The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout
The main idea behind the book is that one out of twenty five people is a sociopath. Your dick head boss or you ass hole ex-boyfriend or a possessive girlfriend all could be a sociopath. Part of the book is to identify those around you that can be sociopath and that you should be avoiding them. To me the idea of this book was pretty interesting, which is why I choose to read this.
After reading the book I can say that I believe the claim that one out of twenty five is a sociopath. One of the things that the author says is that there is different types of sociopaths. The serial killer sociopath is the extreme version while the dick head boss is the type of sociopath that is more common. If you can imagine a scale with one side being the killer and the opposite side being that of the lazy do nothing bum. Those two are the ends of being a sociopath, which means if you don’t want to be a sociopath be somewhere in the middle (granted if you are a sociopath you really can’t help being a killer or a moocher). The book is insightful, but it is far from being a go to know how book.
What is really interesting about the book is who these sociopath are and what makes them tick. Anything that give me a better idea on the human condition is always welcomed in my book. It isn’t that one out of twenty five people are killers, but that one out of twenty five has zero conscience. With no morals, they can step on toes and back stab in the blink of an eye without any remorse. It is a strange concept for those who are descent and have feelings and wouldn’t want to hurt anyone without proper cause, let alone a loved one (I guess technically speaking, sociopaths don’t have love ones they are just possession in their mind).
My one nag about the book is how author ends the book. The idea that the writer is telling at end is a tad bit too feel good. While I don’t discredit her ideas it just isn’t as what I think you should be thinking after all the ideas she puts out there. The book is an easy read and I enjoyed my time reading it. If you do read this book, I say don’t be that person that “believes everything you read” but, a person that takes what they read and takes what is given to you and process it. You may or may not have come out reading this book thinking different or at least a bit smarter on how you choose who is close to you and who isn’t.
you can find my review of Money Ball HERE you can find the book I read in 09 HERE
