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)

interresting

Makes me want to know more but I suppose the author has given their definition. Maybe Ill find another book on the subject. An encapsulating listen for the most part but the whole groundhog chapter went in in one ear and out the other like babble. I hope hope it wasn't important.

You need this

You need this book... especially if you don’t think you do. 4% is a lot of people and those 4% can wreak havoc on your life and everything that matters to you, and they will do it for “fun.”

Very informative, a must-read for those curious about abnormal psychology.

I highly recommend this book. It’s the type of book that puts things succinctly without being dry. At times I wished the performance was a bit less monotonous, but during other parts I thought the even tone was a strength. This book helps understand that sociopaths are much more common than we usually think, and it will provide the tools you need to identify them.

Great information and interesting

This book was very interesting and filled with a lot of great information in general. It’s key points are around a conscious and what that really is and why we should all want to have one rather than wish we didn’t. It didn’t go into the type of detail I was hoping for around how to avoid a sociopath, what to do when you’re entangled with one and how to safeguard yourself- it merely touched on these things. I’m glad that I listened to it, but it definitely didn’t serve the core purpose of why I purchased it. Enjoy! :-)

Painful but needed to heal

It hurt, but at the same time the play-by-play stories matched exactly what I lived through. It was nice to hear I wasn't alone. We aren't crazy, we are abused by sociopaths. This bo will help you heal.

Disturbing

Seriously worrying look at various types of sociopathy and how these people behave and take advantage of the average person who (because of a conscience) really has no defence against them. Disturbing also because of the numbers there apparently are in society. The author also tries to point out the advantages, both to society and to the individual, of having a conscience, so the book finishes in a somewhat hopeful mood.

Excellent

Eye opening. Everyone should read this book.
Well researched and designed. The most elucidating information was the desire for pity and how grey life would be forever.

Brilliant!

This should be read by every person on the planet! The information and stories in this book will give the reader wisdom and discernment. I always saw sociopathy as one dimentional. This has opened my eyes to the elaborate and varied schemes, intentions and designs that can be played out by sociopaths. They are as varied as narcissists. Most interesting new info was that they differ from psychopaths in that they have little to no charisma and ultimately burn bridges and trust with any and all people. My personal belief is that, for the most part, they are a lesson for the rest of humanity as we work our way back to God. I have dealt with many of them and more easily know how to spot and deal with them, esp with even more information from this book. It filled in the gaps.

One to reread!

thought provoking and insightful. will definitely listen to again! I just bout the book too, so I can go through it and highlight and take notes.

I was married to a sociopath!

Having survived and escaped from someone with all the indicators of anti social personality disorder, this book gave me clarity and relief on many levels. I’d been questioning myself and why I stayed for ten years with an absolute monster. It was soul soothing to get educated on how sociopaths live their lives and control their targets. I highly recommend this book to survivors, but to EVERY woman (so they can look for the indicators and avoid misery/danger/unhappiness).