Rethinking Narcissism

The Bad - and Surprising Good - About Feeling Special

By: Dr. Craig Malkin

Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Harvard Medical School psychologist and Huffington Post blogger Craig Malkin addresses the "narcissism epidemic" by illuminating the spectrum of narcissism, identifying ways to control the trait, and explaining how too little of it may be a bad thing.

"What is narcissism?" is one of the fastest rising searches on Google, and articles on the topic routinely go viral. Yet, the word narcissist seems to mean something different every time it's uttered. People hurl the word as an insult at anyone who offends them. It's become so ubiquitous, in fact, that it's lost any clear meaning. The only certainty these days is that it's bad to be a narcissist - really bad - inspiring the same kind of roiling queasiness we feel when we hear the word sexist or racist. That's especially troubling news for millennials, the people born after 1980, who've been branded the "most narcissistic generation ever".

In Rethinking Narcissism listeners will learn that there's far more to narcissism than its reductive invective would imply. The truth is that narcissists (all of us) fall on a spectrum somewhere between utter selflessness on the one side and arrogance and grandiosity on the other. A healthy middle exhibits a strong sense of self. On the far end lies sociopathy. Malkin deconstructs the healthy from the unhealthy narcissism and offers clear, step-by-step guidance on how to promote healthy narcissism in our partners, our children, and ourselves.

©2015 Craig Malkin (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

more true perspective of understanding narcissism

very much appreciated this understanding View of narcissism in general, but also in light of narcissistic personality disorder. Would have loved to see some expounding on cluster personality traits as some of those were a parent in some of the examples given, but that probably would have had to reprioritize other aspects out of the book. overall, very very good. I'm glad to have read it!

A Highly Informative Book on Narcissism

This book was a bit of a surprise, as I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. I have read quite a few books on the narcissism spectrum, and found that this one was one of the clearest explainers on healthy and unhealthy narcissism. It's a short and easy read. I highly recommend it.

Extremely enlightening!! At last I see hope!

I couldn't stop listening!! Very powerful learning about the people in my life!! Thank Doctor Malkin! I can see hope for the future!!

A timely and practical book

I'm a clinical psychologist who works with many "Echos and Narcissists" in my psychotherapy practice. This book's spectrum approach to understanding narcissism is positive and well explained. Dr Malkin's writing is clear and approachable without being technically dense or overly simplistic. The narration of this audio book couldn't have been more perfect. And I didn't catch a single mispronunciation in the entire narration, always a pleasure. I will definitely be recommending this book to many of my clients.

Great dive into rediscovering narcissism

Absolutely loved it. Learned so much about myself and those around me. Wonderful narration also!!

Excellent exploration of healthy and unhealthy pre

Excellent exploration of healthy and unhealthy presentations of narcissism. The narrator is engaging as well.

Top of its category many categories actually

I cannot remember the last time I finished a book reading visually or listening where I had to say to myself throughout the process especially towards the last few chapters I had to stop and say oh my gosh wait who is this guy again even though I know exactly who he is I have been engaging online with YouTube ever since my 1st real paradigm/existential breakdown after some very a some very borderline psychopathic or pathological personalities in my life... I am no longer saying covert narcissism because I was listening to the fact that this is not a medical or a legitimate term to be using. I am using my Bluetooth to say this also I apologize for the lack of punctuation and if you could just meet me in the middle and forgive me for I just genuinely don't wanna forget or put off for a minute my experience with this book it is a Self Help book I guess technically by every sentence is literally poignant and terse and intelligent and also thoughtful and well just simply useful I wish I could speak to so many individuals about this book right now and run to them but I'm going to tame the Echo and just process on my own. I'm crying a little bit now thank you for this book.

Well researched, well written, and well read

Dr. Malkin's discussion of narcissism is humanizing, accessible, and practical. It is too easy to portray narcissists as caricatures, feeding the very dynamic that reinforces the problem. Malkin helps us see the human in narcissism, and the versions of narcissism (or problematic lack of) that all of us contend with, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. A comprehensive and generous work.

Objective Explanation of Narcissism

I like how Narcissism was explained on a spectrum, including "healthy narcissism". I appreciated the positive research and the explanation of addiction. I especially enjoyed the chapter on parenting.

The book Gave me a new perspective

The book starts with the premise that we are all narcissists at some level from healthy to unhealthy, which altered my view on life and other people in a healthy new way.
I also like the voice of the speaker. The speaker is as important as the words that are spoken. If I can’t tolerate listening to the voice, then it becomes difficult to receive the information by the author.