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The Psychopath Test
 
 

The Psychopath Test [Kindle Edition]

Jon Ronson
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (250 customer reviews)

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Review

‘I began The Psychopath Test late at night, tired, dispirited and ill – then found myself laughing like the proverbial loon for page after page’ Will Self, Guardian

‘The belly laughs come thick and fast – my God, he is funny . . . Ronson’s new book is provocative and interesting, and you will, I guarantee, zip merrily through it’ Observer

Review

"Because of Ronson's relentless self-deprecation and goofy, British humor, it's easy to tag along without fully realizing the rigor of his reporting, which is itself frenzied with compulsive questioning and obsessive research." -- "The Boston Globe"

"A rollicking, page-turner of a book... no ordinary piece of investigative journalism... Ronson's storytelling skills are strong enough to enliven even the necessary reflections that would be one yawn after another if entrusted to a lesser writer." -- "San Francisco Chronicle"

."..A book that manages to be as cheerily kooky as it is well-researched." -- "Los Angeles Times"

"Engagingly irreverent..." -- "New York Times "

"[A] fascinating and humane book..." -- "Washington Post Book World"

."..Both terrifying and hilarious." -- "O, The Oprah Magazine"

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
209 of 227 people found the following review helpful
By HeavyMetalMonty VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
'People who are psychopathic prey ruthlessly on others using charm, deceit, violence or other methods that allow them to get what they want. The symptoms of psychopathy include: lack of a conscience or sense of guilt, lack of empathy, egocentricity, pathological lying, repeated violations of social norms, disregard for the law, shallow emotions, and a history of victimizing others.'
- Robert Hare, Ph.D

I've been hooked on Jon Ronson's writing since 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' was first published. Ronson cuts right to the heart of important topics by having the guts to ask the difficult questions. His literary style is equal parts journalistic rigour, deep compassion and incisive observational humour that often shines the light of ridicule on darker human behaviours. 'The Psychopath Test' explores psychiatry, psychopathology, medication and incarceration of 'dangerous' individuals. The book reads like a mystery novel, which - driven by Ronson's compelling prose - makes it difficult to put down.

The story begins with a meeting between Ronson and a history student who has received a cryptic book called 'Being or Nothingness' in the mail. The same book has been received by several individuals around the globe, most of whom work in the field of psychiatry. The book contains 42 pages, every second one blank. (This made me wonder...in 'The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy', the ultimate answer to life, the Universe and Everything was 42. Was this relevant? Was the mysterious author of 'Being or Nothingness' implying that his cryptic messages, if decoded, could lead to enlightenment?)

Ronson's journey leads him to 'Tony' in Broadmoor, who - when charged with GBH and facing prison 12 years earlier - had faked insanity in the hope of being sent to a comfortable psychiatric hospital. Instead, he had been sent to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital (home to Britain's most dangerous psychotic prisoners), where he was being held indefinitely. Tony explains that he had picked characteristics of various movie lunatics then pieced them together into his 'insane' persona. Getting into Broadmoor had been easy, but getting out was proving immeasurably harder. A senior psychiatrist admits to knowing that Tony isn't insane, as a truly insane person wouldn't manufacture a new personality in the hope of avoiding prison...but a manipulative psychopath would.

Ronson meets Bob Hare, creator of the PCL-R Test, a 20-step Psychopath Checklist which gives individuals scores between zero and forty; the higher the score, the more psychopathic the person. Hare reveals that inmates at prisons and psychiatric institutions aren't the only ones who score highly on his 'psychopath test': many CEOs and directors of corporations qualify as psychopaths too. This prompts Ronson to wonder 'if sometimes the difference between a psychopath in Broadmoor and a psychopath on Wall Street was the luck of being born into a stable, rich family.'

Al Dunlap closed Shubuta's Sunbeam factory (the economic heart of that community), showing no empathy while firing workers and effectively killing the town. While laying off employees, he even spouted jokes such as, "You may have a sports car, but I'll tell you what you don't have. A job!" Bob Hare flags Dunlap as a psychopath, so Ronson sets out to meet the man. When Ronson asks probing questions based on the PCL-R checklist, Dunlap's responses mark him as a textbook psychopath.

Hare explains the science of psychopathology: a part of the brain called the amygdala doesn't function in psychopaths as it does in other human beings. When a regular person experiences extreme violence or carnage (or even photographs of such scenes), his amygdala becomes overstimulated, provoking an extreme anxiety response in the central nervous system. When a psychopath experiences the same stimuli, his amygdala does not respond: no anxiety response occurs. This explains the psychopath's lack of empathy.

'The Psychopath Test' is a compelling read. Ronson's fluid style is the perfect balance of rigorous research, keen observation, poignancy and humour. Congratulations to Jon Ronson on another phenomenal achievement.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Anna
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great read, witty and peppered with amusing self-deprecating excursions. I couldn't put it down - but only a small part of it concerns 'psychopaths'. It also seems that Jon Ronson hasn't quite got his head around the concept of psychopathy/sociopathy, and this is more than a shame - it's a little dangerous.

We start with a mysterious publication that leads Ronson to a neuroscientist who piques his interest in psychopathy. Then we go to someone who is classified as a psychopath but may not be; then to the Hare Psychopathy checklist and a ramble through ways of treating psychopaths in the past. Next step a shallow look at a corporate psychopath...but then it all comes a bit unstuck. We get an account of the unfeeling selection process for reality TV shows; the exceedingly strange behaviour of whistleblower David Shayler; and other stuff that doesn't really relate to the title of the book, or even the critique of psychiatry. If he'd stuck to the topic it would have been excellent. As it is, it really was a fascinating read, but the grasshopper approach to the subject matter seriously detracts from it as an informed study. 3.5 out of 5!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Parts that are greater than the whole 22 Sep 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Overall an easy entertaining read which raised my interest in a number of aspects of mental health.

I expected some overall conclusions and for each chapter to add further insights into pschopathy and a final summing up- I didn't feel I got this. The relevance of each chapter diminished as the book progressed; although each had some link just not as linked as I expected!!!

The book contained new and old material and was set out in what I have become used to in the investigative journalist style. It raised questions for me and got me thinking which was what I was looking for.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating and illuminating
As I read it I often found myself there, slightly behind mr Ronson but close enough to feed off the madness within. Read more
Published 6 days ago by B.B.
4.0 out of 5 stars The Psychopath Test
Well written, easy to read, interesting case studies and research but I felt that the conclusion petered away to nothing much. Read more
Published 7 days ago by igglepigglesquiggle
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fascinating and gripping.
Picked this book up in WHSmith at the beginning of a long train journey whilst hastily looking for something to get me through the journey. Read more
Published 7 days ago by F. Grant
4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read
What is a psychopath? I'm glad to discover I'm not one, yet I'll be proceeding around life a little more cautiously knowing they are there with no feelings of emotion and remorse!
Published 8 days ago by D. A. Longman
5.0 out of 5 stars Who are they and what are they up to?
If you ever wondered who was running things (governments, commerce, the world) then start with this book, and be prepared to have your funny bone and your sense of normalcy... Read more
Published 9 days ago by spellbinder
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and the questions it has provoked in my mind. I now have a greater knowledge and understanding thanks to Jon. Read more
Published 10 days ago by miss keri anne ritchens
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, thought provoking read
I couldn't put it down, which is unusual for non-fiction book. But Jon Ronson's writing style is so engaging he draws you into his journey. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Ryfka
3.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
An interesting read. I don't think I've gleaned too much information by reading, but it was certainly unusual to read the different stories. Read more
Published 13 days ago by aizomc27
5.0 out of 5 stars Made me realise
Why it was an improbable task to get to the very top of the corporate greasy pole in USA based companies! Read more
Published 21 days ago by Mr. R. N. Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I bought this by recommendation and it didn't disappoint. I'm not sure what I expected, but it opened my eyes...I see psychopaths everywhere now.
Published 22 days ago by Val L
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Popular Highlights

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&quote;
If you want to get away with wielding true, malevolent power, be boring.’ &quote;
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&quote;
‘Serial killers ruin families,’ shrugged Bob. ‘Corporate and political and religious psychopaths ruin economies. They ruin societies.’ &quote;
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&quote;
Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go To Work – co-authored with a psychologist named Paul Babiak. &quote;
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