Disordered Minds: How Dangerous Personalities Are Destroying Democracy

by Ian Hughes author of Disordered Mind

Disordered Minds offers a compelling and timely account of the dangers posed by narcissistic leaders, and provides a stark warning that the conditions in which this psychopathy flourishes - extremes of social inequality and a culture of hyper-individualism - are the hallmarks of our present age. 'An excellent account of how malignant narcissism is evident in the lives of the great dictators, and how the conditions in which this psychopathy flourishes have returned to haunt us.' Dr Kieran Keohane, editor of The Social Pathologies of Contemporary Civilization

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Politics, Sociology, Science, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Elizabeth George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2017 in the UK and in 2018 in the US. If I had my way, every voter would read it in advance of the 2020 election. It's written by a man with a PhD in Physics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. In the book, Hughes first explains the three personality disorders he intends to cover: psychopathy, malignant narcissism, and paranoia.Then through an examination of their lives and their leadership in their respective countries, he applies these personality disorders to Stalin, to Hitler, to Mao Zedong, and to Pol Pot. But it becomes apparent as he describes the nature of each disorder that Donald Trump, too, is afflicted by all three. Personality disorders are part nature and part nurture, and as you read about them and what they looked like in the tyrannical leadership styles Hughes describes, you discover how the US has fallen victim to someone with these exact disorders and, now, how close we are in the US to failing as a nation and a democracy. Because there is no cure for any personality disorder (unlike disorders of the brain which can be relieved or mitigated through diagnosis and appropriate medication), it is futile to hope for or to expect change at any point in someone so afflicted. In the case of the USA, we have already seen what has become normalized under the "leadership" of Donald Trump: white nationalists parading with Confederate flags, the marginalizing of immigrants, the indifference to those living in poverty, the sanctification of greed, xenophobia, misogyny, the sanctification of making money at the expense of the environment and the general good...On every page, Hughes identifies the dangers we face as a Republic at the hands of Donald Trump. And since like attracts like, the people who admire him, shelter him, work for him, lie for him find him compelling because they see in him a mirror of who they themselves are. It's scary reading. But it's also necessary reading.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well-written, succinct review of some of the horrors of the recent past. The necessary conditions leading to these horrors was presented. To prevent the rise of demagogues and cruel tyrants the answer is more democracy. How to achieve this will I hope be his next book. I wish everyone could read his chapter about the rise of finance capitalism and his brief but excellent account of neoliberalism. I do have a few dear Republican friends, but those I know well are not readers. To be fair, a lot of my Democratic friends are not readers either.

[Martin Henson · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is quite hard to describe just how poor this book is. First, I suppose, the sub-title How Dangerous Personalities are Destroying Democracies; well, it would be good if there was anything in the book at actually addressed this: it's a book of 175 pages and if you were to remove those that presented the potted histories of the USSR, Kampuchea, Germany, China, India, and countries of Africa, there are precious few pages left. (It should be said that if you need a source for GCSE schoolwork on these topics, the book would be an adequate source). And what is covered in those remaining pages? We do get definitions of psychopathy, narcissism, and paranoia, and brief reasons for attributing these categories variously to Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot et al - but did anyone (even without a formal education in this area) doubt that these were radically pathological individuals? There is a brief discussion of the dynamics surrounding these leaders - the way that non-pathological minions are replaced by the pathological, but not nearly enough about how mass pathology arises from what we would otherwise call the "normal" population.

These few remaining pages also discuss the importance of democracy and democratic institutions in protecting us against the emergence of pathological leaders - and a link with capitalism that is altogether naïve (but kudos to Zero Books for publishing such reactionary views!). Although there is a recognition that poverty and inequality in general play a crucial role, there is no sophisticated analysis of neoliberal capitalism in this regard, despite a recognition that financial capitalism is toxic in contrast to (completely benign?) productive capitalism. There are Cook's Tours of many other relevant topics too - climate, gender, race, sexual orientation etc but, likewise, none of these is dealt with much beyond the briefest exposition.

Ultimately, the book annoys because it is so superficial, and does not link historical dynamics to contemporary dynamics (e.g. the role that social media and the internet in general play in the present, that was - of course - not a factor in the past). One example will suffice to illustrate: the book's "fourth argument":

"At the beginning of the twenty-first century, a strengthening of democracy is urgently required, through a commitment to the values that underpin democracy, if human progress is to continue, immense human suffering is to be avoided, and perhaps if humanity is to survive in the decades to come." (pp. 172-3)

Well, shucks. And then, helpfully: "It is clear, however, that there is no simple solution to the problem." (p. 173 - of 175!)

I rest my case. Read Paul Mason's How to Stop Fascism: History, Ideology, Resistance instead of this awful book.

[Polly Rosenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first part of this book, Hughes describes the personality disorders that some leaders have that have allowed them to rise to the top: psychopathy, narcissicism and paranoia and the social and economic conditions that provide fertile ground for these personalities to gain control. Then he describes the atrocities committed by Stalin, Mao, Hitler and Pol Pot. Alot of this may have been necessary for him to drive home his point, but then the book gets really interesting as he goes on to describe how democracy can be a defense against these personalities and how capitalism, industrial and financial, contributes in many ways to inequalities and destruction of democracy. He also describes how democracy has made many strides in human rights and how there is hope in a world order that can expand and preserve these rights. I wish there were a longer section on the hope part, but I think Hughes makes his point about the destruction wreaked by disordered minds. An excellent read.

[Seann Haver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains human good and evil

This book helped me understand how some people are hopelessly evil and how they draw good people to their evil causes.
An example to this is Donald Trump his base and the majority of the Republican Party. They are trying to destroy democracy and have an amoral man like Trump control the USA. This should never happen or we will see much suffering or the end of humanity.
This book is a must read, so we can recognize people with dangerous personality disorders .

[Frederick Golder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand how Trump's mind functions. We cannot afford to elect anyone to any position of power that is operating with a "Disordered Mind." Do not vote until you have read this book!

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Democracy is when things are going according to Hughes' whims. When it doesn't, than it's a conspiracy and Hughes has enough TV drama diagnosis to fill up the book.

[Heleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, a must read. Adds an important perspective on democracy and the state of the world - and what is needed. Depressing at times, but fascinating at the same time.