Sociopath
The Eye-opening True Story Everyone's Talking About
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4.1 • 83 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
Instant Sunday Times bestseller
'Deliciously wicked and insightful' – The Guardian
'Addictively page-turning' – The Telegraph
'Thought-provoking and surprisingly life-affirming' – Cosmopolitan
'Arresting and addictive' – The Times
Sociopath: A Memoir is the astoundingly honest true story of a life lived on the edge of the law, and a fascinating account of one woman’s battle to understand her diagnosis. Moving and illuminating, it will challenge everything you thought you knew about sociopathy.
“Empathy, guilt, shame, remorse, jealousy, even love – these are considered social emotions,” she said. “We’re not born with them. They’re learned.”
From stabbing elementary school classmates with pencils to stealing car keys from fellow frat party guests and joyriding around her college town, to breaking and entering, even stalking, Patric Gagne doesn’t hold back when it comes to describing the behaviour that, eventually, made her realize she is a sociopath. But her discovery forced her to question the official descriptions of sociopathy.
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?
Reader praise for Sociopath:
'A brilliant insight into a complicated world' – 5* reader review
'A brave, unforgettable book that challenges you to see the world – and those on its edges – differently – 5* reader review
'Incredibly insightful and eye opening' – 5* reader review
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
Fascinating and eye opening
I didn’t think this book would keep me up up reading deep into the night but it did. Thank you.
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.