The Sociopath Next Door

By: Martha Stout

Narrated by: Shelly Frasier

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

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 25, 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 25 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.

©2005 Martha Stout (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Stout is a good writer and her exploration of sociopaths can be arresting." (Publishers Weekly)
"A remarkable philosophical examination of the phenomenon of sociopathy and its everyday manifestations....Stout's portraits make a striking impact and readers with unpleasant neighbors or colleagues may find themselves paying close attention to her sociopathic-behavior checklist and suggested coping strategies. Deeply thought-provoking and unexpectedly lyrical." (Kirkus)

Fear Mongering is good for the soul

I found this book very interesting, and a lot of the points the author raises are reasonable ones. But, I cannot help but feel that this writer plays the fear card a little strong. I believe people that are incapable of the "Seventh Sense" as the author calls it, are merely different, not something to be feared. It is clear to me that this author has an agenda, and that this book is colored by opinion rather than fact. That does not mean that I did not find what she had to say interesting.

The narrator was a bit monotone, but still a good voice to get the point across of the novel.

great read...great insight

I found every chapter so enlightening. It helped clarify things in my own experience. Great insight into the mind of a sociopath.

Great insight into the mind of someone close once.

I listened to a few books on the subject and this one hit home in many ways describing someone close at one point. The authors economy of words are well chosen and profound. Highly recommend.

Kept me interested!

This was a really interesting book. It painted a full picture of sociopathy. Most of the psychological studies that were talked about (such as Milgram), I already knew about, but it was interesting to review in this context. If I did have one complaint, it's that the book is not very well organized. The topics of the chapters didn't seem to go in any order that made a ton of sense.

Still, I'm glad I read it. Very entertaining and educational!

INFORMATIVE & REVEALING

When you are deeply impacted by certain personality types and find yourself confused and ill equipped to communicate or cope, books like these teach you that you when it's okay to walk away and when you really need to run. I learned so much from this audio book that I ordered the paperback as well and I've read it again.

Getting to Know People

The Sociopath Next Door is a great reading expressive narrative. I enjoyed the book immensely .

good but...

Good read but could do without the not so subtle political agenda. Otherwise, an informative book.

Interesting Introduction to the Subject

I found the examples / stories about her patients to be interesting but had to struggle to get through more clinical sections of the book. I enjoy learning new things and this is definitely an area in which I had no preknowledge, so I'm more educated by having competed it.

fascinating, though polemic....

This book is well written and compelling. Its combination of anecdotal experience and summaries of research gives meaningful insight into what a sociopath may be. On the other hand the central 'factoid', that 4% of society are sociopathic, is misleading and relatively unsupported. The APA estimates that around 1% of people score above 30 on the Hare test. Obviously a lot more people score in the above average for sociopathic tendencies, and it is not a hard and fast number. Nonetheless, even at one percent that is staggeringly high. This books is a wonderful primer to become more paranoid, and also to be aware of a real and unpleasant factor in the people around you. definitely worth the credit.

Outstanding.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Sociopath Next Door to be better than the print version?

I have the audio AND print versions. I am a visual learner, so I enjoy the printed word tremendously. I prefer that method of learning; the audio book is valuable to me because I can continue learning and using it as I drive or wait.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Descriptions and explanations of sociopathy. I am in a Master's Bridge program for nurses, with the end vision of becoming a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Understanding people with sociopathy is important to my career. I have also death with sociopaths on a personal level. So when a trusted psychologist suggests I read this book not only for clinical insight but for personal gain, I take it seriously.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

As many as 1/4 of people are suspected of sociopathy. The sociopath can fool anyone, but the list of what to watch for, how to protect yourself against being "taken in" was invaluable.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book on both personal and professional levels. It is easily understood by both lay people and clinicians.