Sociopath: A Memoir
A journey into the mind of a woman without remorse and her fight to understand her diagnosis
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4.4 • 7 Ratings
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- £9.99
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
'A surprising, thoughtful and deeply personal exploration of what it means to be a sociopath.' – Pandora Sykes
'A fascinating memoir' - Stylist magazine
'Addictively page-turning' - The Telegraph
Sociopath: A Memoir is at once a jaw-dropping tale of a life lived on the edge of the law, and a moving account of one woman's battle to gain a deeper understanding of people who, like her, are sociopaths.
'Your friends would probably describe me as nice. But guess what? I can't stand your friends. I'm a liar. I'm a thief. I'm highly manipulative. I don't care what other people think. I'm capable of almost anything.'
Ever since she was a small child, Patric Gagne knew she was different. Although she felt intense love for her family and her best friend, David, these connections were never enough to make her be 'good', or to reduce her feelings of apathy and frustration. As she grew older, her behaviour escalated from petty theft through to breaking and entering, stalking, and worse . . .
As an adult, Patric realized that she was a sociopath. Although she instantly connected with the official descriptions of sociopathy, she also knew they didn't tell the full story: she had a plan for her life, had nurtured close relationships and was doing her best (most of the time) to avoid harming others.
While her darker impulses warred against her attempts to live a settled, loving life with her partner, Patric began to wonder - was there a way for sociopaths to integrate happily into society? And could she find it before her own behaviour went a step too far?
'She is compelling, like a movie character – a sociopath who’s beautiful, warm and funny, articulate and charming' - The Guardian
'A heart-rending account of a lonely child growing up into a lonely adult, misunderstood and unable to connect with people' - iNews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"I am a twenty-first century sociopath," former therapist Gagne asserts in the introduction to her bracing debut, "and I've written this book because I know I'm not alone." She begins by recounting her childhood affinity for thievery and other early signs, including the excessive time she spent alone, that "something about me was off." As Gagne grew older, stealing trinkets gave way to stealing cars and credit cards, and in college, her first therapist diagnosed her as a sociopath. Reading all the material she could get her hands on, Gagne learned that the condition (characterized by "a disinclination to empathize with others") is widely misunderstood—and often misdiagnosed—and resolved to pursue a PhD in the subject to help others like herself. Meanwhile, she managed a bumpy relationship with her boyfriend (and eventual husband), David, one of the few people for whom she felt deep love. Gagne's stated goal is demystification ("representation matters"), and she succeeds, legibly outlining the workings of her mind and the hopelessness she felt upon diagnosis. Courageously candid and sometimes shocking, this no-holds-barred self-portrait offers an illuminating glimpse at a mental health disorder long shrouded by shame.
Customer Reviews
Incredible and heart warming.
Couldn’t put this book down. Insightful and compelling. A great read and one I have throughly enjoyed.
Fascinating, important and educational
"Sociopath: A Memoir" offers a riveting and enlightening exploration of sociopathy from a unique dual perspective—that of a woman who is both a sociopath and a psychologist. As a trainee psychiatrist, I found this book particularly eye-opening. It effectively dismantles the stigmas surrounding sociopathy by highlighting it as a mental illness that, like all mental illnesses, can be managed with the right support—a stark reminder that such support is not yet widely accessible. The blend of personal and professional insights presented in this memoir not only educates but also calls for an urgent expansion of mental health services to better address all aspects of mental health, including sociopathy. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of sociopathy beyond the common misconceptions.