flintwilder's review against another edition
1.0
I guess I should have stuck to my usual reaction to any 'self-help' book that has the word 'success' in its title and steered clear. Or perhaps I should just steer clear from self-help books.
But the idea intrigued me and having read Kevin Dutton's book ' the wisdom of psychopaths' I gave it a try.
I'm also generally quite interested in research about the mind and about what separates 'psychopaths' from the rest of us.
But what I got from this book is 'pop psychology' and while that isn't necessarily an immediate turn off to me, albeit a bit of a turn-off, the book was also somehow boring.
Let's be clear there are probably some points I could use in this book practically for a week or two until I, of course, derail to my baseline of 'miserable git.' For example, I should probably take heed of the idea of 'just doing it' As I do have a tendency to over analyse everything till I become paralysed by my analysis and either don't act on something or by the time I get around to acting on it being so tired of whatever it is being in my head putting minimal effort into the actual thing I should just do.
I do wish I could be a psychopath if not just so I no longer had to feel! Because fuck knows I'm tired of feeling things. I guess that's why this title appealed to me.
But as I'm learning repeatedly but still keep trying like a mad-man to read self-help books, they are full of bollocks or I am. Or both. Or maybe we are all full of bollocks.
Perhaps instead of self-help books, I should become a drug addict instead, or at least get a self-help book in hardback that is also voluminous so I can wack myself over the head with it till I'm numb.
But the idea intrigued me and having read Kevin Dutton's book ' the wisdom of psychopaths' I gave it a try.
I'm also generally quite interested in research about the mind and about what separates 'psychopaths' from the rest of us.
But what I got from this book is 'pop psychology' and while that isn't necessarily an immediate turn off to me, albeit a bit of a turn-off, the book was also somehow boring.
Let's be clear there are probably some points I could use in this book practically for a week or two until I, of course, derail to my baseline of 'miserable git.' For example, I should probably take heed of the idea of 'just doing it' As I do have a tendency to over analyse everything till I become paralysed by my analysis and either don't act on something or by the time I get around to acting on it being so tired of whatever it is being in my head putting minimal effort into the actual thing I should just do.
I do wish I could be a psychopath if not just so I no longer had to feel! Because fuck knows I'm tired of feeling things. I guess that's why this title appealed to me.
But as I'm learning repeatedly but still keep trying like a mad-man to read self-help books, they are full of bollocks or I am. Or both. Or maybe we are all full of bollocks.
Perhaps instead of self-help books, I should become a drug addict instead, or at least get a self-help book in hardback that is also voluminous so I can wack myself over the head with it till I'm numb.
lucie2188's review against another edition
1.0
I don't like self-help books, came across this by accident and read half way through out of some misguided sense of duty. Basically all it tells you is that if you want something, you have to go get it. Who knew. The only difference here is that they wrap it into some popular science facts about psychopathy and how it's very useful for getting ahead because you don't care about anyone else. Again, how novel.
secretworldofareader's review
A guy talking about himself while telling you obvious things
bethtrotter's review against another edition
3.0
took over a year reading this is small instalments, overall it is too focused on storytelling and Andy McNab for my tastes, however i felt that some of the points made really hit home and there are specific chapters of this book that i have bookmarked to go back over when i feel i need to. overall, an average rating.
abn's review against another edition
1.0
A horrendous book. Popular science mixed with teeth gritting, pathetic, British humor is brought together in this sad excuse of a book. The only thing worth reading in it is a quote from Wall Street's Gordon Gekko. So instead of wasting $4 on Amazon, here it is:
"You wonder why fund managers can't beat the S and P 500? Because they're sheep. And sheep get slaughtered ... Gimme guys who are poor, smart, and hungry - and no feelings. You win a few, you lose a few, but you keep on fighting. And if you need a friend, get a dog."
"You wonder why fund managers can't beat the S and P 500? Because they're sheep. And sheep get slaughtered ... Gimme guys who are poor, smart, and hungry - and no feelings. You win a few, you lose a few, but you keep on fighting. And if you need a friend, get a dog."
heatherreadsbooks's review
3.0
So, I'd like to point out the obvious: I'm not a psychopath (seriously, I took their test). It's just an interesting read in the sense of: how many guides to success encourage you to be a little bit of a psychopath?
It does have RANDOM use of CAPITAL LETTERS on what they clearly feel are BUZZ WORDS, which is SUPER ANNOYING. But there's plenty of anecdotes and quizzes to accompany their advice. The chats between McNab and Dutton were a bit pointless sometimes, but generally it was fine.
Did I read it to be enlightened? No. I thought it sounded fun. And it kind of was. The massive part on procrastination did really ring true, so that was of particular interest, but if I take one piece of solace it's that, according to their quizzes, I am not a psychopath, so that's something.
It does have RANDOM use of CAPITAL LETTERS on what they clearly feel are BUZZ WORDS, which is SUPER ANNOYING. But there's plenty of anecdotes and quizzes to accompany their advice. The chats between McNab and Dutton were a bit pointless sometimes, but generally it was fine.
Did I read it to be enlightened? No. I thought it sounded fun. And it kind of was. The massive part on procrastination did really ring true, so that was of particular interest, but if I take one piece of solace it's that, according to their quizzes, I am not a psychopath, so that's something.
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