Sociopath: A Memoir
Ratings49
Average rating3.8
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.
Patric’s story really exemplifies the idea that you can only help people who want to be helped. I found it interesting and there is a lot of detail here to unpack.
Emma Deplores puts it best in her review.
Not convinced of the diagnosis here. It just doesn't make sense with some of the stories in the book.
Obviously I'm no expert, but I didn't believe the author is a Sociopath. Having worked with one for many months, the differences between them is night and day. Just my opinion ✌️
This book was so fascinating. To have someone share their own experiences with their mental illness, particularly with one no one seems to speak about, brought new insights on how sociopathy impacts those who live with it. The author shared her life in a bold and vulnerable way to educate the rest of us and it was an amazing journey. Sociopathy is a spectrum versus black and white bad vs good as everyone likes to see it. To see her experience through therapy and what worked and did not work for her as well was particularly one my favorite parts (I am a therapist though so I'm biased). I highly recommend this book. Whether you're a therapist or just fascinated by life stories- this is worth the read. 4.5 ⭐️
4/5
i really liked this! i liked how she discussed her feelings of apathy all throughout her life in depth and how she knew she was different from most other people because of that. I also liked the incorporation of learning about psychology as well as her story of how she was driven to become a psychologist to learn more about her condition. super insightful & inspiring!
This is my favorite kind of memoir, ones that allow me to see the world from a completely different perspective. This was a compelling and research-based account of the author's acceptance journey before and after her diagnosis. I often think about that TED Talk about the power of one story and how it limits so much of our understanding of other human beings. This was very well written, provided an interesting story, and had insights that every person could benefit from. Reading can be an act of compassion and empathy; this book was no exception.
Patric Gagne's certainty that she is a sociopath is evoking primarily knee-jerk reactions of either denial or horror from readers. However, I don't like to put people in neat categories and would prefer to view (and review) her memoir as one woman's story, sans clinical diagnosis.
The majority of Sociopath details Gagne's risky/illegal behaviors, which range from shoplifting to car theft. Only a few pages of her experiences with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are mentioned in the epilogue, begging the question of whether her adventures are designed to elucidate or just titillate. The book is too long, frequently repetitive, and lacking footnotes for the psychology studies cited. I was neither scandalized nor inspired by Gagne's memoir, but it's interesting to use it as a literary Rorschach test of people's hopes and fears around a label that is tossed around freely in these troubled times.