The basis of the book is that creativity is a process, an internal process that may go astray, can result in schizophrenia, or creativity can arise from schizophrenia.... or what seems to be schizophrenic thinking. That's a double bind, but to quote Mr. Arieti on the dedication page, he thanks a friend who 'conceived broad systems of things' and a grammar school teacher: "The two nourishments of the mind that these teachers represent find their place...one in the intellect the other close to the heart and at times mingle, fuse and bring forth innovation."