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The Good Psychopath's Guide to Success Paperback – 8 May 2014
| Andy McNab (Author) See search results for this author |
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What is a good psychopath? And how can thinking like one help you to be the best that you can be?
Professor Kevin Dutton has spent a lifetime studying psychopaths. He first met SAS hero Andy McNab during a research project. What he found surprised him. McNab is a diagnosed psychopath but he is a GOOD PSYCHOPATH. Unlike a BAD PSYCHOPATH, he is able to dial up or down qualities such as ruthlessness, fearlessness, conscience and empathy to get the very best out of himself – and others – in a wide range of situations.
Drawing on the combination of Andy McNab’s wild and various experiences and Professor Kevin Dutton’s expertise in analysing them, together they have explored the ways in which a good psychopath thinks differently and what that could mean for you. What do you really want from life, and how can you develop and use qualities such as charm, coolness under pressure, self-confidence and courage to get it? The Good Psychopath Manifesto gives you a unique and entertaining road-map to self-fulfillment both in your personal life and your career.
- ISBN-109780593073995
- ISBN-13978-0593073995
- PublisherBantam Press
- Publication date8 May 2014
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions15.27 x 2.84 x 23.32 cm
- Print length384 pages
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Product description
Book Description
About the Author
Andy McNab (Author)
From the day he was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital in London, Andy McNab has lead an extraordinary life.
As a teenage delinquent, Andy McNab kicked against society. As a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years – on five continents. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS.
Since then Andy McNab has become one of the world’s bestselling writers, drawing on his insider knowledge and experience. As well as three nonfiction bestsellers including Bravo Two Zero, the bestselling British work of military history, he is the author of the bestselling Nick Stone thrillers. He has also written a number of books for children.
Besides his writing work, he lectures to security and intelligence agencies in both the USA and UK , works in the film industry advising Hollywood on everything from covert procedure to training civilian actors to act like soldiers and he continues to be a spokesperson and fundraiser for both military and literacy charities.
www.andymcnab.co.uk
Kevin Dutton (Author)
Professor Kevin Dutton is a research psychologist at the Calleva Research Centre for Evolution and Human Science, Magdalen College, University of Oxford. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. He is the author of two acclaimedbooks: Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion; and more recently The Wisdom of Psychopaths. He lives in the Cotswolds.
www.kevindutton.co.uk
Product details
- ASIN : 0593073991
- Publisher : Bantam Press (8 May 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780593073995
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593073995
- Dimensions : 15.27 x 2.84 x 23.32 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 547,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,570 in The Self, Ego & Personality
- 1,779 in Psychology & Emotions
- 2,920 in Psychologist Biographies
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Andy McNab joined the infantry as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was 'badged' as a member of 22 SAS Regiment and was involved in both covert and overt special operations worldwide.
During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993. He wrote about his experiences in three books: the phenomenal bestseller Bravo Two Zero, Immediate Action and Seven Troop.
He is the author of the bestselling Nick Stone thrillers. Besides his writing work, he lectures to security and intelligence agencies in both the USA and UK. He is a patron of the Help for Heroes campaign.
www.andymcnab.co.uk
Customer reviews
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The downside is, this book is very clearly written for men, in quite a stereotypical way. This is bizarre to me, as you'd think Dutton especially as a psychologist would know that psychology is a female dominated science. Not only that, but "self help" style books are largely a female read! Yet, this is seemingly ignored altogether. The tone is very laddish and "banterous". It is mildly amusing in parts but tiresome in others, as these are grown middle class men - even McNab!
One particularly jarring part of the book is where they are talking about the art of persuasion and how to convince someone to do something by selling it to them in terms that appeal to that individual. They reference an aggressive colleague who was resistant to trying meditation to calm down, and as they describe him, they use the phrase- verbatim! - that he "slapped the wife around", and go onto say how the man did cure his anger issues. However, this casual, almost "jack the lad" style of referring to a DOMESTIC ABUSER, did not sit well with me at all. Crass and insensitive, as one must assume if it is being written about in the book it is true, and therefore why were this man's colleagues apparently aware he was an abuser but doing nothing about it? Domestic abuse isn't a filler for a story/point to make, and it's extremely disappointing to read a book as an academic and a woman, to find the writers almost making light of domestic abuse in order to appeal to a certain type of audience. And getting it wrong! As I said, women tend to be drawn more to self help writing and psychology - of course, a broad approach is needed in order to sell and be generalisable, but the fact AN and KD seem to think it's young, straight men buying this in their droves is baffling to me.
There's also a really weird joke that sticks in my mind that KD makes about AN's, ahem, appendage. It's very #ladsladslads but kind of cringey - like dude, we get it, you're friends with Andy McNab. Calm down!
Anyway, my negatives have now outweighed the positives but I did like this book! I think there's much to be said about the area oc psychopathy and it's fascinating to deconstruct it, apply certain traits or ideas to other individuals and situations. I wish KD had written more about his Father, who he diagnoses as a good psychopath. The anecdotes there were interesting.
Worth it for a bargain, but if they release anymore they need to diversify their language or at least have a clue that the majority of their readers are women.
This guide draws a distinction between 'good' and 'bad' psychopaths - those whose talents can serve the public, and those whose anti-social acts will send them to a cell. Professor Dutton notes as well that observation and regulation are still essential. He cites the recent recession as an example of what happens when amoral, fearless gamblers take too many risks in private.
Dutton's style is flawed. There are times when the guide reads like a giddy travelogue. One could also argue that personal assessment tests are no substitute for diagnostic tools. However, they are a good exercise in self-reflection. What the professor means to do with the results is anyone's guess. Hopefully, there will be another programme on Channel 4.
I'm not qualified to comment on the psychological underpinnings of the book. However, I know from experience that the advice therein is sound. Please buy the guide and read it through. It would be good to learn how many readers score as highly as I do.
It is a great book and I have brought 11 copies for family and good friends; although I think Amazon must have thought I was reselling them as I had to jump through some hoops to get all the copies; that said Amazon were ultimated very good.
What more can I say, I wish I had this book 20 years ago.
If you don't like the book, the worse that you have done is read a book; which can never be a bad thing in my opinion.
I think it would be an interesting experience to meet the authors: each for completely different reasons.
Is the book changing my life? On balance I would say yes. I am reading the book again and will probably read it again and again to see what filters into my little brain.
My main criticism is the overly laddish, matey and "jokey" style in which it is written, where serious points are punctuated by irritating asides which I ended up just skipping. There are some amusing anecdotes which illustrate important points as well which are fine, but it is the asides which I found tedious.
But nevertheless, although these asides get in the way of reading, I still found this book very engaging.
This book has allowed me to take a different perspective on various situations in life. I have to admit the techniques and ideals within this book are solid and very much common sense. It just helps to bring it to the forefront of your mind.
It is an enjoyable read which will have you smiling to yourself when you realize how simple things truly are.




