Rethinking Narcissism

The Bad-and Surprising Good-About Feeling Special

By: Dr. Craig Malkin

Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel

Harvard Medical School psychologist and Huffington Post blogger Craig Malkin addresses the "narcissism epidemic," by illuminating the spectrum of narcissism, identifying ways to control the trait, and explaining how too little of it may be a bad thing.

"What is narcissism?" is one of the fastest rising searches on Google, and articles on the topic routinely go viral. Yet, the word "narcissist" seems to mean something different every time it's uttered. People hurl the word as insult at anyone who offends them. It's become so ubiquitous, in fact, that it's lost any clear meaning. The only certainty these days is that it's bad to be a narcissist—really bad—inspiring the same kind of roiling queasiness we feel when we hear the words sexist or racist. That's especially troubling news for millennials, the people born after 1980, who've been branded the "most narcissistic generation ever."

In Rethinking Narcissism readers will learn that there's far more to narcissism than its reductive invective would imply. The truth is that we all fall on a spectrum somewhere between utter selflessness on the one side, and arrogance and grandiosity on the other. A healthy middle exhibits a strong sense of self. On the far end lies sociopathy. Malkin deconstructs healthy from unhealthy narcissism and offers clear, step-by-step guidance on how to promote healthy narcissism in our partners, our children, and ourselves.

A great information.

A great way to understand some of the people I deal with everyday. Good information to better understand why some people are the way they are. Also many points made me pause and look more closely at myself.

more true perspective of understanding narcissism

very much appreciated this understanding View of narcissism in general, but also in light of narcissistic personality disorder. Would have loved to see some expounding on cluster personality traits as some of those were a parent in some of the examples given, but that probably would have had to reprioritize other aspects out of the book. overall, very very good. I'm glad to have read it!

A Highly Informative Book on Narcissism

This book was a bit of a surprise, as I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. I have read quite a few books on the narcissism spectrum, and found that this one was one of the clearest explainers on healthy and unhealthy narcissism. It's a short and easy read. I highly recommend it.

Extremely enlightening!! At last I see hope!

I couldn't stop listening!! Very powerful learning about the people in my life!! Thank Doctor Malkin! I can see hope for the future!!

Great input

After reading many books about this topic, I find the focus and the practical explanation of how the narcissist spectrum works in this book fantastic. For the first time I hear a research based description of how this epidemic affect us, real cases and a neutral realistic analysis about this rasing problem.

Sharing personal opinions:
If you are being abused by a narcissist this book might not suit your needs at the start of your recovery. It is more an informative supporting tool to understand where the narcissist behavior comes from and how to deal with it in general. If you are or recently were a victim, the emphatic approach of this book will perhaps be rejected by your broken soul that needs emotional support and healing first.

If you think you are a narcissist yourself this can help a great deal,. It's the only book I have so far that doesn't attack and describe narcissists as horrible monsters. Instead, it points out the root of this personality disorder and the consequences people around experience out of this important issue.