Many books discuss mental illness or recount sufferers' experiences with these diseases. In An Exquisite Dichotomy, David Mace attempts to go deep into the science and realities beyond the emotions and events of living with bipolar disorder over the course of nearly 20 years and nearly a dozen hospitalizations. The book documents the pre- and post-diagnosis life of, as he describes himself, "a tremendously blessed and fortunate individual." The book includes detailed accounts of bipolar disease and treatment history through the eyes of a sufferer and avid student of brain function and therapeutic interventions, including the most comprehensive mental health timeline on record. Each assertion and fact are backed by exhaustive research and annotation, owing to the author's belief that there is little room for conjecture when it comes to education and scientific discovery required to eradicate one of the world's costliest and deadly diseases. Unflinching in its delivery, the book sheds light on the pain and wreckage created by someone who is under the influence of manic symptoms, even when taking medication as prescribed and working with mental health professionals. Knowledge is sometimes impotent in the face of bipolar disorder. Dichotomy is a living text, a handbook, an autobiography and a contribution to mental health literature that offers readers an entertaining tale and much, much more.