Surrounded by Psychopaths

Internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson returns with another fascinating book which shows readers how to identify and avoid the psychopaths around them. Charming, charismatic, and delightful or manipulative, self-serving, and cunning? Psychopaths are both and that's exactly what makes them dangerous. Bestselling author of the international phenomenon Surrounded by Idiots, Thomas Erikson reveals how to identify the psychopaths in your life and combat their efforts to control and manipulate.

Using the same simple four-colour system of behaviour classification that made Surrounded by Idiots so popular, Surrounded by Psychopaths teaches readers how to deal with psychopaths in their lives by becoming aware of their own behaviour and their weaknesses. Vivid example stories illustrate ways that psychopaths can take advantage of various behaviour types, helping readers identify their own weaknesses and be proactive about protecting themselves. Erikson outlines some of the most common forms of manipulation used by psychopaths--and others--to influence those around them. Since manipulation can often be a feature of ordinary, non-psychopathic relationships, the book also includes practical methods and techniques to help readers confront controlling people and rehabilitate negative relationships into mutually respectful ones.

By understanding your behaviour as well as the tendencies and strategies of psychopaths, Surrounded by Psychopaths will teach you to protect yourself from manipulative influence in your workplace, social life, and family. It is an accessible, witty and riveting read and as a lover of true crime, and therefore interested by the inner workings of the mind of those who manipulate others, this really had me enthralled throughout. A layperson will easily comprehend the vast knowledge and information Erikson provides and the chatty, conversational writing style means you devour it quickly. I'd recommend this as an indispensable book for those in a relationship, cohabiting or acquainted with one of these types as Erikson gives tips as to how you can put a stop to the behaviour and exploitation, but I'd also recommend it highly to those interested in psychology, those who have a criminology background and true crime enthusiasts. Many thanks to Vermilion for an ARC.