
Confessions of a Sociopath
A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight
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Narrated by:
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Bernadette Sullivan
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By:
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M. E. Thomas
About this listen
As M. E. Thomas says of her fellow sociopaths, we are your neighbors, co-workers, 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, non-criminal sociopaths and we comprise 4% of the American population (that's 1 in 25 people!).
Confessions of a Sociopath takes listeners on a journey into the mind of a sociopath, revealing what makes the tick and what that means for the rest of humanity. Written from the point of view of a diagnosed sociopath, it unveils these men and women who are "hiding in plain sight" for the very first time.
Confessions of a Sociopath is part confessional memoir, part primer for the wary. Drawn from Thomas' own experiences; her popular blog, Sociopathworld.com; and current and historical scientific literature, it reveals just how different - and yet often very similar - sociopaths are from the rest of the world. The book confirms suspicions and debunks myths about sociopathy and is both 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, be it a boss, sibling, parent, spouse, child, neighbor, colleague or friend.
As Thomas argues, while sociopaths aren't like everyone else, and it's true some of them are incredibly dangerous, they are not inherently evil. In fact, they're potentially more productive and useful to society than neurotypicals or "empaths", as they fondly like to call "normal" people. Confessions of a Sociopath demystifyies sociopathic behavior and provides listeners with greater insight on how to respond or react to protect themselves, live among sociopaths without becoming victims, and even beat sociopaths at their own game, through a bit of empathetic cunning and manipulation.
©2013 M. E. Thomas (P)2013 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks About Psychopaths
There's no denying the allure of psychopaths. There's something disturbing but fascinating about people so ruthless and manipulative, who lack the ability to feel guilt or remorse over their actions. Stories of psychopaths abound in just about every mystery subgenre, from action-packed thrillers to nuanced psychological character studies, and also stand out in works of psychology and neuroscience. Listen to some of the most riveting books about psychopaths.
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- A Neuroscientist's Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain
- By: James Fallon
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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The memoir of a neuroscientist whose research led him to a bizarre personal discovery, James Fallon had spent an entire career studying how our brains affect our behavior when his research suddenly turned personal. While studying brain scans of several family members, he discovered that one perfectly matched a pattern he’d found in the brains of serial killers. This meant one of two things: Either his family’s scans had been mixed up with those of felons or someone in his family was a psychopath.
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Entertaining story with some quick neuroscience
- By smarmer on 09-21-14
By: James Fallon
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Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door
- How to Protect Yourself Against a Ruthless Manipulator
- By: Martha Stout Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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While the best way to deal with a sociopath is to avoid him or her entirely, sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for that. What happens when the time comes to defend yourself against your own child, a ruthless ex-spouse, a boss, or another person in power? Using the many emails and letters she has received over the years, Dr. Martha Stout uncovers the psychology behind the sociopath’s methods and provides concrete guidelines to help navigate these dangerous interactions.
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Misleading Title, disappointing content
- By Brandon nieves on 11-03-20
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The Psychopath Test
- A Journey Through the Madness Industry
- By: Jon Ronson
- Narrated by: Jon Ronson
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The Psychopath Test is a fascinating journey through the minds of madness. Jon Ronson's exploration of a potential hoax being played on the world's top neurologists takes him, unexpectedly, into the heart of the madness industry. An influential psychologist who is convinced that many important CEOs and politicians are, in fact, psychopaths teaches Ronson how to spot these high-flying individuals by looking out for little telltale verbal and nonverbal clues. And so Ronson, armed with his new psychopath-spotting abilities, enters the corridors of power.
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Painfully out of dated
- By Heather Wagner on 06-24-23
By: Jon Ronson
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Sociopath
- A Memoir
- By: Patric Gagne Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Patric Gagne Ph.D.
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Fascinating and Perfect Performance!
- By ScoobaRubio on 04-05-24
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The Mask of Sanity
- An Attempt to Clarify Some Issues About the So-Called Psychopathic Personality
- By: Hervey Cleckley
- Narrated by: Scott R. Pollak
- Length: 21 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Although highly controversial, Hervey Cleckley's Mask of Sanity provides one of the most influential clinical descriptions of psychopathy in the 20th century. At the crux of his argument, Cleckley claims that many psychopathic personalities go undiagnosed because they maintain a social mask that conceals their mental disorder and enables them to blend in with society. Furthermore, many of these affected individuals appear to function normally in accordance with standard psychiatric criteria.
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Amazing!
- By john s. cassell on 03-05-21
By: Hervey Cleckley
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Sociopath and Psychopath
- The Worst of Both Worlds
- By: Ken Fisher
- Narrated by: Ken Maxon
- Length: 2 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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How about other friends and associates? Have you been introduced to their family? Perhaps you can't understand why someone who is so lovely and charming, and who you consider to be a wonderful human being, has such few friends. Maybe this is because the ones that came before you have already experienced their other side.
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An Empath
- By Jafar on 08-12-18
By: Ken Fisher
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The Myth of Sanity
- Divided Consciousness and the Promise of Awareness
- By: Martha Stout
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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A startling new study in human consciousness, The Myth of Sanity is a landmark book about forgotten trauma, dissociated mental states, and multiple personality in everyday life. In its groundbreaking analysis of childhood trauma and dissociation and their far-reaching implications in adult life, it reveals that moderate dissociation is a normal mental reaction to pain and that even the most extreme dissociative reaction—multiple personality—is more common than we think.
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Dragged out, needs lots of editing
- By Cat on 09-04-23
By: Martha Stout
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In Sheep's Clothing
- Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
- By: George K. Simon
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Dr. George K. Simon knows how people push your buttons: your children---especially teens---are experts at it, as is your mate. A coworker may quietly undermine your efforts while professing to be helpful, or your boss may prey on your weaknesses. Manipulative people have two goals: to win and to look good doing it.
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Don't Be A Sucker
- By constructivefeedback on 02-07-12
By: George K. Simon
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The Anatomy of Evil
- By: Michael H. Stone MD, Otto F. Kernberg MD
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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In this groundbreaking book, renowned psychiatrist Michael H. Stone explores the concept and reality of evil from a new perspective. In an in-depth discussion of the personality traits and behaviors that constitute evil across a wide spectrum, Dr. Stone takes a clarifying scientific approach to a topic that for centuries has been inadequately explained by religious doctrines.
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The pinnacle of true crime
- By Tommy Garou on 07-13-18
By: Michael H. Stone MD, and others
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Girl Hidden: A Memoir
- By: Jesse Rene Gibbs
- Narrated by: Lessa Lamb
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Echoing among the Blue Ridge Mountains were the cries of newborn babies that disappeared into the night. The screams of children nearly drowned out by the sound of crickets. A girl, hidden and waiting to be found, terrified, and confused. The fireflies sparkling in the woods, bringing light to darkled places.
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Beautiful Story
- By JMAR001 on 04-13-22
By: Jesse Rene Gibbs
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The Lucifer Effect
- Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
- By: Philip Zimbardo
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 26 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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What makes good people do bad things? How can moral people be seduced to act immorally? Where is the line separating good from evil, and who is in danger of crossing it? Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo has the answers. He explains how - and the myriad reasons why - we are all susceptible to the lure of "the dark side". Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can make monsters out of decent men and women.
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Zimbardo Comes Clean...
- By Douglas on 11-21-11
By: Philip Zimbardo
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Trapped in the Mirror
- Adult Children of Narcissists in Their Struggle for Self
- By: Elan Golomb
- Narrated by: Angela Brazil
- Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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The difficulties experienced by adult children of narcissists can manifest themselves in many ways - for example, physical self-loathing that takes the form of overeating, anorexia, or bulimia; a self-destructive streak that causes poor job performance and rocky personal relationships; or a struggle with the self that is perpetuated in the adult's interaction with his or her own children. These dilemmas are both common and correctable, Elan Golomb tells us.
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Convoluted
- By Caligirl on 08-25-17
By: Elan Golomb
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Husband, Liar, Sociopath
- How He Lied, Why I Fell For It & The Painful Lessons Learned
- By: O.N.WARD
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Could you or someone you know be married to a sociopath? The author of this book was, but it took her twenty years to figure it out. She wrote this book to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to other people. Onna thought the classmate she married was her Prince Charming—kind, honest, loving, and intellectually vibrant—but she was wrong. That “spark” she felt wasn’t true love, it was a trap—custom designed to ensnare her. Onna’s repayment for investing twenty years into her marriage and unwittingly providing her husband with a façade of normalcy was ongoing gaslighting ...
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All so Familiar
- By Heat on 11-25-24
By: O.N.WARD
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Surrounded by Idiots
- The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
- By: Thomas Erikson
- Narrated by: David John
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Author Thomas Erikson explains that there are four key behavior types that define how we interact with and perceive the people around us. Understanding someone’s pattern of behavior is the key to successful communication. Erikson breaks down the four kinds of behavior types - Reds who are dominant and commanding, Yellows who are social and optimistic, Greens who are laid-back and friendly, and Blues who are analytical and precise - and explains how to identify and interact with each type of person.
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Should be titled "why I hate reds"
- By Dave on 08-24-20
By: Thomas Erikson
What listeners say about Confessions of a Sociopath
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- Julia
- 05-21-13
If I could give my brain a long, hot shower
What did you like best about Confessions of a Sociopath? What did you like least?
I Loved the contradictions and internal disconnect -- I've rarely seen the concept of a person without empathy more clearly acted out. For someone to express that they are broken, abused and stunted while at the same time crowing that they are the apex and possibly an improved part of the human condition -- yes, that's these people at their most two dimensional. What I liked least was the lingering feeling of pity. The mood brought on by reading hung on after like a bad smell.
Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?
The concepts were overexplained and the book could have gotten in and out in a much shorter time.
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14 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-18-21
Welcome Home 🙃
1 . . 3 . . 5 . . 7 . . 9 . . . . . . 15
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- Kim
- 12-30-19
fascinating
loved it. positive insights that will help u understand many more people and yourself better
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- Brian
- 06-10-17
Brilliant
Truly captivating, very well written by the author & marvelously read by the narrator. Thank You
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- Ben
- 11-09-15
Nothing like it.
Besides for a few minor contradictions, I thought that her insight was very valuable. It is refreshing to finally hear a new perspective on sociopaths.
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- Anonymous User
- 01-10-24
Great story and great writing
Really enjoyed the perspective of the author about her experiences with sociopathy and how that affects her life
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- Jane
- 05-17-13
I call bullsh*t. This is fiction.
Any additional comments?
This book seems less like a nonfiction account of someone's life and more like a movie script. Listen to it high and then it will become more interesting. I like the book on the whole, but I don't believe the author is a sociopath.
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18 people found this helpful
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- Marcia
- 09-12-13
You'll be on your guard from P.1; Arias EXPLAINED
Would you listen to Confessions of a Sociopath again? Why?
No. I listened well the first time. Unless I can convince the three 20-twentysomething sons to listen if I listened with them.
What other book might you compare Confessions of a Sociopath to and why?
Absolutely no other than I can think of, except maybe Bloodletters and Bad Men; the characters, not the presentation style.
What about Bernadette Sullivan’s performance did you like?
Bernadette totally deadpanned the entire performance. She came across as the emotion-starved, bored personality she was emulating. BRAVO!!!!! Bernadette. I didn't like you either! (I kept thinking to myself, is the AUTHOR reading this?) I've since separated the two of you. Whew. Got sucked in there!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. I did it in about 4 sittings, I do electronic circuit board work. Perfect for listening to Audible.
Any additional comments?
Mothers: Make your children read or listen to this book. Mandatory reading. Get past the inconsistencies (we are talking a sociopath here, remember! Jodi Arias: Explained!) and gather the information offered about spotting these functional (and especially the nonfunctional) sociopaths. The antennae can only go up if they've been programmed. Education of our children is the best defense.
The author said it best: Mormon boys are especially easy to fool.
Just ask Travis Alexander.
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- Victoria Lucas
- 03-12-15
exceptionally written
what a wonderful command off the English language. well written and super interesting. hope she keeps writing
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2 people found this helpful
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- SAMANTHA
- 07-10-16
Exactly what the title suggests
This book is not full of shocking, criminal stories. It simply shares the life of an every day sociopath. Good read for those who think they are a sociopath or know someone with sociopathic tendencies. I thought the author's voice appropriately fit the writer's tone as well.
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2 people found this helpful