Question: What is an eccentric? Answer: Anyone who, short of being clinically mad, has found a way of adapting to life outside the social mainstream. David Weeks has interviewed hundreds of eccentrics, and describes their habits and characters in this book. Not only are these people bizarre (always) and creative (often), they are also healthier than normal people, even if they choose unconventional diets and/or housing. This finding came out of Weeks's worldwide research, a study of the medical facts about eccentricity. This book is a mixture of anecdotes about eccentrics past and present, and up-to-date medical findings, together with insights into mental and physical health.