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The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus The Rest Of Us
Martha Stout
2005, 241 pages
Fiction
Have you ever met someone who was congenial and charming one minute and then cold, callous, or even cruel the next? Unfortunately, you may have run across a sociopath – a person who is unable to feel emotions like guilt, shame, or remorse. These inpiduals seemingly lack a moral/social conscience, and startlingly, make up 4 percent of the U.S. population.
That is the subject of Martha Stout’s Book, The Sociopath Next Door. This book delves into sociopathy, describing the different variations of this disorder using amalgamations of case studies and comparing these affected inpiduals with other 96 percent of the population.
The Sociopath Next Door is quick read, and though informative, doesn’t err by being too clinical. Martha Stout also tries to give readers practical tips on how to identify and protect oneself from sociopaths. Despite its dark subject matter, The Sociopath Next Door is surprisingly heartening. These inpiduals, who are seemingly able get ahead by hurting others while feeling no remorse, are able to do so because they lack the ability to experience love. Love is essential to the human experience and a vital component of happiness. Any notion that sociopaths are gifted with an unfair advantage or destined to prosper from their misdeeds are quickly dispelled in this book.
