Bipolar Extremes: The Poems (2026) by Dr. Marie Kiely Tynan
A NASA scientist's poetic journey through bipolar disorder and personal triumph.
Dr. Marie Kiely Tynan has published a new book, Bipolar Extremes: The Poems, released by Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc., in 2026.
This volume provides a raw, lyrical perspective on the complexities of bipolar depression, the resilience to keep working, the redemption of spirit, and the power of the written word. The book contains her poems written during a bipolar low episode, along with an anthology of her favorite inspirational classical poetry from the 16th through the 20th centuries.
Her purpose is to help people living with bipolar illness understand that the depths of depression can be managed and overcome with support from family, mental health professionals, friends, work associates, and others who offer empathy and sympathy.
Dr. Tynan suffered from bipolar disorder from her youth until age 76, although she was not diagnosed until 2003, at age 53. She spent her entire career with NASA while experiencing the bipolar ups and downs of the illness, managing to work full-time through the many episodes.
Her ability to write about her many successes and leadership awards despite her illness is a tribute to the power of one's mind to resist destruction and overcome disability.
