Sociopath: A Memoir
Ratings46
Average rating3.7
An engrossing, “completely fascinating” (Cosmopolitan) memoir revealing the author’s struggle to come to terms with her own sociopathy and shed light on the often maligned and misunderstood mental disorder.
Patric Gagne realized she made others uncomfortable before she started kindergarten. Something about her caused people to react in a way she didn’t understand. She suspected it was because she didn’t feel things the way other people did. Emotions like fear, guilt, and empathy eluded her. For the most part, she felt nothing. And she didn’t like the way that “nothing” felt.
In college, Patric finally confirmed what she’d long suspected. She was a sociopath. But even though it was the very first personality disorder identified—well over 200 years ago—sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. She was told there was no treatment, no hope for a normal life. But when Patric reconnects with an old flame, she gets a glimpse of a future beyond her diagnosis. If she’s capable of love, it must mean that she isn’t a like the madmen and evil villains in pop culture. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way) she embarks on a mission to prove that the millions of Americans who share her diagnosis aren’t all monsters either.
This is the inspiring story of Patric’s journey to unlock the true nature of sociopathy and build a life of love and hope against all odds.
Tags
Genres
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
A very interesting story about growing up with a diagnosis that healthcare professionals don't acknowledge even though it affects every aspect of your life. The audiobook read by Patric Gagne herself was a great listen.
I was sceptical at the beginning, as the author made it sound like she was very aware of the nuances of how her mind worked as a child and teenager, rather than that she was looking at her behaviour through the lense of experience, but when I followed her into college and working life the feeling abated and I was able to enjoy the way she explored her own mind and that of those who were close to her at one point or another.
As always with autobiographies I was at times wondering how much was portrayed as it actually happened and how much was simplified for easier digestion, but Sociopath is all the same a book I would love to read again. It made me think about how I perceive myself and how it would be good for everyone (sociopath or not) to be able to like how they are and who they are. I have to admit I've never thought about sociopathy much at all, I can't even think of the word for it in my native language, and it feels like an interesting thing to look further into.
I wish Patric all the future success in deepening our understanding of the trait and on helping those who are like her.
Cannot help feeling the author is very obsessed with herself. This has nothing to do with author being "apathetic", genuinely does not sound like a pleasant person to be around with. But definitely a honest book..since she sounds like a terrible person (tho maybe she doesn't realize that's why she can be so honest in her writing). Not much insightful tbh.. "Hmmm...OK." is my reaction through entire book.
