r_j_setser's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Very heavy read, but informative. It's difficult to rate the book because I didn't exactly "enjoy" the read, but I found some things helpful. Bottom line, to quote the author, the best course of action is "avoidance". I found the book helpful in recognizing sociopathic tendencies and appreciated the author's reiterance of how a persistent pattern is needed to identify a "sociopath" and not just one or two occurrences. The most beneficial chapter to me was recognizing the difference between a "narcissist" and a "sociopath", especially in today's society where every person's mistake seems to result in them being labeled a "narcissist".
raggedyme's review against another edition
5.0
Invaluable and essential reading if you have to interact with a sociopath
Martha Stout’s first book, “The Sociopath Next Door” was enlightening and helped me to understand the behavior of certain personalities, and this book provided concrete advice on managing interactions with such personalities. I hope you don’t need it, but if you do, her books are invaluable.
Martha Stout’s first book, “The Sociopath Next Door” was enlightening and helped me to understand the behavior of certain personalities, and this book provided concrete advice on managing interactions with such personalities. I hope you don’t need it, but if you do, her books are invaluable.
suneaters's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal cruelty
bookedrightmeow's review
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Not as good as The Sociopath Next Door, which I've read more than once. This one just didn't hold my attention. I'd recommend the first book, but not this.
nattyc96's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Rodale Inc. for the advanced ebook of "Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door" in exchange for my honest review.
"Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door by Dr. Martha Stout is exactly what it sounds like: a guide to dealing with sociopaths when avoiding them is impossible. Stout begins with explaining what is (and is not) sociopathic behavior and the dives into the different unavoidable situations you may find yourself in. From there she details how to protect yourself and others with advice on procedures and behaviors for you to employ.
This read was absolutely fascinating. I felt like I was studying to be on the Criminal Minds team. Understanding human behavior is always fascinating, especially when dealing with deviations from the norm. Stout has clearly done extensive research and it shows. She provides many stories and examples from a variety of sources that made this book feel like a complete collection of situations.
Stout also surprised me by having more of an understanding approach. She looks to understand the behavior, rather than to condemn it. She isn't approving the behavior, but she does acknowledge the deficiency sociopathic individuals are working with that create their behaviors. This outlook may benefit individuals in difficult situations to maintain a cool head and not provide a much desired reaction.
Stout does provide some interesting thoughts on evil and its origins that I'm not quite sure I agree with. She goes into a tangent on religion and I'm not sure it was necessary in this particular book in the way it was used.
Overall, I gave this book 4 stars because it captured my attention for the entire length of the book and provided me with information I'm not sure I would be able to get anywhere else.
"Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door by Dr. Martha Stout is exactly what it sounds like: a guide to dealing with sociopaths when avoiding them is impossible. Stout begins with explaining what is (and is not) sociopathic behavior and the dives into the different unavoidable situations you may find yourself in. From there she details how to protect yourself and others with advice on procedures and behaviors for you to employ.
This read was absolutely fascinating. I felt like I was studying to be on the Criminal Minds team. Understanding human behavior is always fascinating, especially when dealing with deviations from the norm. Stout has clearly done extensive research and it shows. She provides many stories and examples from a variety of sources that made this book feel like a complete collection of situations.
Stout also surprised me by having more of an understanding approach. She looks to understand the behavior, rather than to condemn it. She isn't approving the behavior, but she does acknowledge the deficiency sociopathic individuals are working with that create their behaviors. This outlook may benefit individuals in difficult situations to maintain a cool head and not provide a much desired reaction.
Stout does provide some interesting thoughts on evil and its origins that I'm not quite sure I agree with. She goes into a tangent on religion and I'm not sure it was necessary in this particular book in the way it was used.
Overall, I gave this book 4 stars because it captured my attention for the entire length of the book and provided me with information I'm not sure I would be able to get anywhere else.
lilsuccubus's review
3.0
Some excellent lit review sections, especially on brain differences in sociopaths and treatment options for children with conduct disorder. A little disorganized, and some parts were topical or repetitive.
mutualaid's review
3.0
Wow this is quite the book to try to rate. Kind of a behemoth. On the one hand, it is absolutely crucial that leftists and organizers start grappling with the limitations of post-modern pure social constructivism, and grapple with the biology and neurology of consciouslessness and non-empathy. A massive disappointment of this text is that it does not talk about sociopaths and narcissists as parents, and what children can do as survivors. I am the daughter of a severe narcissist and a psychopath, and for whatever blessed reason was born with an extreme empathy. I think the assertion that narcissism is purely environmentally created through child abuse is false, in comparison with psychopathy which is biological. I think there is much to be studied, discovered, tested, and theorized about the relationship and continuum between narcissism (lack of empathy) and sociopathy (lack and empathy and conscious.) But how can this work ever properly be done under imperialist racial capitalism, where science must be paid for and profitable? This author’s work lacks a critique of the racist stereotyping of Black and Brown people as lacking empathy and feeling, and lacks of critique of how bio-essentialism, racism, white supremacy, ableism, fatphobia, and imperialism create obstacles for forming systems and tests for determining psychopathy. Most blatantly, this author never mentions the fact that the profit motive is at the heart of capitalism. She mentions the flaws of capitalism and reduces the solution to choosing better, empathetic leaders, but contradicting herself, she also talks about how institutions themselves can be psychopathic. She also critiques communist dictators. This work, even in it’s highly reductive, pop-psych, bio-essentialist race blind manner, still provides evidence for an anti-state, bottom-up, self-governed, cooperative anarchist society. I wish I could send this author a documentary on Rojava- I may do this! One highlight of the book was the chapter on narcissistics versus psychopaths, which was highly insightful and accurate, very well-done. This book seems to have quite a few literally copy and pasted sections from her first book! In general reading both of Stout’s books this year have got me appreciating my *ability* to empathize, attach, love, be good, be honest, and listen to my conscience more, and to enjoy and find pleasure and promote goodness as much as I can. Leaves a ton of biological and evolutionary questions.
zade's review
3.0
Don't let the title fool you. This book will do very little to help you cope with whatever sociopaths you may encounter. The sum of Stout's advice is "don't give them a reaction to their tactics, report them to higher-ups where feasible, and get out if you can." If you're looking for practical advice, there are many better books.
That said, there's some valuable stuff here, particularly in the chapter on distinguishing a narcissist from a sociopath. Since the two disorders share many traits, the material here is interesting, but does not particularly help readers with strategies to cope with either flavour of destructive pathology.
The final chapter in particular is out of place. Certainly, Stout is wise to advise against nurturing hatred or revenge fantasies, and yes, our ability to love and empathize with others is terribly valuable, but this extended paean to love triumphing over evil seems tone-deaf in a book purporting to provide practical help to people whose lives are being destroyed.
Stout's first book in this series, The Sociopath Next Door, was pretty darned good. This one feels like she wanted to ride the wave a little longer, but didn't have anything pressing to add.
That said, there's some valuable stuff here, particularly in the chapter on distinguishing a narcissist from a sociopath. Since the two disorders share many traits, the material here is interesting, but does not particularly help readers with strategies to cope with either flavour of destructive pathology.
The final chapter in particular is out of place. Certainly, Stout is wise to advise against nurturing hatred or revenge fantasies, and yes, our ability to love and empathize with others is terribly valuable, but this extended paean to love triumphing over evil seems tone-deaf in a book purporting to provide practical help to people whose lives are being destroyed.
Stout's first book in this series, The Sociopath Next Door, was pretty darned good. This one feels like she wanted to ride the wave a little longer, but didn't have anything pressing to add.