The Sociopath Next Door

This was a great book! Very informative and helpful. I believe this book will help many people! Pages 94 & 95 and 156-162 were especially helpful for me.

My mom has stolen this book from me 3 times and loves to tell me her growing list of people she thinks are sociopaths...

Who is the devil you know? (or...Are all your friends/relatives/ neighbors/ business associates really who/what you think they are?) Forget divisions you can readily see...like race and gender and culture and weight and height and all that...and realize that the single most significant characteristic that divides the human species is one you can't see...even though it is the one that surely matters most! What is it? - THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF A CONSCIENCE! "The Sociopath Next Door" is an EYE-OPENER for anyone who thinks that meanness, or the potential for ill-will, can be easily spotted and quickly avoided. Wake-up people! But don't think you are the only one who is unaware of sociopaths. As the author points out in her introduction, "Very few people, no matter how educated they are in other ways, know the meaning of the word SOCIOPATH. Far less do they understand that, in all probability, the word could be properly applied to a handful or people they actually know." I recommend "The Sociopath Next Door," because it gives the reader the opportunity to understand, once and for all, that the nicest people in the world deserve a second look. Just like it is said about "a deal too good to be true," if someone seems to be too nice to be true, he or she may not have YOUR best interests at heart. The Sociopath Next Door contains the real life stories of sociopaths in action...the stories with incredibly interesting and authentic subtleties that cloud the ability to realize who and what you are dealing with. My recommendation? Read this book and get smart about sociopaths...because they are smart about you.

Stout's sensitive, haunting ability to interweave clinical observation, research, and moral philosophy together has resulted in a wildly popular book. Both her observations and admonitions all but sing with startling clarity and truth. For many, Dr. Stout's advice may seem to come too late. But even an explanation is better than the confusion that evil leaves in it's wake. No sophisticated book on psychology-or "self help book"-- could be more helpful to explain those without conscience: from the spouse, child, or lover we didn't have words to explain; or the politicians who do what appears otherwise inexplicable; or even the people of Ted Bundy's ilk. .The Sociopath Next Door does not appear as book designed to frighten; rather, it carefully crafted to help us meet the inevitable evil in life. .Stout's book is a greatly deserved winner of this year's "Books for a Better Life" competition. The hard back became an instant classic. This book will be with us -and it will be necessary reading--as long as there is explicable evil. The Sociopath Next door is as compelling, useful and elegant. No book will stay longer in the mind or could prove more timeless.

I've written many five-star reviews, but never have I been so motivated to try to convince everyone to read the book. Here's why: one in twenty-five Americans is a sociopath, a figure psychologist Martha Stout obtained from three journal articles and a U.S. government source. Assuming this premise of The Sociopath Next Door is correct, or even if the figure is say one in 50, odds are you know at least one sociopath. He or she could be an abusive partner, the person in the next cubicle at work, your landlord, or the person your teenager is dating. Even if you can't think of sociopath you know, you have high odds of encountering one. Given the havoc even one sociopath can wreak in one's life, this book provides a sort of insurance that you'll be able to identify him or her and deal with that person so they don't harm you emotionally, financially, or in any other way. This is a well-written and well-researched book that I think will benefit the 96% of you who are not sociopaths. To gain the benefits of "sociopath insurance" there are three portions of the book I believe are crucial for you to read: (1) the discussion of what is a sociopath along with her stories illustrating the different types of sociopaths, (BTW, those stories would make fine literary short stories with Stout's descriptive language and suspense building.) (2) Stout's "Thirteen Rules For Dealing With Sociopaths in Everyday Life", and (3) the discussion of how good people with consciences end up allowing sociopathic leaders to rise to power and do horrific acts. If you read just these sections and skip all the philosophical discussions about sociopaths, you will still gain a lot from this book. One of the first topics covered is what a sociopath is. Stout gives us both the official diagnostic version from the American Psychiatric Association's DSM IV (their diagnostic manual) as well as a sort of "street guide" of what to look for. Essentially, a sociopath will glibly lie, charm and use others, without a moment's remorse over hurting anyone. They're often, but not always, more charismatic, charming and sexy than the average person. Take murderer Scott Peterson for example (although Stout didn't mention him): Women found him quite attractive and charming, and were quick to believe his lies. Most sociopaths are not murderers, (soley because they don't want to get caught and go to prison) but will still wreak havoc lying, stealing, and manipulating people. After learning how to identify sociopaths, Stout's "Thirteen Rules for DealingWith Sociopaths in Everyday Life" (p.156 - 162) are a MUST-READ and worth the price of the book. All the rules are important. To paraphrase several: Rule 2 - If your gut tells you a person is untrustworthy, even if it's in contrast with their high standing in society such as a doctor or community leader, go with your gut feeling. Rule 3 is the "Rule of Threes." If a person breaks one promise, it may be a misunderstanding. I