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The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout

The Sociopath Next Door

The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us

by Martha Stout
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  • First Published:
  • Feb 1, 2005, 256 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Mar 2006, 256 pages
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Reviews

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There are currently 43 reader reviews for The Sociopath Next Door
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Michele

he sucked the life out of me and my child
Wow - I just bought this book - for ME...I'm in the healing process of this man with antisocial disorder- this book fits him to a T...and it is helping me heal - thank you Dr. Stout. No one knows what is like unless you live it...this man was charming, I was in love with him...although he left not many trails of where he lived, where he worked, no email contact.....but I did find out he had his girlfriend with him on my side of the U.S. where he had not lived anywhere previously- he brought his longtime girlfriend here with him behind my back the 3 yrs we dated- saying he moved here for me. I pray people start opening their eyes and when red flags go off as they did early on with him... he and other sociopaths will steer clear of them before the are emotionally scarred as I am. He is also a narcissist....
Chu C.J.

The Sociopath ruled us for 8 years
Our former President Chen, is fully matched all conditions in the book. What Dr. Stout said is true. Do not doubt. Even more, the whole family of Chen , his wife, daughter, son, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, are too.
Allen

This Book Changed My Life
This book was a Godsend and changed my life. I spent almost two decades with a sociopath trying to figure this person out. Finally, all my questions have been answered by Martha Stout. I only wish I could have had the benefit of her book years earlier. I now understand there are manipulative people in the world who have no conscience. They are attracted to bighearted people they can easily manipulate. Sometimes you must get to know someone in a close, personal relationship before you realize he or she is a sociopath . . . they are able to 'blend in'. After reading The Sociopath Next Door I realized my 'friend' was a textbook sociopath. Everything Martha writes in this book is true . . . and I have lived it as proof.
Therapist in Dallas-Fort Worth

A Must-Read
As a mental health therapist, I have referred this book to both colleagues and clients. "Information is power" that empowers us to make healthier decisions in our lives, and the author provides readers with that kind of information.
James Williams

The Sociopath Next Door
This book is a good read that will clearly define a sociopath. It is also has the kind of characteristic that wont let you put down the book.
martha

Excellent!
I am the same Martha that wrote the review below and I just wanted to say to "wife # 4", that you are not crazy! I went thru the same thing with the court system. They told me that I was just saying that he beat me up so that I could "win" the divorce. I too kept telling them that all I wanted to do was protect my children. It has been 8 years since the final divorce and now he is trying to hold a pity party in the court room by claiming that he is physically disabled and can not work so therefore, he can't pay child support. He can not get a medical doctor to back up his claims. He is so behind in child support payments he is now in contempt of court. I may finally be able to get the law to do something about him this time.

It helps to know you are not alone. Good Luck to you and everyone else out there going thru this nightmare.
Starr

SOME BOOK
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is definitely my passion to read about these things but this one takes the cake!! Every time I read anything inside the book it reminds me of my past too. I dated a man in 1996 and 1997 who I know now was a sociopath. He was possessive and firmly stole from people and drained all of my money out of me. He cheated, previously then was on probation in and out of prison. He did everything to impress people and was charming and smiling all the time until people got wise to his tricks and/or mood changes into short rages.. then once they knew.. he would tell them to **** and he would split to a new place to start a new life. He could never fool people long enough before he had to leave and move on again after his rages. He cheated on any woman he was with. It did not matter whether she was beautiful or loved him.. he did not love back. It is so clear now as to how it was. I am so impressed with this book. If only this was out years before. Martha it is EXCELLANT!!
Wife # 4

Wow
I had a friend give my ex husband this title and when I saw this book I was compelled to read it.

I am wife number 4, I have a child with this man and he has a child form a previous relationship and has custody of that child. I have been fighting to maintain custody of my child and only visits that are supervised, knowing all along that he was not a suitable or capable and even less of a caring responsible parent. I can not convince this system of the real issues all they see is me "a bitter ex wife" when I am not, all I want is to be free of this man and protect my daughters physical and emotional well being. No family court judge knows better than me - the person who parented with him - what kind of parent he is, or rather is not.

4 months after I have left he has moved in wife #5. No emotion, no remorse for yet another failed family and loss of another mother figure for his oldest daughter. I have nothing, no home, no support payments, he drained my savings and I have lost my business. He lies better than I tell the truth and I was at the very edge of my sanity, believing it must be me, I must be crazy.

Thank god for this book! I can only hope that if I can win an evaluation through court, the Dr. will see through the smoke and mirrors and I can be free to guide my daughter safely through her youth and hopefully teach her to identify a sociopath better than I did.

If you are involved with in any way a sociopath - read this book, twice.

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