Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us Reviews

• A fascinating look at the psychopaths among us

  
  By AMBUDEJGP3K98 on 2002-05-28
  Psychopaths are social predators severely lacking in conscience and empathy. The view promulagated by popular media (especially works of fiction) is that all psychopaths are bizarre serial killers, perhaps indulging in some grandiose ego trip. The reality is that there are only an estimated 75 serial killers in the entire world, compared with several millions of psychopaths in North America alone. THESE PREDATORS LIVE AMONG US, YOU INCLUDED.
  
  I have read much literature on the subject ranging from case studies to complex psychodynamic analysis. Without conscience is the first to paint the portrait of the psychopath in a way that is palatable to the lay reader. In this book, Robert Hare (the leading researcher on the topic and arguably the most knowlegable in the world) describes the inner and outer world of the thieves, con artist, murders, rapist, child abusers, corporate crooks and career exploiters of others that make up the most depised class of human beings known to the world.
  
  He passes through the outer image of "nice guy" charm and brings to light the deceit, manipulation, lack of feeling and utter selfishness that mark such individuals.
  
  Here is a quick breakdown of whats discussed in the book:
  
  * "Experiencing" the psychopath- In the opening chapters and throughout the book Dr. Hare describes the intial reactions that occur when one first interacts with a psychopath. Psychopaths often have an ability to make a huge first impression
  
  * The lifestyle and relationships characteristic of the typical psyhopath- Here you learn about specific psychopathic traits; such as the charming personality, hugely inflated sense of self worth, manipulation, dishonesty and the generally predatory nature of psychopathic behavior.
  
  * Hare uses examples of real life psychopaths to illustrate the behaviors and traits he describes throughout the book. He discusses why psychopaths are "naturals" at committing crimes. He also addresses the common question "why are some people like this."
  
  I strongly feel that this book is a good purchase for anyone. If you have never been up close and personal with a psychopath, you will feel like you have gotten to know one through those portrayed in this book.Those involved in any aspect of the criminal justice system or mental health industry will without a doubt come in to contact with many psychopaths and will need to be familiar with the traits therin. Psychopaths are ubiquitously as a class extremely poor canidates for rehabilitation or therapy and will try to use the system to their advantage much as they do their victims.
  
  If you have been sucked in by the charm, fake concern and elaborate stories of someone whom you believe could be one of these individuals then by all means, buy this book. It will empower you and give you an action plan for getting them out of your life.
  
  The type of people described in this book will make a victim out of anyone in a instant. Along with being an intensely fascinating read, this book will help you end up "safe" rather than "sorry" if your time comes.
  
  

• Titillating Stories with No Scientific Content

  
  By A2U0XHQB7MMH0E on 2001-02-04
  A considerable fraction of the human population, perhaps five percent, are psychopaths, unable to experience the emotions of shame, guilt, empathy, and sympathy for the plight of others. This book purports to analyze the psychopathic personality, but fails miserably. The author spends most of his time entertaining the reader with the goulish exploits of famous serial murderers and other notorious killers, yet has not the slightest evidence that they are psychopaths. Moreover, Hare stereotypes psychpaths rather than analyzing them. All the people he interviews and describes are good looking, intelligent, verbal, social charmers, impulsive, glib and lie extensively. Each and every one, mind you. The real world of psychopaths is more nuanced.
  
  Virtually all of the evidence presented concerning the psychology of psychopathy are from interviews and writings of the psychopaths themselves. But if they lie freely and without compunction, why should we believe their own stories? There is, of course, absolutely no reason. Moreover, we know that some psychopaths are quite sadistic (they torture their victims, kill animals) while others are simply devoid of feeling for others. Shouldn't these be two different types of personality syndrome?
  
  This is a very good read with lots of gruesome titillation. Dr. Hare evidently wrote a Psychopathy Checklist, but we never get to see it, or to find out why it's a valid indicator of anything. I didn't learn much from this shallow volume.
  
  

• No, YOU'RE not crazy! Great for figuring out what hit you!

  
  By A2SNRIDC4QCCXN on 2005-05-25
  I had the misfortune of having a psychopath wreak havoc in my life and the lives of my friends and family a few years ago. This followed an incident in the 1990s, where a group of us at an Ivy League university were scammed by a beautiful con artist.
  
  I asked a friend who works for the FBI how this could happen twice in a relatively short time period to a group of pretty darn smart people. His response: 1 out of every hundred people is a psychopath. They are not all murderers and they are not all in prison - they live among the rest of us and are often charming and interesting, at least on superficial acquaintance.
  
  We had the misfortune of running into two of them in a decade because we were living in places that psychopaths often target: where people with money and power are. These people THRIVE in transient communities, especially in RICH, transient communities. The university town and the ski resort where we met these folks both have wealthy, transient populations. Apparently, we lived in a dream destination for con artists. (Later, when speaking to long-time residents of the ski resort about what I learned from my FBI pal, I was amazed to hear that they also had learned - with hard experience - that this gorgeous little town had attracted far more than its fair share of really awful people who stole and lied and cheated their way into big money, and then disappeared, with hearts broken, bank accounts empty, and other people holding useless contracts and big debts.)
  
  Normal people give most people they are getting to know the benefit of the doubt, so when things said by these two people didn't add up, we all kind of blew off that troublesome "hey, wait a minute!" feeling. THAT was our mistake, both times. If we'd paid attention to that niggling "something doesn't add up" feeling, we wouldn't have had money and credit cards and jewelry - and a Mercedes! - stolen, reputations and credit ratings (thankfully only temporarily) smudged, and - for a few of the people - there wouldn't have been broken hearts and sad days and weeks of wondering, "how could s/he have deceived me so when I was so good to her/him??"
  
  Strangely enough, after their stories were blown, family members of both of these folks admitted that the behavior of their psychopaths had driven them to depression and other problems; in both cases, therapists had told the family members that these con artists were most likely psychopaths!
  
  If you've had a psychopath in your life, this book will really help you. Somehow, once you know that what you've lived through is part of a larger pattern that also happens to other decent, intelligent, hard-working, and honest people everywhere, then it's easier to gain some distance -- and more importantly, to actually listen to your instincts the next time you have a "hey, wait a minute" moment, when you think, "something doesn't add up here!"
  
  Listen to your instincts. They're right more often than you'd think.
  
  

• The creepy folk

  
  By A3SLJR7K4G4ET9 on 2005-02-10
  Robert Hare's book is a landmark publication and very frequently referenced by other professionals, which speaks to the respect in which his colleagues hold his research and writings. This is an excellent book. It is well-written, lucid, and aimed at the lay person. His clarification of the terms "psychopath," "sociopath" and "anti-social personality disorder" are quite useful.
  
  My only problem with the book is that Hare's examples come largely from the criminal world, where many psychopaths end up, and in which he worked for many years. Because of this, we may lose sight of the fact that many "psychopaths" are NOT criminals, but produce enormous chaos and emotional mayhem in the lives of others -- others who do not understand this disorder and cannot make sense of what has happened to them.
  
  Psychopaths by their very nature are con artists, but not all are thieves and murderers. Some are just emotionally abusive, cruel, manipulative, controlling and bring families, employees, employers and acquaintances to ruin in a hundred other ways.
  
  Empty, pathetic and destructive, they run the gamut from the emotionally frozen, disengaged, cruel parent to the serial killer -- all marked by one thing, their inability to relate empathetically to others.
  
  

• The Definitive Text on the Psychopath

  
  By A3FGJDBSMCSG7G on 2003-11-19
  In this seminal textbook, Robert Hare, distinguishes psychopathy from mere antisocial behavior, the main criterion used by the DSM-IV-TR to diagnose the Antisocial Personality Disorder.
  
  The disorder appears in early adolescence but criminal behavior and substance abuse often abate with age, usually by the fourth or fifth decade of life. It may have a genetic or hereditary determinant and afflicts mainly men. The diagnosis is controversial and regarded by some scholar as scientifically unfounded.
  
  Psychopaths regard other people as objects to be manipulated and instruments of gratification and utility. They have no discernible conscience, are devoid of empathy and find it difficult to perceive other people's nonverbal cues, needs, emotions, and preferences. Consequently, the psychopath rejects other people's rights and his commensurate obligations. He is impulsive, reckless, irresponsible and unable to postpone gratification. He often rationalizes his behavior showing an utter absence of remorse for hurting or defrauding others.
  
  Their (primitive) defence mechanisms include splitting (they view the world - and people in it - as "all good" or "all evil"), projection (attribute their own shortcomings unto others) and projective identification (force others to behave the way they expect them to).
  
  The psychopath fails to comply with social norms. Hence the criminal acts, the deceitfulness and identity theft, the use of aliases, the constant lying, and the conning of even his nearest and dearest for gain or pleasure. Psychopaths are unreliable and do not honor their undertakings, obligations, contracts, and responsibilities. They rarely hold a job for long or repay their debts. They are vindictive, remorseless, ruthless, driven, dangerous, aggressive, violent, irritable, and, sometimes, prone to magical thinking. They seldom plan for the long and medium terms, believing themselves to be immune to the consequences of their own actions. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".
  
  
• Don't be devastated by one of these people - READ
  By A544IEH6AE18C on 2006-06-03
  Without Conscience has a lot of information that will help someone distinguish an everyday Psychopath from the rest of the population. Yes it speaks of famous cases, it speaks of prison inmates, but it also covers the ground that most of us walk on every single day. Grocery stores, work, church, school, etc.
  
  Not all Psychopaths are criminals, nor do all of them turn physically violent. In truth most of them are our neighbors, friends, family members, spouses, and even our own children. Most Psychopaths stay so low key that it's hard (next to impossible) to pick up on what is happening until it's too late. By then you are in over your head, financially and emotionally devastated. I know, because I was a target of one of these people.
  
  If I had known what a Psychopath was, and had already read this book, I would have known to avoid the individual at all cost. This book covers every thing to help us make an intelligent decision about the type of person we may be dealing with. If you have doubt of any person in your life, read this book. Better safe than sorry. Believe me, the Psychopath won't care about what he or she does to you. You have to protect yourself from them.
  
  This book will put you on the right path. Always remember 1 out of every 25 people have this mental disorder, so your chances of meeting or already knowing one are very high. Take precautions now before it's too late.
  
  
• I am wiser & much sadder now
  By A168HXJPJVPBU1 on 2001-09-25
  This is an excellent introduction to the world of the psychopath. The checklist is an excellent diagnostic tool. I found myself wondering, if the brain scanning work Dr. Hare describes (Chapter 8) is accurate, why we don't skip all the therapy & subjective analysis and just wire 'em up?

  I would recommend this book as a good basic introduction for the lay person, and an excellent resource for any person in the field of couples counseling, premarital counseling, or any other sort of relationship therapy. Perhaps if people could recognize the signs of psychopathic behavior early enough, their lives would not be destroyed by sick relationships. The best defense against psychopaths is to recognize them for what they are and not get tangled in their web. Here is what left me feeling the most hopeless: the book had no real good advice for what to do when you realize that the person you've chosen as a best friend, spouse, business partner, etc. is a psychopath, long after you've entangled your life & fortunes with him/her.

  This book left me saddened. There are people in my life I have tried to understand, hoping that if I could only "get where they're coming from", I could develop some empathy & caring for them instead of being utterly repelled. But, if, as Dr. Hare states, Psychopaths are not curable or treatable, what's the point? It's hopeless. Our society is not one in which some authority figure could administer tests, prove that the person is not curable and is incapable of rehabilitation, and then put them to death. For good or ill, that's just not the way we do things. In the case of proven psychopaths, I sort of wish it was.
  
  

• Psychopaths at the back door - the facts revealed
  By A3OEECMCM2T4KQ on 2005-12-22
  After reading this extremely sobering text, and it is strongly suggested you do, you will recognize someone in your past, present or future to be a psychopath. As Hare suggests, it is dangerous to label individuals without proper clinical research including intense interviews and applying the "Psychopathic Checklist" before a likely diagnosis can be made. However recent research has shown that there are literally millions of psychopaths in jail, mental institutions or simply walking the streets. They can be in your work places, a problem child or sharing your bed. It's a frightening thought, and this book has been written to outline the essential characteristics of the psychopath and a general "survival guide" to help us recognize and prevent the majority of harm to oneself and our loved ones.
  
  Hare provides many case histories from thousands of interviews with psychopaths and their victims. The renowned psychopathic checklist that he and his team developed over many years has proved to be a worthwhile tool in diagnosis. Most of these case histories are terrifying and ultimately sad as the psychopath invariably leaves a wake of destruction wherever they are and with whom they come in contact. These predators are the grand seducers because they have developed a strategy to detect one's weaknesses, doors of opportunity, to attain their every desire, whether money, sex or power. These characteristics seem obvious on first reading, but are a little more difficult to spot in actual physical contact.
  
  The psychopath is usually glib and superficial, egocentric and grandiose and most importantly feels no guilt or remorse after committing an illegal or terrible act. Most often they are impulsive, deceitful and highly manipulative. Lack of responsibility for their actions and consistent antisocial adult behaviour are tell tale signs. Interestingly, most can be charming, good talkers and mesmerizing - a lot share the attribute of the intense, cold stare, an excessive eye contact used to intimidate. As the title suggests, all are without conscience and move through life in the pursuit of self-gratification, no matter what the cost.
  
  What is sobering about this study is that our understanding of the condition is poor compared with other mental illnesses. Psychopaths do not respond to treatment and if incarcerated and set free, are more than likely to re-offend. As treatment is not an option at this time, the best we can do is have the knowledge to identify the psychopath and apply survival strategies to ensure the least amount of damage to others and ourselves. Hare gives us a "survival manual" at the back of the text, including an extensive bibliography to continue our personal research into the condition.
  
  This book is a must read for anyone working in welfare, legal, rehabilitation and education, including law enforcement. All too often we are appalled and confused by certain behaviours, and this information clears this confusion and provides tools to deal with it. Excellent resource.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• This Man Knows His Stuff
  By AVQCRSCKAMXNS on 2001-12-18
  I picked up this book as a prosecutor asked to commit someone as a psychopathic personality.

  Not knowing the first thing about psychopathy and the fact that such a committment is indefinate, I searched for guidance; because I did not want to unjustly start this procedure.

  What I read in Dr. Hare's book gave me a very good idea of what a psychopath is without examining the checklist he developed. It also gave me insight into how psychopaths permiate our capitalistic society and rise to the top unimpeded. I also learned that some people actually have physcial reations to psychopaths and that is what I had been feeling since I was little when someone gave me the feeling of danger.

  Dr. Hare was able to brilliantly write this book that appeals to someone with little or no knowledge of psychology and also those who desire more detail. The stories of interactions with real psychopaths was very informative and shocking. I believe this is a must read for anyone who does not want to become victim to a psychopath. They are smart, clever, brilliant actors, savvy body cue readers and pathological lyers. They are scary, scary preditors and they are in disguise.

  Save yourself pain...read this book. They are out there looking for you. Yes the person I was asked to commit was a sexual psychopath and was committed. After reading the book, I knew more of what to look for in his behavior and demeanor and how to choose an expert who would properly and neutrally examine him with the requisite qualifications.

  Waiting for Dr. Hare's next book with excitement!
  
  

• Now I understand.....
  By A102VPNZTRP1YA on 2005-03-18
  I read this book a few years ago and was fascinated by it - as someone who reads true crime books, such as those written by Ann Rule, I wondered about the mental make-up of psychopaths and how they came to be they way they are. Professor Hare's book is not an academic text but instead, is geared towards the layperson. I feel he does an excellent job of explaining what psychopaths are, how they came to be that way (unlike other writers, he does not blame childhood abuse entirely but notes that there seems to be a genetic component involved, as well) and how to recognize them.
  I turned to this book again after following the Scott Peterson trial and hearing experts describe him as a "classic psychopath". Dr. Hare's description of the psychopath's inability to feel emotion would seem to explain Scott Peterson's behaviour: his total lack of remorse, his callous and cavalier actions during the time his wife was "missing" and finally, his complete lack of any reaction at all to the verdict and sentencing.
  A very good book, highly recommended.
  
  
• A Gold Mine of a book for families of this type of person
  By on 1999-04-06
  This book is invaluable for the psychiatric community. I think it should be required reading. It is also an asset to the lay person, particularly if this type of person is a family member. Dr. Hare "nails" both the personality traits and the behaviors of the psychopath. This book is the ONLY book I have found so far to be as direct and helpful to my family and I as it has been. I found Dr. Hare's approach to treatment of these people to be useful also. While some may find Dr. Hare's conclusions somewhat final, I appreciated his candor. For anyone who deals with these types of people, this book is a "must have"; especially families of these persons. I found the book to provide ideas for action instead of the floundering about offered in so many other texts. My thanks, Dr. Hare, for an excellent and informative read.
  
  
• read it now or pay later !
  By on 1999-09-18
  right on, to the point,and no wasted words. it's a very good book, and it could be a much better book. Hare implies that the world is divided into two camps, psychpaths and normals. In other words, he establishes a polarity between the good guys and the bad guys. After you've been around the block a few times, you realize that there are plenty of shades of grey in between. Hare gives this group the designation "sub criminal", but even that's simplistic. There are probably more people with borderline sociopathic personalities, or those who manifest some of the antisocial traits, but are far from being full tilt psychopaths. It's this in between group of personalities that Hare loses in his either/or model. Also, Hare speaks to normal parents who have psychopathic children, but he ignores the family dynamics of normal children born to psychopathic parents. What happens to them ? Still, a fine introductory book that anyone can benefit from reading. It deserves to be expanded and refined.
  
  
• THE book on psychopaths--crucial to understanding Columbine
  By AJZR814M8THOR on 2004-09-14
  I covered Columbine for Salon and Slate and several other outlets, so I have spent hours and hours talking to some of the leading psychologists in the country, and they all sent me to the same source on psychopathy.
  
  Bob Hare is unparalled as the world's expert on the field, and this book is its bible. For good reason. I could only understand Eric Harris once I read this book. It has been invaluable to my work, and I carry a copy around with me when ever I'm researching.
  
  It's jammed with examples of actual psychopaths, graphically illustrating the behavior he describes--and doing the impossible, making sense of the condition.
  
  (I would also strongly recommend the nonfiction book "The Devil in the White City," as a brilliant case study. I had some problems with the last 100 pages of that book, but Erik Larson presents a vivid portrait of a single pyschopathic individual. But read Without Conscience first, and you'll understand how the "devil" character fits into the framework. It will all make so much more sense.)
  
  
• Pop Coverage of a Complex Topic, but a Fun Read
  By A1SDN7FOYXRSMS on 2006-03-09
  Some reviews have complained that Hare's book doesn't provide much in the way of science or give access to items on the Psychopathy Check List-Revised (PCL-R).
  This book wasn't written for an audience well versed (or interested in) research methodology, normative groups, alpha levels, etc. So while it is weak on the research aspect, he does highlight and give a broad description of some of the current research in the field. He also gives names, so the more scientifically minded reader can hunt down the articles these researchers are writting.
  Also, access to forensic instruments like the PCL-R is mostly restricted to qualified professionals. If the PCL-R were widely available, the bad guys would get their hands on it and learn to beat it.
  That said, Robert Hare is the name in psychopathy research today and he is the author of the best-validated, most widely used testing instrument for it -- the PCL-R. There probably isn't anyone alive who knows as much about psychopathy as Dr. Hare does.
  Is this book fantastic? No, but it accomplishes its purpose. It provides an entertaining, broad description of the psychopathy and attempts to correct some of the more prevalent misconceptions about the syndrome. If you are looking for in-depth information, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a fun read and a general description of psychopathy, give this book a try.
  
  
• Too clinical; nothing new; sensationalist
  By A23ZEMLEUL87K4 on 2001-12-03
  The layout is confusing. It jumps all over the place. And not as well researched as it should be NB. the Lawrencia Bembenek example does not belong here.

  It skims alot of sections. It tends to perpetuate the myth that psychopaths are all serial killers. Not enough in-depth cases. Doesn't take advantage of the new research on brain abnormalities - nothing new here.

  Not a comprehensive overview of a psychopath. Eg. it doesn't mention one word about the connection between substance abuse and psychopathy.

  A poorly organized and edited book. Comes nowhere near Hervey Cleckley's "The Mask of Sanity". This is a masterpiece on this subject even though it was written originally in the fifties when there was less medical knowledge of the subject. This book really gives you the flavour of what a psychopath is.

  Neither books however deals much with the victims of psychopaths.

  This book comes across as being a hybrid of a breathless tabloid piece and a poorly-written thesis. A mishmash. As a supposedly premier researcher on the subject, I expected a much better book instead of this - it reads like a transcribed dictaphone recording dashed off in one sitting by the author.

  Still worth investigating as there aren't too many current books on the subject; and thankfully it doesn't contain any Freudian pyscho-analytic mumbo-jumbo.
  
  

• Excellent mainstream approach to Organic Portals
  By A1OE7U843Y3SUN on 2005-12-19
  Very interesting book! Explains in easy terms the problem with facing these cunning manipulative types. Whats very interesting is that psychopaths appear to be what some are describing as "Organic Portals" on other websites. I just finished living in a house with one of these OP's for a year. It was a very interesting time with a great learning curve. Luckily after just two weeks I had figured this guy out or at least had big suspicions. I learnt a heck of a lot about how these people operate first hand. Basically in four words... Cunning, manipulative, Egotistical, methodical. these people operate from the ego in everything they do. They are also excellent at mimickry. They can fake any kind of emotion although its really easy to spot once youve "got it".
  My feelings on this is that these people are basically biological machines, a human body without a soul connection, a higher spiritual make-up. Some refer to these as "Matrix Agents" like in the movie matrix. I feel this is accurate as they seem to have an uncanny ability to know things they shouldnt. there are accute moments of synchronicity where they seem to maximize the emotional output they can get from a person by predicting how a person will react in a situation. They show no emotion when seeing pain or torture on News or Media. They try to lower others down to there own level of uncaring. I think Matrix Agent is a good description because there modus-operandi often seems to be to keep the satus quo, ie: encourage fully souled people to behave like them and create more fear and chaos in the world. It all sounds crazy but when u consider the implications it means that they are just programmed beings (sometimes under remote control, yes i know it sounds crazy)and are not aware of their own lack of conscience. I resisted the urge to let him know i knew, i figured it better to just "play the game", and keep one step ahead of the game... I am a much better off person now as i see it so clearly after reading the book. It seems that they elicit an emotional response from a person via manipulative means and then "feed" off that frustration and negative emotion that is created. This is when they seem to be the most satisfied and "smug" and "full of beans"... but if you see thru it and dont respond emotionally, the key is to cut off their food supply!, smile, be calm and relaxed and act as if you couldnt care less, this is the key... always state your feelings as been, hey stuff happens, im not worried about it. Also if you feel your energy been drained imagine yourself floating in a calm sea or surrounded by a protective bubble of which inside is complete calm, think mentally to yourself.. "I end all transmissions now, all emotional ties or attachments or negative thoughts have stopped, i send out nothing, i am calm, relaxed, like a piece of wood" This works so well... just watch! I have also discovered that these types shake their legs/feet a lot, especially when thier in "active/feeding" mode, u may notice under the table that persons leg vibrating or shaking a lot, this is a sign of ego, of been anxious. Ive noticed if I focus and relax and "stop all transmissions", that persons leg stops also immediately!? Its weird, ive noticed this dozens of times with different people now. Also dont be too hasty to judge a person as an OP, (psychopath) as all of us can act like one from time to time, especially if pushed by an OP or wound up. But its consistancy over time that will show you if someone is an OP. I hope this helps someone... J
  
  
• Without Conscience
  By A2NR561VV27GG3 on 2000-02-19
  Excellent as far as it went. Very well written. Mr. Hare provides the reader with an excellent description of the criminal psychopath (serial killers, and those with criminal records), and some insight in avoiding their predations. Unfortunatly his observations are limited to those psychopaths who are extreme (or dumb) enough to have been incarcerated. Although he indicates that there are psychopaths who operate within the laws of society, he dosn't provide examples, or any real insight I and others I know have been victomized by people "without conscience" who were entirely within the letter of the law. My primary reasons for buying and reading the book was to identify, and deal with these 'legal' psychopaths, unfortunatly Mr. Hare left that to chapter 13, and I found it short and simplistic. In defense of the author, I find that most psychology books are limited to observations and definations of incaratiated people or those who sought therapy. Unfortunatly we do not yet have a means of observing the rest of the population.
  
  
• Without Conscience
  By AFOOS6WM79ZV3 on 2005-09-02
  I discovered that living with a sociopath is dangerous in more ways than just what appears on the surface.
  This book fully descibes the details of that life in ways I could have never articulated, much less tried to change.
  For 7 years I'd hoped for changes to happen that simply could not due to the very nature of the ingrained personality of that type of thinking.
  Without Conscience has helped me to identify the source of the problems and move on with my own life without blaming myself. I now have an incredible understanding about what I was faced with on a daily basis and the effects that behavior had on me.
  I couldn't see it at the time...now I know why.
  
  
• Your whole family should read this book
  By A2U1Q9ZA02Z4L4 on 2006-10-05
  A person like this ruined my life, my nephew's life and my child. I ended up seeing a psychiatrist as part of my recovery after the incident and she recommended this book. I wish I had read it before I met the psychopath and I would never have been drawn into his manipulations and deceptions. These people are out there among us and you probably already know at least one. The only way to protect yourself from them is to know what to look for. My psychiatrist promised me that once I read this book, I would never again fall victim to these people. She was right; I have since been able to identify them and avoid them. I recently lent this book to my neighbor whose teenage daughter was deceived by a teenage psychopath and who was beeing ruthlessly lied to, manipulated, stalked and harassed by him. Read this book and share it with everyone in your family. It has been a blessing to me and mine.
  
  
• Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Physhopaths Among Us
  By A1S5NAN7VTFHRC on 2007-03-10
  People referred to as psychopaths are human anomalies, probably accidents of nature, free of those constraints we call "conscience," who live among us like members of mainstream society, until their impulses lead them to acts of exploitation, deception, and self-gratification that leave us baffled. Based on a career of working with psychopaths and their victims, Hare presents a flowing description of their world, interspersed with multiple case histories, effectively short and to-the-point. As one reads, questions arise, but one only has to turn the page to find each question answered in the next section. Hare's writing has that rare combination of carefully crafted simplicity, approprate drama, and scientific objectivism. The case histories are like exerpts from film strips. The degree of repetition is just right to drive home the simple messages regarding this perplexing human anomaly. For those of us who have experienced psychopaths in our lives, and realize it, Hare's repeated humble admission that even he and his students are fooled from time to time is reassuring. Unfortunately most of us who live in the company of psychopaths do not know it. Their charm, charisma, deceptions, and manipulations are so effective that most people -- even those who consider themselves street-wise -- remain clueless or in denial, even when the truth is pointed out. This book, therefore, will have more traction with those who realize that they have been "had" than with those have been "had" but fail to admit it. This, perhaps, is the most important lesson of all. Psychopaths influence our individual lives and entire societies primarily because we let them.
  
  I have two regrets regarding this book. First, I would like to have seen more attention paid to non-criminal psychopaths, but Hare addresses these in a separate book. Second, I would like to have seen the Psychopathy Checklist he frequently refers to, but he probably witholds this to steer readers aways from engaging in frivolous diagnosis of individuals in their lives.
  
  
• A book that needs to be sentenced!
  By A3VD0RR3GY23C3 on 2004-01-05
  This book is written inside out. It is has been written from inside the mind of a psychopath catching their every thought. It took me two years to read 220 pages, I could only read a couple of pages at a time. For those of you who have had a "Social Predator" come through your life, this book is terrifying. For those of you who have no knowledge of a pychopaths behavior, purchase extra copies of Dr. Hare's book. When I finally put this book down I was left with only one question. "When is Dr. Hare going to write a recovery book for the victims, who are living outside the minds of these "Social Predators."
  
  
• ESSENTIAL TO HEALING
  By on 2002-06-02
  This book is essential for the healing of family members and/or victims whose lives have been impacted by the puzzling acts and deceptions of a psychopath. Hare does a wonderful job of boiling down the technical research of a body of work pertaining to these individuals to its simplest, palatable form for the layperson. It is an excellent place to start one's research if you are forced to continue your relationship and/or dealings with this dysfunctional and possibly destructive personality type. I couldn't give it a more outstanding review.
  
  
• Good, But Needs to Be Updated
  By ALHKJO0ZB0WXV on 2005-02-08
  This is far and away the best book on psychopaths. It covers nearly every aspect of them - their behavior, how to recognize one (although Dr. Hare quite properly cautions against making a diagnosis), how to protect yourself against one. It does not cover the psychodynamic issues involve, e.g., conflicts and unconscious processes; Dr. Hare explicitly avoids those issues as not properly the subject matter of his book (p. xii), and I feel that the book is complete without any discussion of them.
  
  It does not offer a solution in the form of treatment for psychopaths individually or in the form of recommendations for families or any larger group to prevent the production of more psychopaths. Dr. Hare is commendably honest in saying that psychopaths are poor candidates for psychotherapy, which may actually make them worse (pp. 195-196).
  
  The copyright on the book is 1993. Dr. Hare notes toward the end of the book (p. 203) that "the Canadian government recently challenged me to design an experimental treatment/management program for [criminal psychopaths]." I truly hope that Dr. Hare updates this book to include the results of that program and of other research done since 1993.
  
  
• A Clear And Convincing Read
  By AU5SQBPSNOIM on 2000-05-03
  "Withour Conscience" is probably the best read out there on psychopathy to date. Hare describes the dynamics of psychopathy while successfully avoiding contradiction or the fuzziness that many authors run into when attempting to explain this disorder in full light. One thing that is admirable about Hare's work is he understands that the problem with psychopathy cannot be measured so easily by taking a survey or a questionairre -- self-reports by individuals who are prone to lying and acting to benefit their image among other people for the most part come out inaccurate and thus are ineffective as diagnostic instruments. With the development of the Psychopathy Checklist, Hare has created a tool that can look beyond and through the persona of the individual, and in result, is a more effective diagnostic tool.

  I think this book should be a mandatory read for everyone involved in clinical psychology, counseling, social work, and ESPECIALLY corrections.
  
  

• Informative AND Entertaining
  By A1T2E1SY35D6ML on 2001-01-23
  More often than not, a book that centers around anything psychological is well researched but boring to the point of tears. Dr. Hare escapes this trap and entertains and simultaneously informs the reader.

  The book is loaded with examples of real life encounters of psychopaths, primarily those interviewed by Dr. Hare's research within prisons. However there are also a number of victims accounts and the tales they tell may sound a bit familiar to someone in any reader's life.

  Dr. Hare obviously stands by his own research and his standardization tool for assessing psychopaths, the pyschopathy checklist. He details the difference between psychopathy and other other afflictions. He also gets to the hard truth..... we can recognize psychopaths among us, we can study them, we can even hope that we can develop ways to manage them, but we can never cure them.

  The book is loaded with side stories and events that make it a gripping read without dumbing it down. The only complaint I had is that there wasnt more in depth case studies and empirical research to back his assertions. It is an ideal read for anyone interested in psychology, criminology, or any of the behavioral sciences. You wont be dissapointed.
  
  

• Okay, but wordy and repetitive
  By A1X20MXVY4XYU6 on 2003-12-07
  I can appreciate that the author did not have easy access to a broad representation of sociopathic individuals in the general population, instead most of his interviews and anecdotes were from prisoners. But the material became repetitious and I found myself skimming ahead looking for different kinds of examples. Instead it was another inmate with a similar scam. Most sociopaths are not behind bars according to the author but he did not discuss the ones on the loose at any length, yet these are the ones I would encounter. I would like to know how the "respectable" ones who ply their trade in society do it, what to look for and how to avoid their games.
  This book is useful but limited. It's worth a skim.
  
  
• the indirect implications of this study are staggering...
  By A1C5HX8VFTOHDB on 2005-06-17
  Hare is the world's foremost authority on the psychopath. If the psychopath is born to win in matters of power, then the worlds of politics in business, where survival of the fittest is the rule, are staffed with the creme de la creme of world psychopathy, as is organized religion. You will never look at the world the same way again after reading this well documented and well though out and extensive study.
  
  After I'd read this book I became curious as to how I'd fare up against a non-criminal psychopath. Then I ran into a guy I'd known in high school who fit Hare's checklist 100%. I maintained an extensive association with this guy for about a year. He acted in the exact same way that Hare described his psychopath case studies. Thanks to Hare's book, I was able to anticipate this guy's behaviour ahead of time and I always managed to stay one step ahead of him.
  
  Anyway, read this book and think about its greater implications. It isn't about the psychopaths AMONG us as it is about the ones who govern over us.
  
  
• The ONLY book you need to read on this compelling topic!
  By A36761EKTQAISG on 2006-03-02
  Unbelievable as it might sound, the MAJORITY of us have either come face-to-face, or will do so at least once in our lives, with someone who is a bona-fide psychopath. Sadly, most of us won't know it until it's too late, and even then, it'll be next to impossible to understand and/or admit that it has happened.
  
  Make NO mistake - behind these smiling faces is pure evil. If we're not prepared to deal with it, the results can be tragic.
  
  If you think we're talking about Manson-esque murderers; Adolph Hitlers, Saddam Husseins or Jeffrey Dahmers, think again. Psychos are not always killers, and some are not even be violent.
  
  Most often they'll be someone we work with or for. But they could be someone we go to school with; our lover; our spouse; or even our child.
  
  Again, the problem is, the VAST majority of us who encounter such a person won't know until it is too late. As Dr. Hare points out in this book, even the best trained and most experienced mental health care professionals can be fooled.
  
  There are many decent books written on the topic, but NONE is as easy-to-read and understandable as this one. You won't be left with too many questions, and you'll be WELL-ARMED when you come face-to-face with the evil these people can unleash.
  
  As an employer, you should add it to your REQUIRED READING list. And it should be on the bookshelf of every school, church and home in America. That's not an overstatement. Read the book, and you'll agree! Kudos to Dr. Hare...!
  
  
  
  
• Wonderfully insightfull
  By A25KIH7ZZ8B2HT on 2006-10-29
  I never went looking for this type of book but it came to me after a very traumatic time in my life, a time when I was at odds with everything and everyone.I actually found this book at a second hand store without its cover.I saw the words "WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE" and new who it was about.
  
  I was married to an extreme psychopath, he is actually in prison for raping and stabbing a strange woman with a screwdriver six times.Who knows what else he may have done, but got away with?
  
  This man was a tirant in my life , he broke me mentally , emotonally, and spiritually.The problem is getting away from these people once they "OWN" you, because thats exactly how they feel about you.They don't let thier possesions go easily!I have to admit I got off easily, if he hadnt been incarcerated who knows where I would be today, or even if I would be at all?
  
  I found this book helped me get through the post tramatic problems I was having, and to learn to trust again.This book will help you to understand the way these people think.I certaintly know now how to avoid ever being in a situation like that again.It also was intriguing in a way of just getting into the head of a psychopath. knoledge is always the best defence!
  
  
• Psychopaths are the archetypal SINNER!!!
  By on 2000-09-05
  I read the hardcover version of Dr. Hare's book about 5 years ago and since became a Christian and have read the Bible as well as a considerable amount of related literature. The Biblical description of what sin is (will in conflict with God's will) and what the sinful heart is like is amazingly well represented in Dr. Hare's description of the psychopath. Indeed, psychopaths represent a perhaps "ideal" sinner - a will utterly un-yielding to ANY external force or higher ideal; visciously selfish, utterly lacking in compassion and having nothing but contempt for God and man.

  I'm glad to see Dr. Hare's book in print again in paperback. It does an excellent job describing what psychopaths are, how they think, what motivates them, how to identify them, and how to protect yourself from them.

  This book is essential social survival knowledge. I gave copies to my family, friends, and co-workers. I'm seriously considering buying a dozen to keep on hand and give to people as needed. Make sure your entire family and all close friends read this book. If you have teenage daughters, chain them to the kitchen table and read this book to them if necessary.
  
  

• The Sociopath Next Door
• Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work
• In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
• Emotional Vampires: Dealing With People Who Drain You Dry
• Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You