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filemanager's review against another edition
DNF @ 78% - The first 60% or so was interesting, but I lost interest after that. Might revisit it later.
hcoulstock's review against another edition
2.0
the content itself was rather interesting (albeit repetitive at points) but i just didn't really get along with the author herself? which i know was kind of the point but it was hard to enjoy it when i was regularly disagreeing with stuff she was saying.
mentallyillwitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
rebleejen's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I feel much smarter about sociopaths now.
raven_morgan's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know if I can say I enjoyed this book.
The author, who has chosen to use a pseudonym, is a diagnosed sociopath who has decided to step out of the closet. She started a blog, and then a forum for sociopaths, which led to this book deal.
The book is well written, for what it is. It could have done with some heavy editing, because some sections do tend to get repetitive (though one wonders how much control Thomas would have actually elected to hand over to an editor - I can't imagine much).
Thomas herself is an interesting person. She is a law professor and a Mormon, and it's pretty fascinating to see how she's managed to achieve balance between these things and her sociopathy (until she gets bored, of course). She has friends, and laments at times of her inability to maintain a relationship for more than eight months. At times it can be difficult to read her thoughts, mostly because she is so forthright about her ideas about her own intelligence, appeal and power (and lets face it, believing these things is a huge step in actually having them). She certainly presents enough evidence of these traits and of her own successes - but of course, the whole thing is subjective, so who knows if any of it actually real, or if she's just playing an elaborate game?
Either way, no matter what's true or not, it's an interesting read if you have any interest in human psychology or sociopathy.
The author, who has chosen to use a pseudonym, is a diagnosed sociopath who has decided to step out of the closet. She started a blog, and then a forum for sociopaths, which led to this book deal.
The book is well written, for what it is. It could have done with some heavy editing, because some sections do tend to get repetitive (though one wonders how much control Thomas would have actually elected to hand over to an editor - I can't imagine much).
Thomas herself is an interesting person. She is a law professor and a Mormon, and it's pretty fascinating to see how she's managed to achieve balance between these things and her sociopathy (until she gets bored, of course). She has friends, and laments at times of her inability to maintain a relationship for more than eight months. At times it can be difficult to read her thoughts, mostly because she is so forthright about her ideas about her own intelligence, appeal and power (and lets face it, believing these things is a huge step in actually having them). She certainly presents enough evidence of these traits and of her own successes - but of course, the whole thing is subjective, so who knows if any of it actually real, or if she's just playing an elaborate game?
Either way, no matter what's true or not, it's an interesting read if you have any interest in human psychology or sociopathy.
theinkwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
Interesting, but still repetitive even with the chapters each focusing on different formative parts of her life. I think that, like other readers of this book (from what I’ve read in other reviews at least), I was hoping from more personal details from her life, particularly specific cases in which her interactions have caused some sort of damage (in her words, cases where she’s ruined someone’s life). It almost makes me wonder if leaving them out was a sort of manipulation of the reader on her part, as well as being nominally for her safety and to prevent her from being identified. I’m not sure I’d re-read this, but it was a good introduction to the topic.