Good beginner's guide, 17. Juni 2000

This book is clearly written for laymen to understand. The concepts of psychopathy are superficially covered with little use of statistical data or academic reference. It does however paint a realistic and comprehensible picture of the psychopath at work. The only other flaw was Hare's incessant reference to his own work with the Checklist. It seems more like an advertisement than a necessity in the flow of the prose.

       This Book Helped me Cope, 23. Mai 2000

I had a world shattering experience with a psychopath several years ago. I had a difficult time coming to grips with the trauma as did other people that I know. Then I found this book. It lifted a weight from my shoulders. Everything made sense and the painful confusion was gone. The book has done more to help me than therapy ever did. I finally felt free to go on with my life. I shared this book with others involved in the situation, and it helped them too. I am buying another copy to keep, and a few to give to others who's lives have been touched by this destructive person. Thank you Dr. Hare, wherever you are.

       Informative, 4. Mai 2000

I'd been looking for a book on psychopaths, and was glad to find this one. Some people aren't aware that some people have no consciences. Joseph Wambaugh's THE BLOODING is a great true-crime book about a psychopathic killer in which, when the judge is sentencing the killer at the end, he tells the killer he hopes that the killer will, "Listen to your conscience, and feel remorse, as you sit in your prison cell in the coming years." But as Wambaugh points out, this judge had it all wrong. This killer could NOT feel remorse. But instead, would likely sit in his prison cell reliving his murders with RELISH. And psychopaths are at all levels. Juanita Broaddrick gave believable information that Bill Clinton had raped her. And he has a history of lying, as well as sexual aggression. But Clinton supporters say, "Oh, SHE's lying." And it is this type of letting-the-psychopath -off-the-hook that lets them thrive. (And in case there are any Clinton supporters reading this, Dick Morris wrote in his diaries of Clinton, "He is incapable of feeling any compassion for others." Very psychopathic.) Don't let them off the hook! My family has known three highly educated, polished, psychopaths. All three impressed us with their initial charm. After the first two burned us, but didn't manage, to their regret, to ruin our lives, we met the third one. After his charm impressed us, we became alert to the fact that his charm was a little too slick (we knew to watch for this trait after the first two psychopaths). And we assessed--before we were aware of his having done anything bad--that he was a psychopath. Eventually it turned out we were right: he WAS a psychopath. Things he had told us were monstrous lies (about being an important professional, about having relatives in positions of power...all lies). He wrecked someone's professional life badly, albeit temporarily, whom we knew and respected. So keep your eyes open. It is possible to spot them before they strike. (Which doesn't mean you can STOP them from striking.) Just very difficult. This book should help you spot them.

       A Clear And Convincing Read, 3. Mai 2000

"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.

       Everyone MUST read this book!, 15. April 2000

This is a very important subject, especially in today's world (which tends to "create" sociopathic behaviour). This book is an excellent tool in learning more about sociopathic (or psychopathic) behaviour, and learning how to deal with it in a down to earth, practical manner. I believe everyone who can read should read this book in order to protect themselves. I am in my 20's and I have run into three psychopaths so far -- two of them bragged about being adept at "conning" their psychiatrists -- believe me, these people are out there!