional bullfighter, Montero published her first novel at age twenty-eight and has gone on to publish twenty-six books. She has won Spain's top book award, the Que Leer Prize, twice, as well as the National Prize for Literature. Her works have been translated into over twenty languages.
Lindsey Ford is a translator from Spanish to English, based in Hong Kong and London. She has a BA in English and Spanish from the University of Oxford, and a Diploma in Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She was runner up in the inaugural Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize.
Lindsey Ford is a translator from Spanish to English, based in Hong Kong and London. She has a BA in English and Spanish from the University of Oxford, and a Diploma in Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She was runner up in the inaugural Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize.