The Selfishness of Others

An Essay on the Fear of Narcissism

De: Kristin Dombek

Narrado por: Rachel Fulginiti

They're among us, but they are not like us. They manipulate, lie, cheat, and steal. They are irresistibly charming and accomplished, appearing to live in a radiance beyond what we are capable of. But narcissists are empty. No one knows exactly what everyone else is full of - some kind of a soul, or personhood - but whatever it is, experts agree that narcissists do not have it.

So goes the popular understanding of narcissism, or NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). And it's more prevalent than ever, according to recent articles in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and Time. In best sellers like The Narcissism Epidemic, Narcissists Exposed, and The Narcissist Next Door, pop psychologists have armed the normal with tools to identify and combat the vampiric influence of this rising population, while on websites like NarcissismSurvivor.com, thousands of people congregate to swap horror stories about relationships with "narcs".

In The Selfishness of Others, the essayist Kristin Dombek provides a clear-sighted account of how a rare clinical diagnosis became a fluid cultural phenomenon, a repository for our deepest fears about love, friendship, and family. She cuts through hysteria in search of the razor-thin line between pathology and common selfishness, writing with robust skepticism toward the prophets of NPD and genuine empathy for those who see themselves as its victims. And finally, she shares her own story in a candid effort to find a path away from the cycle of fear and blame and toward a more forgiving and rewarding life.

©2016 Kristin Dombek (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Splendid!

Amazon is requiring me to write a review and I just wanted to rate the book/essay.

Brilliant!

Dombek shines light on a dark corner of the internet aka the narcisphere. If you know someone suffering from narciphobia this is a must read! The bigotry stemming from the fear of narcissists is scary. It reminds me of other snapshots in history where groups of people were judged and punished out of fear. Not to give anything away but I did find it interesting that the solution proposed by many of the fear mongers to defeat the narcissist in your life suggests you should devalue and discard the narcissist, thus becoming the very soul sucking vampire you are tying to get rid of. One must consider all options but I prefer to stick with love.