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Almost A Psychopath: Do I (or Does Someone I Know) Have A Problem With Manipulation And Lack Of Empathy? (2012)

by Ronald Schouten(Favorite Author)

3.45 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1616491027 (ISBN13: 9781616491024)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Hazelden

review 1: This it is a fairly decent review of current thought about sociopaths. I expected much more about how to deal with them, but the fact is they are difficult to deal with. Most people don't know what to do when faced with this kind of behavior. I guess the best this book has to offer is comfort in knowing that we're not crazy when we we find ourselves dealing with someone who displays this pattern of characteristics. The almost psychopaths really are out there and most of us will run into a few of them at some point during our lifetimes.
review 2: I was surprised and inspired by this book. I enjoyed reading about the different behavior disorders, and I appreciated the listing of symptoms for them. I liked the nuanced approach to understanding the concept of "almo... morest". I am an "almost" at everything I do, no matter how hard I commit, and I am pretty good at committing. I still don't feel like I've earned the right to be called Mom yet because my children aren't grown. Shouldn't they call me M2C instead? M2C = Mom Second Class, sort of like Clarence in "It's A Wonderful Life", before he got his wings. Anyway, I enjoyed reading about Psychopathy, Narcissism, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Disorder, Gaslighting, and Malingering. Yes, I enjoyed reading about all of this, but, to be clear, I don't like witnessing or experiencing any of the disorders firsthand. It's just that I find it helpful to learn from an academic and/or clinical point of view what is out there and what the symptoms are. I also want to say I never heard the expression, "When you hear hoof-beats, think horses, not zebras." I like that approach so much. I was also tickled by the fact that the authors encourage having (versus stifling) dark thoughts. I am very pro dark thoughts. Even better? Dark theatre, dark cinema, dark writings. Moving on...I'm a parent, so I paid closest attention to the chapters that discuss the child abusers and pedophiles. It scared me when I read in Chapter 8 "The sexual abuse of children is a horrific and disturbing phenomenon that has occurred throughout history and shows no signs of disappearing in the modern age." I had never thought of this abuse (or any abuse, actually) as a phenomenon. As language grows around these phenomenons, so does awareness. I hope more people find ways to express and articulate abuse because I think it will help stop it. Reading this book opened up a dialogue in my family about warning signs, intuition, and devastating experiences. The book also sends a clear message about not trusting people Society tells you you should trust, but rather trust yourself first. The authors cite doctors, caregivers, charming people, priests, coaches, crossing guards, public figures for religion, and politicians as examples. The list is endless, actually. Moms aren't to be trusted either. So don't start a witch hunt. Just...be careful. As I read the book, I realized I honestly don't have much experience with extreme personalities. As for manipulators, I'm not afraid to thoughtfully confront those turkeys. I know there are pyschopaths, almost-psychopaths, and maniacal manipulators out there, but I live a very simple, subtle life. It may be boring, but my lifestyle repels extremists, and I am okay by that.Signed,Connie Odbody, M2C less

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