Sociopath

A Memoir

By: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

Narrated by: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir of the author’s struggle to understand her own sociopathy and shed light on the often maligned and misunderstood mental disorder.

“A cross between a podcast by relationship therapist Esther Perel and a salacious tell-all.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Patric Gagne realized she made others uncomfortable before she started kindergarten. Something about her caused people to react in a way she didn’t understand. She suspected it was because she didn’t feel things the way other kids did. Emotions like fear, guilt, and empathy eluded her. For the most part, she felt nothing. And she didn’t like the way that “nothing” felt.

She did her best to pretend she was like everyone else, but the constant pressure to conform to a society she knew rejected anyone like her was unbearable. So Patric stole. She lied. She was occasionally violent. She became an expert lock-picker and home-invader. All with the goal of replacing the nothingness with...something.

In college, Patric finally confirmed what she’d long suspected. She was a sociopath. But even though it was the very first personality disorder identified—well over 200 years ago—sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. She was told there was no treatment, no hope for a normal life. She found herself haunted by sociopaths in pop culture, madmen and evil villains who are considered monsters. Her future looked grim.

But when Patric reconnects with an old flame, she gets a glimpse of a future beyond her diagnosis. If she’s capable of love, it must mean that she isn’t a monster. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way) she embarks on a mission to prove that the millions of Americans who share her diagnosis aren’t all monsters either.

This is the inspiring story of her journey to change her fate and how she managed to build a life full of love and hope.

©2024 Patric Gagne, Ph.D. (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Amazing author/narrator

The story is deeply touching and personal, honest, brave. I am usually somewhat hesitant about books that are read by their authors, because some authors just weren’t made to be narrators. Patric Gagne is an amazing narrator, often laughing and adding her personal inflection to the story.

Interesting

If you like true crime this is kinda like a version of a behind the scenes that doesn’t end up killings.

Gripping, essential

Although she goes on a little too long in certain passages, overall I was extremely impressed with Patric Gagne's lucid exploration and exposition of growing up with antisocial behavior disorder, or sociopathy. It's not an easy row to hoe, and she is indefatigable in searching out information and research on the topic, eventually becoming a leader in the field of psychotherapy for those with similar afflictions. I applaud the depth of her research and her intelligence in pursuing answers so that others may benefit from her knowledge. I learned a lot about friends and family members who exhibit sociopathic tendencies at times. It was helpful to gain insights into and banish fear of sociopathy.

One out of twenty five People -- not Monsters

Starting out with the publisher's disclaimer saying in corporate "double and triple check any choices/changes you make based on what is written here" -- I've read a lot of books and honestly, some memoirs could use that disclaimer. Following with a chronological tale both of how the author experienced her own life as well as her recollections of how other people responded to her -- it's lonely, sad, and often (if you have had a loved one who acted the way the author did) nightmare fuel and disturbing memory reawakening.

I had to put the book down at several points to process feelings because, since the person in my life who acted as she did in my life is dead, I can't ever ask her, but finally, some sort of third-party explanation of illogical and disjointed memories. That, and in a strange way, with understanding of these events, also permission to love the rest of the person. I would give this six stars.

I can't choose one thing. It was all incredible.

Incredibly raw book that had me crying, gasping, and smiling hopelessly. I already want to listen again. Thank you for sharing with us Patric.

Eye Opening

I love a book that I can’t put down and at the end I want more. This book was written in a matter of fact way and gives the closest thing I could understand to her life as a sociopath. Loved it!

A must listen too.

I really enjoyed listening to this memoir. I didn’t think I’d like it as much but it really did give some insight especially from her point of view.

Just wow.

I just finished this book and am sitting here stunned. I'm experiencing a paradigm shift in how I see the sociopath(s) in my life.

This woman is a very good writer.

I am so glad Patric wrote this memoir. It gave me such peace. Excellent and gifted writer. Thank you.

Love this book

This story was amazing. I appreciate the back story and the mental struggles shared. Beautiful book.