Rethinking Narcissism

The Bad-and Surprising Good-About Feeling Special

By: Dr. Craig Malkin

Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel

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 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 words 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 readers will learn that there's far more to narcissism than its reductive invective would imply. The truth is that we all 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 healthy from unhealthy narcissism and offers clear, step-by-step guidance on how to promote healthy narcissism in our partners, our children, and ourselves.

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.

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.