Sociopath
A Memoir
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4.4 • 312 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir of the author’s struggle to understand her own sociopathy and shed light on the often maligned and misunderstood mental disorder.
“A cross between a podcast by relationship therapist Esther Perel and a salacious tell-all.” —San Francisco Chronicle
Patric Gagne realized she made others uncomfortable before she started kindergarten. Something about her caused people to react in a way she didn’t understand. She suspected it was because she didn’t feel things the way other kids did. Emotions like fear, guilt, and empathy eluded her. For the most part, she felt nothing. And she didn’t like the way that “nothing” felt.
She did her best to pretend she was like everyone else, but the constant pressure to conform to a society she knew rejected anyone like her was unbearable. So Patric stole. She lied. She was occasionally violent. She became an expert lock-picker and home-invader. All with the goal of replacing the nothingness with...something.
In college, Patric finally confirmed what she’d long suspected. She was a sociopath. But even though it was the very first personality disorder identified—well over 200 years ago—sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. She was told there was no treatment, no hope for a normal life. She found herself haunted by sociopaths in pop culture, madmen and evil villains who are considered monsters. Her future looked grim.
But when Patric reconnects with an old flame, she gets a glimpse of a future beyond her diagnosis. If she’s capable of love, it must mean that she isn’t a monster. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way) she embarks on a mission to prove that the millions of Americans who share her diagnosis aren’t all monsters either.
This is the inspiring story of her journey to change her fate and how she managed to build a life full of love and hope.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Patric Gagne’s compelling, utterly original memoir aims to set the record straight on one of humanity’s most misunderstood disorders. She shows us that sociopaths—widely seen as monsters—are everyday neuroatypical people suffering with a serious problem. And she should know—she’s one of them. Gagne walks us through each stage of her life, spotlighting the ways the condition manifested, from attacking another kid in elementary school to committing crimes as a young adult, all in an effort to feel something. In unsparing detail, she reveals the complicated ups and downs of her relationship with the man who’s now her husband, how she eventually sought psychiatric treatment, and how her path led her to become a therapist herself. Gagne makes it clear the struggle is ongoing, but provides proof that there’s help and hope for people without access to their emotions. Sociopath is a powerful reminder not to take our feelings for granted.
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
interesting memoir
good intro into learning about where sociopaths lie on the mental health spectrum and what kind of emotions and actions they struggle to contain. her personal story leading up
to becoming a sociopath therapist was interesting and inspiring. however, i feel like explaining her diagnosis in situations and stories she went thru became a bit repetitive. it was a great deal about her significant other.
Wow
As a sociopath, I loved this book. I can relate. I just don’t feel empathy. I feel like a rag doll being controlled by other people, so sometimes I have to hurt other people. So I could feel in control. This is a good book.
So good!
I loved this! It was so well written and interesting. I have always been curious about the lack of support and resources for people who have behavior disorders, and been curious about what it's like. I am sure this book is going to help many people to better understand each other or themselves.