Sociopath

A Memoir

By: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

Narrated by: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir of the author’s struggle to understand her own sociopathy and shed light on the often maligned and misunderstood mental disorder.

“A cross between a podcast by relationship therapist Esther Perel and a salacious tell-all.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Patric Gagne realized she made others uncomfortable before she started kindergarten. Something about her caused people to react in a way she didn’t understand. She suspected it was because she didn’t feel things the way other kids did. Emotions like fear, guilt, and empathy eluded her. For the most part, she felt nothing. And she didn’t like the way that “nothing” felt.

She did her best to pretend she was like everyone else, but the constant pressure to conform to a society she knew rejected anyone like her was unbearable. So Patric stole. She lied. She was occasionally violent. She became an expert lock-picker and home-invader. All with the goal of replacing the nothingness with...something.

In college, Patric finally confirmed what she’d long suspected. She was a sociopath. But even though it was the very first personality disorder identified—well over 200 years ago—sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. She was told there was no treatment, no hope for a normal life. She found herself haunted by sociopaths in pop culture, madmen and evil villains who are considered monsters. Her future looked grim.

But when Patric reconnects with an old flame, she gets a glimpse of a future beyond her diagnosis. If she’s capable of love, it must mean that she isn’t a monster. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way) she embarks on a mission to prove that the millions of Americans who share her diagnosis aren’t all monsters either.

This is the inspiring story of her journey to change her fate and how she managed to build a life full of love and hope.

©2024 Patric Gagne, Ph.D. (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Re: Honest

After some thought, I realize I need to adjust my previous review. As a Sociopath, the author has this seamless ability to come across as honest. However, who am I to say that any of what she wrote in her memoir is actally true?? Either way, it makes for a great read!

Insightful

Honest and intelligent. As a recovering alcoholic it is true that the only people that really understand is other alcoholics. There is a stigma and stereo type that is not true. This story gave me insight into a different side of psychopathy.

Good and….

Great mostly. I think MOST sociopaths are not just sweet, badasses with happy endings - and sometimes I thought, well I might be a sociopath because I am the same way, especially when she talked about her kids. I think less sociopath and more “alpha female”. But more power to her for accepting the things she cannot change and working on the things she could.

Incredible

This book is a gift to the mental health field and a must read. It was brutally honest and fascinating, and the fact that it was written to help other sociopaths is what makes it so incredible. Humans are complex creatures and when they put them in the boxes, nobody wins.this book challenges stereotypes and really sheds light on the experience of someone growing up understanding they were different, looking for help or information at the very least, and coming up empty handed. The author took it upon herself to do the research and introspective digging, and the result was awesome. Well done, Patric!

Even non-sociopaths will love this book!

This well written memoir shares much more than one sociopath’s life experience. Dr Gagne’s self awareness, research, and hard work in her primary relationship models empathy and communication skills that we all need. I have listened to this book twice to squeeze more juice from this gem of a psychological journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone open to learning more about possible ranges of emotional experiences and how to navigate relating to others with a different range. I am grateful for this woman’s courage to care and share this powerful lifeline for others.

Wow!

This book was absolutely fascinating. Its memoir meets science. The story is candid, blatantly truthful, and so, SO interesting. This is a book everyone should read, especially those working with children. Maybe, if we learn to understand the psychopathy there would be less assuming that these individuals are just… “bad.”

Brutal honesty

Fascinating account of one woman’s long and difficult journey to understand herself, to help others, and to begin to fill a major gap in the understanding of and therapeutic treatments for sociopathy. I could not put it down.

Not that odd

Voice of author sometimes too soft. It was interesting that she saw from a young age how different she seemed. I think there needs to be another band for it though. Society has made sociopathy negative and sinister. Anti social personality seem to be the same.

Impressive

Genuine, truthful, funny, scary, and well told. I recommend this to anyone. I learned a great deal and have a lot of praise for Dr. Gagne.

Sociopathy definition and understanding.

Patricia is an outstanding narrator and did a wonderful job reading this book. I enjoyed it very much.