Most people are both repelled and intrigued by the images of cold-blooded, conscienceless murderers that increasingly populate our movies, television programs, and newspaper headlines. With their flagrant criminal violation of society's rules, serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are among the most dramatic examples of the psychopath. Individuals with this personality disorder are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and know the difference between right and wrong, yet they are terrifyingly self-centered, remorseless, and unable to care about the feelings of others. Perhaps most frightening, they often seem completely normal to unsuspecting targets.
Presenting a compelling portrait of these dangerous men and women based on 25 years of distinguished scientific research, Dr. Robert D. Hare vividly describes a world of con artists, hustlers, rapists, and other predators who charm, lie, and manipulate their way through life. Are psychopaths mad, or simply bad? How can they be recognized? And how can we protect ourselves? This book provides solid information and surprising insights for anyone seeking to understand this devastating condition.
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"A must read. Even though we aren't qualified to diagnose Psychopaths, it's important to know that they are out there and the impact that they have on society. 1% - 5% of the population are Psychopaths; 20% of the prison population are psychopaths; 50% of all violent crimes are committed by psychopaths. Psychopaths are also white collar criminals. They can be police officers, soldiers, doctors, lawyers, financial planners, etc. etc. Not all psychopaths are axe murderers."
— Scott (4 out of 5 stars)
“A fascinating, if terrifying, look at psychopaths…Hare makes a strong case for the view that psychopaths are born, not made…A chilling, eye-opening report—and a call to action.”
— Kirkus ReviewsA fascinating, if terrifying, look at psychopaths. . . . Hare makes a strong case for the view that psychopaths are born, not made. . . . A chilling, eye-opening report---and a call to action.
— Kirkus" hard to imagine people without consciences, but they exist--better to confront reality and know the signs. "
— Liliana, 2/15/2014" Very informative without being dragged down with heavy verbage. "
— Cassandra, 2/13/2014" Accessible, incisive and insightful. A must read for anyone who has ever lived, dated, worked or even just heard about people who are confusing, obnoxious, perpetually lying, megalomaniacally charming and just plain exhausting to be with. "
— Pearlyn, 2/8/2014" This is THE classic book on psychopathy. "
— Dave, 1/16/2014" Contains a few good tales about psychopaths. The bits about psychopathic children are somewhat chilling. "
— Abasi, 1/10/2014" highly recommended. easy read for the lay person. "
— Kate, 1/9/2014" Very, very good! Surprised me how many people I've met in my life that fit a lot of the characteristics of 'psychopaths'. "
— Joe, 1/2/2014" Quite good! Comprehensive, if slightly too focused on the prison population. I preferred The Sociopath Next Door, which had a greater focus on sociopaths in daily life, but I think that this is better grounded. "
— Rachel, 12/24/2013" Not a fan of this book, which manages to make this topic boring and repetitive, and is heavy-handed in its promotion of the diagnostic tool created by the author. "
— Beth, 12/23/2013" Everyone should read this book - so that they can recognize the psychopaths around them. I wish that i would have read this before! "
— April, 12/21/2013" If you want to know about psychopaths, this is the guy. "
— Audrey, 12/15/2013" Great book, if you are interested in the subject. Much deeper detail than many other books. "
— Brian, 9/15/2013" Also Brilliant. A little more clinical than the Sociopath Next Door, but still good. "
— Katie, 8/24/2013" Interesting, based on the author's research. However my hunch is that this is a very controversial topic and other scientists' perspectives would have given a more balanced view. Worth reading though, if you're interested in deviant social behavior. "
— Nancy, 6/26/2013" Scary but necessary to know. "
— Alice, 5/23/2013" While somewhat interesting, this book minimizes the entire realm of mental health to focus on one particular theory that is by no means widely accepted in the profession. It also subtly encourages laymen to diagnose their acquaintances, and that can become quite dangerous. "
— Carolina, 3/10/2013" Fascinating, disturbing truth about this sub-human group. "
— Karen, 5/1/2012" Thoughtful, balanced and fascinating introduction to a topic who's importance is often underestimated. "
— Jim, 3/13/2012" Althought I wasn't completely sold on Hare's Psychopathy Checklist, this cleared up some misconceptions I had about the term 'psychopath'. "
— Rebecca, 2/14/2012" Good for the layman, if you don't have a psychology background. "
— Jenaya, 12/28/2011" Interesting introduction to 'psychopathy'. Mainly interested me because I recognised some people I know in his descriptions and psychopathy check-lists. Useful and insightful; a good handbook on how to handle those people who give off that certain, cold and creepy vibe. Worth a quick read. "
— Emma, 11/6/2011" Very interesting, if somewhat overly dramatic in style. "
— John, 8/21/2011" Good, but somewhat dated. Too many quotes from fictional sources. "
— Anita, 7/19/2011" Somewhat dated, but still a hair-raising book. "
— Jeff, 7/9/2011" Because of Oz I had to read this book. It kind of just validated things I already knew and managed to also terrify me. "
— Marjie, 7/9/2011" Good if rather depressing (obviously) overview of what a psychopath is and why they do it. There's also a short survival guide on what to do if you come across such a person. <br/> <br/>Recommended for those who want to understand a bit more about these 'human predators'. "
— Tom, 6/24/2011" Great book. Clear, uncluttered writing. Engaging and without unnecessary terminology. I really enjoyed this book. "
— Melina, 6/22/2011" Also Brilliant. A little more clinical than the Sociopath Next Door, but still good. "
— Katie, 5/5/2011" A Must Read if your boss is letting certain people get away with a lot of things, and you just can't figure out how they are doing it. "
— Helen, 4/30/2011" After having dealt personally with someone that had no remorse or regret for the things he did to me or to anyone else, this book really helped me understand and move on with my life. "
— Alexis, 3/9/2011Robert D. Hare, PhD, is the author of Without Conscience and the creator of the standard tool for diagnosing psychopathy. He is an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, and president of Darkstone Research Group, a forensic research and consulting firm. He has won numerous awards for his research, lectures widely on psychopathy, and consults with law enforcement organizations, including the FBI. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.