“Perception plays a vital role in the diagnosis of bipolar illness. Symptoms are perceived through the categories of psychiatric medicine at a given moment in history, categories which are continually shifting and being named or renamed.”

American novelist and essayist, Siri Hustvedt is known for her introspective fiction blending art, psychology, and memory. Her work often explores the intersections of gender, perception, and the human mind, with novels like *The Blindfold* and *The Summer Without Men* earning critical acclaim.