Mental illness wasn't the end of his story Thomas Ricke was an award-winning journalist. He contributed articles to some of the biggest newspapers and magazines in the country and worked as the chief speechwriter for the governor of New York. Later, he became Senior Vice President of Kraft foods. And he suffered with manic depression. In Lucky to Be Alive, Ricke recounts his story of profound loss as a result of bipolar disorder. Corporate jets, country clubs and White House visits were replaced by locked psychiatric wards and electric shock treatments (over 200!). But it's also a story of a remarkable recovery, inner strength, and determination. His "one in a million" recovery is a lifeline of hope for anyone suffering from severe manic depression and its powerful suicidal commands.