This book could be exhibit A for a study on how to take a potentially fascinating subject and make it as tedious as possible. The writing is repetitive and I found myself skimming paragraphs. The author frequently interrupted an account of a case with a page or two on Heinrich's whining letters to his best friend. He was an arrogant, impatient man who thought he was more brilliant than anyone else. I learned a lot more than I wanted to about how he lectured his sons about spending money.