The Narcissist's Playbook How to Identify, Disarm, and Protect Yourself from Narcissists, Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Other Types of Manipulative and Abusive People

by Dana Morningstar

Do you have a narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath in your life, or think that you might?

Do you continually feel anxious around someone in your life, but can't pinpoint why?

Do conversations seem to go off track, leaving you feeling knocked off balance and confused?

Does it feel like they are making your life a living hell, but they insist that you are too sensitive, crazy, or to blame?

Perhaps you know you are being manipulated or abused, but don't know how to make it stop. The Narcissist's Playbook can help.

Some of the topics covered in The Narcissist's Playbook are:


What manipulation is and isn't.
How to spot manipulative behaviors early (and why most people struggle with this).
How and why people get caught up with manipulators, and why they have a hard time breaking free.
How to identify the emotional hook that is keeping you stuck in manipulation and what you can do about it.
How to effectively disable manipulation as it is happening.
How to identify the common personality traits that are frequently exploited by manipulators.
You can take back your life. The Narcissist's Playbook tells you how.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[Margarita Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful

Helped me to recognise lots of manipulative behaviour and why I had allowed it for so long. Also gave me a wake-up and path to move forward. I need to learn more but glad I read this.

[John Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides the tools you need to thrive!

If you are tired, beaten, attacked and need to find a way to survive and restore yourself from narcissistic abuse, then this book will give you the tools you need to get your life back!

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

in progress

Table of Contents

Part 1 : UNDERSTANDING MANIPULATION 1
Introduction 3
Chapter 1: We All Think We Can Spot a Problem for What It Is - Page 5
Chapter 2: Why We Tend to Think Bad Things Won't Happen to Us - Page 9
Chapter 3: Seeing Manipulation as It's Happening - Page 23
Chapter 4: What Manipulation is and isn't - Page 29
Chapter 5: Who Can Be Manipulated and Who Can Be Manipulative - Page 45
Chapter 6: Subcategories of Manipulators - Page 57
Chapter 7: Understanding the Mindset of Manipulators - Page 67
Chapter 8: Common Methods of Manipulation - page 75
Chapter 9: Understanding Crazy - Making Conversations - page 101
Chapter 10: The Different Levels of manipulative Behaviour - page 115

PART 2: UNDERSTANDING THE HOOKS THAT HAVE YOU - Page 121
Chapter 11: The 3 Main Ways Manipulation Happens - Page 123
Chapter 12: Signs You Are Being Manipulated - Page 131
Chapter 13: Understanding Trauma Bonds - Page 137
Chapter 14: The Progression of manipulation - Page 151
Chapter 15: The Psychological Progression of the Target - Page 163
Chapter 16: Seven Points to Consider Before Starting Couple's Counselling - Page 169
Chapter 17: Can They Change? - Page 179

PART3: BREAKING FREE FROM MANIPULATION - PAGE 189
Chapter 18: Seeing Pain for the Messenger It Is - page 191
Chapter 19: Getting a Game Plan - Page 201
Chapter 20: Understanding and Anticipating the Manipulator's Moves
Chapter 21:
Chapter 22:
Chapter 23:
Chapter 24: Examining Your Self-Esteem and Frequently Exploited Personality Traits - Page 237
Chapter 25: Boundaries, Standards, and Deal Breakers
PART 4: WINNING THE GAME - PAGE 261
Chapter 26: Changing How You Interact with a Manipulator - Page 263
Chapter 27: Changing How You Respond
Chapter 28: Developing Your Strategies
Chapter29: Practising Your Strategies
Conclusion

[Mohamed Daif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally one of the best and most important books I've read. If I had a time machine I'd go back in time to give this book to my younger self.
I could think of manipulative people exactly as described in this book from different times in my life (both romantically and professionally).

[Stephanie Kozak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be Required Reading!

Dana Morningstar’s work on narcissistic abuse should be required reading in every intro psychology class in high school.
The Narcissists Playbook and Out of the Fog gave me the language to identify crazy making behaviors and problematic people and circumstances in many situations. Her work also gave me the tools to disengage when it became clear that fear, obligation and guilt were the prevailing forces and seeking mutual enriching solutions rooted in empathy and growth were not on the menu. Her wisdom that “life is about growth, not fairness”, has been a truly transformative bit of wisdom that has fostered much growth in my life, and in the lives of those who I have imparted this wisdom. Her ability to outline the phases of narcissistic abuse-love bombing, devaluation, discard and the crazy making effects of gaslighting and thinking errors that come from confusing commitment and codependency changed my entire view of relationships. Her work is very well written and offers practical tools for anyone looking to truly commit to reality based, healthy, mature relationships rooted in respect, empathy and commitment. She also offers guidance around how to engage (or not) when one is dealing with narcissistic people in the workplace, or other social situations to move forward with integrity, agency, inner peace, and as little drama as possible.

[Radek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read over a dozen books on Narcissists and Narcissistic Personality Disorder and still learned many new things about their manipulative behavior from this book.

[Jul · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of cunning and manipulative people out there. I don't think I'm one of them but I would like to understand their minds better in order to better protect myself.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, I felt as if I was reading a power point while the teacher was "teaching" class the entire time. Not till the end did the book become interesting.

[Ripple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very validating

[Brandi Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt this was written by a college sophomore who had finished Psychology 101 and got a B. There was absolutely nothing written in this book that was new, fresh, or even a new spin on an old truth.
Every point she made was common knowledge for those who have been close to a narcissist.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome explanations and examples. Wish it had a little more on how to handle things in different scenarios.