Name: Confessions of a Sociopath
ISBN: 9780307956644

M. E. Thomas

An account of the author's life as a diagnosed non-criminal sociopath explains how her charisma and penchant for convincing lies enables her to influence and seduce others, offering insight into her system of ethics while advising readers on how to manage a relationship with a sociopath.

A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight

Confessions of a Sociopath

it’s a short book, but the narrator makes it a hard read. they admit to exaggerating and being ruled by their ego, which, while interesting to know, makes them annoying. she’s overly repetitive and loves to self-aggrandizing, which i guess makes sense as that can be what drives sociopaths, but why should i care? why should i accept you? how have you charmed me because of it? ALSO, the narrator openly states that she is not violent, but then talks about LITERALLY killing a possum, wanting to kill someone because the elevator wasn’t working (wow not violent at all), and then about a lover. for a book that talks about the fascinating parts of the human psyche regarding people who are often alienated in society, it’s boring and a chore to read. 

also the writing is just rambling, like you can’t even write well so why should i be interested about what ideas you present?

it’s a short book, but the narrator makes it a hard read. they admit to exaggerating and being ruled by their ego, which, while interesting to know, makes them annoying. she’s overly repetitive and loves to self-aggrandizing, which i guess makes sense as that can be what drives sociopaths, but why should i care? why should i accept you? how have you charmed me because of it? ALSO, the narrator openly states that she is not violent, but then talks about LITERALLY killing a possum, wanting to kill someone because the elevator wasn’t working (wow not violent at all), and then about a lover. for a book that talks about the fascinating parts of the human psyche regarding people who are often alienated in society, it’s boring and a chore to read. 

also the writing is just rambling, like you can’t even write well so why should i be interested about what ideas you present?

M. E. Thomas is a high-functioning non-criminal sociopath. She is charismatic, ambitious and successful. You would be charmed by her if you met her, might even be seduced by her. You would not realise that she is studying you to find your flaws, that she is ruthlessly manipulative, has no empathy and does not feel guilt or remorse. But she does like people - she likes to touch them, mould them and ruin them. She could be your friend or your boss. She could be you . . .Now she writes with breathtaking honesty about her life. She also draws on the latest research to explain why at least one in twenty-five of us are sociopaths - and shows why that's not a bad thing. By turns fascinating, shocking and funny, Confessions of a Sociopath is a gripping insight into the mind of a self-confessed predator.

Caroline Oestergaard

This was really interesting, if not a bit repetitive. Hearing someone’s own personal story of what it’s like to grow up and live as a functioning sociopath in today’s society was eye opening and very fascinating. Her recollections from her childhood were interesting, and to some extent a bit disturbing, as was the way she spoke very highly about herself.

Tegan Bell

Though this book was somewhat engaging, I found it wrought with contradiction. Though not a psychologist by any stretch, I really had to question the validity of Thomas’s writing.

Sloan, Kara

Heard she was Mormon so was very curious about the dynamics going on there, however only mentioned as an aside.

Otherwise all you need to know: she's a sociopath, thinks she's super smart, seductive, witty, and spends most book sharing examples of that that I guess are supposed to be interesting but sound like high school melodrama. 

It starts pretty promising about how she chose to get diagnosed, but fails to really extend the conversation past basic nature/nurture, or her own highlight reel of trickery. 

Was really hoping for a more sociological type approach to sociopaths and societal norms beyond the personal drama and mental gymnastics she does to cast herself as both victim and master manipulator... opportunity lost I guess.

Ruth Parker 

I don’t need to always like the characters in fiction, but the narrator of this memoir really got on my tits. I’m sure she’s beautiful and smart, in fact I don’t doubt that. But don’t assume you’re smarter than me because you don’t care if you hurt people. Phrases like ‘ruining’ people, and destroying a teacher’s life for fun is not good. What a horrible narrator. 
The idea of the book is great and I loved learning more about sociopathy. But the repetition of the same big headedness in every other sentence made me want to claw my eyes out.

Nikki Sojkowski

Gabriella Lanouette

Drawn from the author's own experiences; her popular blog, Sociopathworld.com; and scientific literature, this is part confessional memoir, part primer for the curious. Written from the point of view of a diagnosed sociopath, it unveils for the very first time these people who are hiding in plain sight.

Amna A.

Cait🪼

eugenie oh

Cristina Martinez

Wilde

M.E. Thomas

The memoir of a high-functioning, law-abiding (well, mostly) sociopath and a roadmap—right from the source—for dealing with the sociopath in your life. As M.E. Thomas says of her fellow sociopaths, “We are your neighbors, your coworkers, and quite possibly the people closest to you: lovers, family, friends. Our risk-seeking behavior and general fearlessness are thrilling, our glibness and charm alluring. Our often quick wit and outside-the-box thinking make us appear intelligent—even brilliant. We climb the corporate ladder faster than the rest, and appear to have limitless self-confidence. Who are we? We are highly successful, noncriminal sociopaths and we comprise 4 percent of the American population.” Confessions of a Sociopath—part confessional memoir, part primer for the curious—takes readers on a journey into the mind of a sociopath, revealing what makes them tick while debunking myths about sociopathy and offering a road map for dealing with the sociopaths in your life. M. E. Thomas draws from her own experiences as a diagnosed sociopath; her popular blog, Sociopathworld; and scientific literature to unveil for the very first time these men and women who are “hiding in plain sight.”

Confessions of a Sociopath A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight

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