Sociopath

A Memoir

By: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

Narrated by: Patric Gagne Ph.D.

Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Very enlightening

This book was most insightful. I have been looking for something to explain the way I feel about things. Although I am not an extreme case or even in the middle of the road case there are emotions, I struggle to understand. Maybe understand understand ourselves in the less extremes. I study personalities And have read quite a bit personality types, play, and now sociopathy. We all have things we can learn about ourselves and others who struggle with the demons inside. Understanding those demons imperative to a road to a peaceful life.

Excellent book

I enjoyed this so much!! The way that it's narrated is awesome, it gives everyone life and personality. The glimpse at how the media and medical community has shaped the narrative and created bias was very interesting. I've thought about that for other biases but had never thought about sociopathy through that lens. Overall well written and well read.

Wow

I found this very enlightening. I also found it very interesting and would be very interested to hear more about how Patric grew as she continued in therapy. The end seemed great but I would like tohearing more about how she deals with daily life now. has it changed? has she changed? she seems to have learned how to be compassionate toward herself and specific other people....

Fascinating

Truly incredible story. The details are amazing and I'm sure this is helping people out there . Would love to read another book about couples therapy. I'm sure there would be loads to write just from that aspect of their relationship

Brilliant!

So honest and heartening! I listened to this audiobook straight through (in 1 & 1/2 days) thank you for sharing your life experience and bringing Sociopathy out into the open. I had a good feeling about this book and I was right!

Incredible story and fantastic performance

I'm not usually into fiction books but I loved this story. Very interesting to learn about sociopathy and Dr. Gagne's life growing up. Very intriguing life! Great memoir!

Her honesty!

I’ve never understood Sociopathy, I certainly do now. She’s complicated, yet her persona is clear and honest and entertaining as hell! This was a great read for those who need to understand.

Best Narration

Incredible story, I learned so much! Truly amazing the circumstances that led her to this path, I hope this book helps reframe our understanding of sociopathy. And create a new branch of mental health services.

beautifully written

this book was so well written. easy to listen to while being incredibly informative.

Incredible

Highly recommend. As someone who often feels ruled and controlled by their emotions, Sociopath was an incredible insight to the other end of the pendulum. Patric has a beautiful voice and tells her story with such personal detail and nuance, you won’t be able to put it down - or take your headphone out.