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)

Excellent explanation of a tricky topic

gave me a real understanding of this condition. never knew it had so many different faces.

Forgive yourself for ending toxic ties!

If you could sum up The Sociopath Next Door in three words, what would they be?

Recognize, Remove, Move-on

Any additional comments?

No book can summarize any topic, but this book really helped me analyze some very toxic relationships. I have been estranged from my father from the age of 14. He never out-right abused me, but he also clearly never loved me. He was so cold to me and my siblings. On the other hand, he would mow neighbors lawns and made big show of his outward image. He was very well liked at church, work, and in the neighborhood. Even when I was very young, I knew something was off. This book helped me forgive myself (years later) for ending my relationship with him. Why carry guilt around for people that never carried any for you? Even if you have never had any sociopaths in your immediate family, you should be aware. There are a fair amount of people out there that really do not care. You cannot change them, you can only change your perspective.

Same old story

There is nothing original here. Same story rehashed many times. The author makes reference to ´thinking fast and slow’, which is a much more informative book.

i got this title in a two for one deal because it has many high reviews. Fortunately my second choice, ´When the Air Hit Your Brain’, was incredible

an uplifting tale

good story and deep dive into the darkness of the human psyche. I found it helpful to understand the sickeness.

Required reading

Every person needs to have this information in their mental library. To understand that one needs to offer pity candidly. Being aware of these unique people without a conscience will help avoid the heartache of being manipulaTed by one in your personal or professional life. I spent 50 years (mom & husband) exp

Everyone should be armed with this knowledge.

There is a scale in our society that goes... passive aggressive, narcissist, sociopath,psychopath...... most of us know one of em. maybe you're one of em. regardless, important to know how to spot it, the scary thing is you may not even when its in front of you (eerie music here). Look; if you are a good person who leads their life giving, the takers will search you out. Arm yourself to be able to define toxic and to hopefully see the evil when its near.

Thank you

Thank you. This book helped me in many ways to understand my daughter, and protect myself from her and her sociopath.

Title is misleading

It’s more about the history of the human conscience and stories about different people and their interactions with potential sociopaths. It does give a list of how to deal with a sociopath but that’s more towards the end of the book and it’s only one chapter.

worth the read

surely every reader will relate to the personalities explored in the book that you have come across in life.

Fascinating

.....If somewhat disturbing look into the mind of the sociopath and how to deal with one.