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

Author:
Martha Stout
Read by:
Shelly Frasier
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
124
Narrator
32
Release Date
June 1, 2005
Duration
7 hours 30 minutes
Summary
Who is the devil you know?



Is it your lying, cheating ex-husband?



Your sadistic high school gym teacher?



Your boss who loves to humiliate people in meetings?



The colleague who stole your idea and passed it off as her own?



In the pages of The Sociopath Next Door, you will realize that your ex was not just misunderstood. He's a sociopath. And your boss, teacher, and colleague? They may be sociopaths too.



We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in The Sociopath Next Door, Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt.



How do we recognize the remorseless? One of their chief characteristics is a kind of glow or charisma that makes sociopaths more charming or interesting than the other people around them. They're more spontaneous, more intense, more complex, or even sexier than everyone else, making them tricky to identify and leaving us easily seduced. Fundamentally, sociopaths are different because they cannot love. Sociopaths learn early on to show sham emotion, but underneath they are indifferent to others' suffering. They live to dominate and thrill to win.



The fact is, we all almost certainly know at least one or more sociopaths already. Part of the urgency in reading The Sociopath Next Door is the moment when we suddenly recognize that someone we know—someone we worked for, or were involved with, or voted for—is a sociopath. But what do we do with that knowledge? To arm us against the sociopath, Dr. Stout teaches us to question authority, suspect flattery, and beware the pity play. Above all, she writes, when a sociopath is beckoning, do not join the game.



It is the ruthless versus the rest of us, and The Sociopath Next Door will show you how to recognize and defeat the devil you know.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Krista D Nov 2017

As a clinician I enjoyed this book. It shows good examples of how Antisocial Personality Disorder is a spectrum, not all are Ted Bundy. Newer research and DSM diagnosic criteria now exists but the majority of the information is applicable and relevant.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2020

Very informative, with intriguing examples. Well done..

Profile Avatar Kenton Hughes Mar 2013

WOW!!! A great piece of work that educates, verbally illustrates, and just plain fascinates. This book explains away all the people who have brought so much misery to this man's life. I wish I had this knowledge when I was younger, and I am eternally grateful for having it now.

Profile Avatar Jacqueline E. Nov 2019

Everyone should read this to understand who they are walking amongst. Very well done.

Profile Avatar michael Grienke Aug 2012

You have to read this book! It is good awareness for everyone to have.

Profile Avatar Melissa V. Sep 2023

I learned quite a bit by listening to this book, but I really felt like the author doesn’t know who her intended audience is. Is it a layman’s guide to sociopaths or is it an academic guide? There were full chapters I found myself forwarding through because they were so academic in nature. I think the entire book could be 40 to 50% shorter and would have kept my attention far better. Very interesting subject, highly qualified author, but a little too academic for my liking as a casual read.

Profile Avatar Matt R. Apr 2021

the narration is too dull and slow (increasing speed to 1.25 makes for an unnatural 'speed' reading). recommend the book instead.

Profile Avatar Patricia G. Jul 2020

This is by far one of the most important books for you to read!! I cannot stress this enough! What a shame it’s not on a mandatory High School reading list. I could have spared myself so much heart-ache and head-aches if I would have read this 15 years ago! You need to read this

Profile Avatar Anonymous May 2020

I’ve read better.

Profile Avatar Dietmar B. Apr 2024

This is an exceptional book. The chapter in the end, if it is a benefit to be a Sociopath was tranformative in my understanding.

Profile Avatar Dktrjoel Mar 2024

WOW. KEPT ME GLUED TO THE NARRATOR. I KNEW OF THIS BOOK AT THE TIME OF ITS RELEASE, BUT NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT YOUR FORMAT MADE IT BOTH POSSIBLE AND MOST ENTERTAINING. IT REALLY IS A CLASSIC AND STANDS UP WELL AFTER ABOUT 20 YEARS.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2024

Very enlightening. Everyone should be taught the facts in this book before they ever date, marry or form a business partnership with someone.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2024

A very positive read and well worth the time.

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

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

Author: Martha Stout
Read by: Shelly Frasier
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