The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us

We tend to think sociopath/psychopath as violent bloody killers and never give a second of though that they are present in abundance near around us. They can be our office colleague , relatives or family members. Without this awareness , so many of the good hearted people (my self included) continue to be manipulated / tricked for a long time and realise that untill it is too late. Although Title of book refer to sociopaths (conscienceless person) , this book is study of conscience . What conscience is , how does it manifest in out behaviour and broadly how does is affect out life . There are excellent stories of sociopathic people and how do they show themselves up in different roles in society . Author does not just limit herself to different case stories of sociopathic mindset , but dwells deeper in to big issues . Other big questions such a origin of sociopathy , biology v/s cultural influence , evolutionary role etc are also discussed. Writing is so clear and prose so elegant that it is difficult to put it , once you have started it. After reading this book , you will start to look at the whole society from a new perspective . If you don't recognise a sociopathic mindset around you after reading this book , I am sorry to say , you have learned nothing from it. I would also recommend Psychopath Free (Expanded Edition): Recovering from Emotionally Abusive Relationships With Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Other Toxic People along with this book for a reading.

This book gives whole lot of new perspective towards the 4% of population who never have any concious and explains why they behave which normal folks like us could never comprehend. Coming from the wisdom an experienced practitioner it shares a bright light into a previously unknown area. A must read as it affects everyone of us one way or other.

A good guidance on how to be careful of sociopaths,explainative and vivid stories about sociopathy,helped me in realizing the red flags

Awesome Book

Interesting read.

A must read. The author brilliantly blends psychology and spirituality in this book. Makes you think how multidimensional our lives are. Conscience is something we are blessed with which makes our lives lively and colorful.

I sought a well-articulated book that would provide a deeper understanding of the sociopath’s psyche—what sets their minds apart, how they might be wired differently, and the neurochemicals that influence their behavior. My desire was for a comprehensive, factual exploration of what constitutes sociopathy. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. Instead of offering insightful analysis, it presented itself more as a storytelling endeavor, lacking the necessary depth and explanation of the underlying mechanisms at play. It felt as though the author prioritized filling pages over delivering a sharp, informative narrative. I would advise potential readers to save their money and seek a more enlightening resource. Additionally, be cautious about relying solely on reviews; many reflect personal biases rather than a true representation of the book's content.

I hardly give a one review to anyone. But this book terms anyone who takes a stand for him/her self as a sociopath. It terms those who think about their welfare which inturn hurts others as sociopath. Categorising certain sections of people will just put readers on high alert and make them lose faith in humanity. Read it as a thriller not as a reference book

Il libro è arrivato in ottime condizioni. Il servizio di consegna rapido ed efficiente. Il libro è molto interessante anche se tutto in inglese si riesce a leggere senza grossi problemi.

Muy claro. Excelente libro.

Most people are unaware that an estimated 4% of the population are sociopaths (or psychopaths, as they are called in academics) who have no conscience at all, which means they are simply unable to show compassion. And they will never change or learn or be convinced to "become better human beings". The problem is that they are everywhere, come in all forms and shapes, and are very hard to "uncover". They could be your colleague, your friend, your boss, even your wife or husband. This book gives real life examples and explains different behaviour patterns of these people so that you can protect yourself from their influence. The author argues convincingly that these people will make your life miserable in every aspect and manipulate you to believe it's all your fault, using various clever manipulative strategies, ruthlessy exploiting your deepest fears and needs without you even realizing it. Once you identify a sociopath/psychopath in your surrounding, the only way to get rid of his/her poisonous grip on your life is to end the contact with that person completely, once and for all, and to withstand all likely attempts to manipulate you back in his/her hands. This book helps you to do just that, and very well may save your life.

An excellent book. All psychiatrists,therapists a must read. Anyone who's stumbled on this word or ASPD,anyone who's friend or partner behaves oddly from time to time. This book will give you real insight. As somebody who has unfortunately been in a intimate setting(can't call it a relationship) with one it's eye wateringly accurate. This should give you the answers either way. If you're unlucky believe this book and yourself and walk away. Good luck.

The study of Antisocial Personalty Disorder is relatively new, and nothing seems written in stone. "Experts" tend to have different opinions. Some think that psychopathy and cluster B personality disorders should be considered as a spectrum disorder, as is autism, for example. Others will state that sociopaths do have a conscience but were brought up in harsh/criminal environments and acquired a callous disregard for anyone outside their own group of family members and cohorts. They will purport that narcissists also have a conscience but suffer from an inflated ego and feel superior to all others, and that psychopaths are the dangerous ones with no conscience at all... Hence, all these terms are often used interchangeably...Then the numbers are also argued...Do these disorders represent 4% of the population, or 14%? ( if indeed similar disorders were lumped together with grey areas of assessment charts being included)... I have never found a book to explain and demystify the above. "Experts" seem to have different theories on the subject... Ms. Stout is a Psychological Trauma Therapist. Her book is brilliantly written, very interesting, and insightful, and she does have a deep empathy and understanding of what victims go through. She also touches on the history of the disorder, and a number of studies. She points out the pervasive social impacts that predators have on society in general and provides clear examples. I certainly do recommend this book.