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spiritismus's review
4.0
Een ontzettend leerzaam boek indien je meer wilt weten over sociopaten, oftewel mensen met een antisociale persoonlijkheidsstoornis. Het boek geeft ook veel uitleg over hoe het geweten werkt en waar het vandaan komt. Bevindingen worden wetenschappelijk onderbouwd. Het is echt een studieboek, niet een zelfhulpboek. Meer informatie over hoe je om kan gaan met dit soort mensen zou handig zijn, dit hoofdstuk was wat mij betreft onderbelicht.
eelaynuh's review
4.0
Informative, insightful, well-written. I couldn't help but notice, however, that although the author does an excellent job of explaining how someone ends up this way and how life might feel for a sociopath, she still passes a great deal of moral judgment on them.
She includes quotes from various religious and philosophical leaders who condemn "people with no conscience" but at the same time makes it clear that they are genetically predisposed to be this way. So it begs the question: Should we maybe do more to identify, assist, and assimilate people who are afflicted with this psychological disorder? Seems to me, it might be more pragmatic than an approach of fear and avoidance.
She includes quotes from various religious and philosophical leaders who condemn "people with no conscience" but at the same time makes it clear that they are genetically predisposed to be this way. So it begs the question: Should we maybe do more to identify, assist, and assimilate people who are afflicted with this psychological disorder? Seems to me, it might be more pragmatic than an approach of fear and avoidance.
caroline77's review
5.0
***NO SPOILERS***
Two aspects of this book are noticeably fitting from the start: its cover design and its title. The cover’s zoomed-in focus on three pairs of eyes has significance that's unclear until many pages in, a significance that no doubt will startle and intrigue. As for the title, it might sound somewhat melodramatic, but it underscores one of Stout’s most important points. If there’s one thing she wanted to make very clear it’s that sociopaths (sometimes called “psychopaths”; psychiatrists seem divided on whether these terms are one and the same), are veritable experts at hiding in plain sight. The majority aren't crazed shadowy figures lurking in alleyways. They’re more charming and charismatic than the average person, and they take exorbitant pride in fooling everyone around them by lying, manipulating, feigning the empathy they naturally lack, and playing the pity card.
People like reading about people. Stout knew this and smartly interspersed her narrative with captivating non-fictional anecdotes (and the occasional fictional anecdote) to illustrate her to-the-point explanations about this terrifying disorder. Such a set-up keeps interest high while making the subject very accessible to the lay reader. This isn't a tedious psychiatric work that feels like homework to read.
The Sociopath Next Door is probably ideal to read in combination with (and preferably after), Dr. Robert Hare’s more academic [b:Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us|119730|Without Conscience The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us|Robert D. Hare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429543504l/119730._SY75_.jpg|1499492]. Hare, being the foremost expert in the field of psychopathy, approaches the subject even more thoroughly, but Stout’s book is direct and gripping from page one. Readers searching for a quality book about sociopathy will be pleased with this choice.
Two aspects of this book are noticeably fitting from the start: its cover design and its title. The cover’s zoomed-in focus on three pairs of eyes has significance that's unclear until many pages in, a significance that no doubt will startle and intrigue. As for the title, it might sound somewhat melodramatic, but it underscores one of Stout’s most important points. If there’s one thing she wanted to make very clear it’s that sociopaths (sometimes called “psychopaths”; psychiatrists seem divided on whether these terms are one and the same), are veritable experts at hiding in plain sight. The majority aren't crazed shadowy figures lurking in alleyways. They’re more charming and charismatic than the average person, and they take exorbitant pride in fooling everyone around them by lying, manipulating, feigning the empathy they naturally lack, and playing the pity card.
People like reading about people. Stout knew this and smartly interspersed her narrative with captivating non-fictional anecdotes (and the occasional fictional anecdote) to illustrate her to-the-point explanations about this terrifying disorder. Such a set-up keeps interest high while making the subject very accessible to the lay reader. This isn't a tedious psychiatric work that feels like homework to read.
The Sociopath Next Door is probably ideal to read in combination with (and preferably after), Dr. Robert Hare’s more academic [b:Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us|119730|Without Conscience The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us|Robert D. Hare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429543504l/119730._SY75_.jpg|1499492]. Hare, being the foremost expert in the field of psychopathy, approaches the subject even more thoroughly, but Stout’s book is direct and gripping from page one. Readers searching for a quality book about sociopathy will be pleased with this choice.
alisarae's review
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I got it from the library, but the information in this book is incredibly valuable. People probably pay a couple hundred dollars for a psychology course at a college and don't learn as much as this 230 page book teaches, not to mention the economic, psychological, and emotional costs saved by protecting yourself from sociopaths in your life.
This book is not technical, I mean it's not like reading a scientific journal. It's hands-on and practical, though talking about sociopaths lacking a conscious invariably brings up philosophical and theological questions (that the author does a good job of contextualizing and discussing).
I'm planning to re-read this again and take notes this time. There's a lot of interesting material to ponder and digest, besides the more pratical tips in the book.
This book is not technical, I mean it's not like reading a scientific journal. It's hands-on and practical, though talking about sociopaths lacking a conscious invariably brings up philosophical and theological questions (that the author does a good job of contextualizing and discussing).
I'm planning to re-read this again and take notes this time. There's a lot of interesting material to ponder and digest, besides the more pratical tips in the book.
lalawoman416's review
3.0
Interesting read. Feels a bit condescending. And not sure the science has held up.