Confessions of a Sociopath by M. E. Thomas (2013-05-23)

Whoa, what an eye-opener. I had read the academic (but equally readable) The Sociopath Next Door which gave me a lot of objective information. THIS book was downright spooky! Chilling!!! A first person account of how a sociopath's brain thinks. The next time I'm in a group of people (1 in 25 is a sociopath, according to the Harvard professor in TSND) I'll look for the telltale stare. Being in the South (but not from it), it's hard to tell which charmer is of the sociopath variety.

Interesting premise and starts with a lot of promise. However, halfway through I realized that everything in the book are also in Henry Rollins singing Liar. More intriguing is the question as to whether the author will still have a job teaching at BYU law school, as rumored after the administration has a chance to read the book. Although I can't imagine a better place for her to be than teaching a group of Mormon sociopaths who will talk about Christianity on Sundays and do everything contrary to those teachings the balance of the week. Otherwise known as the Utah Republican Party.

I really connected with this book, on many different levels. I, myself, am not a sociopath but I do have BPD and reactive attachment disorder. A lot of RAD traits actually mirror those of sociopathy. However, I am very empathetic when I want to be and I know that that's a glaring difference between the two. Still, it's nice to read a book that I feel like I can relate to. I don't feel so abnormal and I don't feel like as much of a villain as I did before. Thank you for this.

Who has not thought: "Why would anyone do that?!" This author gave me information about her sociopathic thinking process, the differences in her value system, and her manipulative behavior. I now see parallels in people I have met, dealt with, and wondered about. Though the sociopathic mind is so clever at camouflage that one will not know they 'have been had' until the consequences occur, understanding the process is a kind of 'booby prize' for the rest of us, the prey. I did see some tendencies in myself that appear once in a while. Yet in the end, I am assured that I do not have the full armor and mental weapons to cold-heartedly toy with the lives of others. That alone is a reason to read this book: to find out how much of the sociopath lives inside of you, your boss, or your loved ones.

I thought that this book had some interesting ideas and some silly ones. It felt as if the author wanted to shock or impress her readers with behaviour which , quite frankly, was a bit childish and hard to believe that an intelligent person would act in certain ways. Then again , super fascinating facts made the book worthwhile.

I reccommend this book to people who want to know more of the subjective world of "sociopaths". Please note that "sociopath", "psychopath", and "antisocial personality disorder" are not necessarily synonyms although they are sometimes used that way. This book is about the loosely defined construct, "sociopath". Hopefully, this book will contribute towards larger society's understanding such individuals, rather than to scaring them. I doubt though that the title "Confessions..." is correct. It is for example nothing like the confessions of St Augustine (which indeed are confessions). What's going on in the book is more a description of life-events - life as a sociopath.

Would recommend this to any discerning individual willing to look at a sociopath for more than just a villainous creature of vile intent. Instead, the book illustrates a woman who is as flawed and imperfect as any other human, with a unique neurological difference that causes her to view the world in a fundamentally different manner. It impressed me, astounded me, and occasionally shocked me; everything I would want from a book of this genre.

While I may not completely understand the working of the writer's brain, I really appreciate the meticulous, clear and interesting writing. She includes stories within the information so someone like myself can better understand. I would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in human interactions, psychology or social conditions.

Interesting and well written. I must credit the person for her self-awareness and personal introspection coupled with her productive desire to understand her self and improve her inter-relationships with people.

This book has many layers. It's interesting to read the author's intake on life itself. I did find inconsistencies. In the beginning, the author went on to explain about her abusive parents and then toward the end, she praised her parents for being loving parents. Whether she is a true sociopath I question. I highly doubt any sociopath is aware of their anti personality disorder and because of their grandiose opinion of himself. They are blinded to what they are and often feel it's everyone else is at fault. I don't think all sociopaths are criminals or maybe they just haven't been caught yet. Sociopaths generally don't make good friends. They can be very charming but only for a short time before they show their true nature. If you let a sociopath in your life, he's going to make your life a living hell. He may not go out and commit crimes but he will use you until you have lost yourself and your bank account. I know this from my own personal experience. To me, the author's ideas are a bit fantasy. Although, I imagine corporate leaders could very well be sociopath like. I do disagree with the author's ideas about children. As a parent of three and grandchildren, I know from my own experience that children do need love and affection. It is a vital part of their growth. If this author is truly a sociopath, I feel sorry for her. She will never understand or experience the full joy of having family and genuine love. Love and compassion for others is what makes us human, it gives us the drive to be kind and understanding. And I for one, love knowing that I have empathy for others.

I enjoyed reading this. Interesting to look into the (self-perceived) mind of a psychopath. I did find the author contradicted herself in some places, and the writing is not quite top notch, but nevertheless an entertaining read on an unusual topic.

This is an enlightening look at how it feels from the other side -- it's not personal, just..... fun? As a therapist, I realize that sociopaths deserve the benefit of the doubt, but Thomas' book elucidates the motivation behind some of the behavior. It's also an extremely well-written book by a clearly brilliant person... who happens to be deeply competitive. This high need for winning seems to be at the core of her personality, the driver for her. Unfortunately, sociopathy makes it very difficult to develop intimate relationships that last.

this is a great book for people who understand satire. id give it 5 stars but its actually TOO good of a satire. apparently nobody ive come across on the ol' interwebs seems to notice its (to me, anyway) ironic clues. in the foreward she says she used a pseudonym cuz she didn't wanna cause trouble to her family members. somebody without remorse or empathy arent able to even fake that. without giving too much away, there are other examples of her and i wont give them all away, but if uve ever heard her talk, she has an eastern european accent, which she says she uses cuz she loves the sound of her own voice. why would someone who loves the sound of their own voice mask it? great satire

Vapid and vain, this woman thinks of herself much more highly than she ought. Not only does she have nothing of value to say, she says it rather poorly. If you like to applaud arrogant mediocrity, buy this book. If not, don't bother.

I would have given this book zero stars if allowed. What a ridiculous piece of drivel and complete waste of my valuable time and money. This was a book club pick and not something I would have picked up otherwise. I could have easily written this book as I fear most of the anecdotes are contrived. I found the author completely unlikeable with not a shred of redemption following in any page of this book. While I know that the world population has different likes and dislikes, I can't imagine too many people wanting to read the exploits of an arrogant narcissist. I hope this helps those of you looking for a better read.

Truly worth getting if only because how often does a bona fide (diagnosed) sociopath write a memoir? The points she makes do get a bit stale, as they are repeated often, and I cannot say I found her at all likeable - but hey, isn't that the point?

It may surprise some of you to see these qualities in yourself or others around you. If you do, don't deny it. Embrace it. If you don't, try to understand it. Empathize (since you're probably better at it). Honesty can go a long way, especially the hard truths.

I bought this book since I am a neurology student. I love how human brains work and how we think. As I opened the book and began reading the first few pages, I was drawn into and could not stop reading. The way the author explains about other people and what sociopath really is, is very amazing. you must read the book to find out!