The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

This is the discussion thread for the Fall 2025 Group Read, Non-Fiction- Psychology - Sociopath. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

I found this memoir to be readable but not believable. Gagne confesses that as a child she didn't feel emotion, she didn't like to be touched, she lied, stole, broke into homes, preferred being alone, and was constantly in trouble at school. These behaviors can be attributed to a number of neurodivergent diagnoses, but Gagne seemed to latch on to sociopath after first hearing it mentioned by a relative on a prison tour.

Gagne was never officially diagnosed as a sociopath, in fact, that condition was not even defined in the DSM. I got the sense she wore her self-proclaimed diagnosis as a badge of honor, like I've done all these bad things but look at me, I am a sociopath and could've done much worse but I'm working hard at controlling my impulses.

While I kept turning the pages after the author revealed one shocking thing after the next, I finished the book in agreement with the author, not that she was a sociopath, but a liar.

I rated the book 2.5 stars and rounded up to 3 because it was entertaining.

Not sure what to think of this one. I listened to the audio, and while I appreciated hearing the author's voice telling her story, she annoyed me with her nonchalance and apathy. I also couldn't grasp her reasoning for doing the bad things that she did. Like, "Look at me, I stole a car! I could get in trouble, but whatever, I don't feel bad about it. I filled it up with gas and returned it. And it kept me from hurting someone."

I agree with Lisa's review above -- she wears the diagnosis Sociopath like a badge of honor. It's like she's proud of the fact that she has no emotions or any type of moral filter. She comes off as arrogant and condescending, and it feels like she's using the term Sociopath as a justification for doing all of the bad things that she does.

This was a 3-star read for me, because it was an interesting look into the mind of someone with a mental/emotional disorder, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

i'm about halfway through right now - both my undergrad and masters were in psychology so I maybe have a different perspective - but how she described a lot of things is very inline with what we discuss in abnormal psych - and how diagnoses come and go from the DSM

there is stuff in there that is really undiagnosable through formalized testing but rather just a cluster of behaviors (as she described psychopathy vs. sociopathy) - even now there is no test to actually assess for it - they still use the PCL-R (which she mentioned in the book)

I'm actually curious to read her dissertation since that's where she delves some more in the actual diagnostics - more to follow when I finish it up (I have about 4hrs left in the audio)

I am just about finished with this book and have found it very interesting.

I liked the way she described her actions as a child and how she didn't fully understand why she did these until she learned about sociopathy. I also like that she wanted to create something for other people with the condition to relate to.

In her adult life it felt like she enjoyed telling people she is a sociopath for the shock value. It also set people up to excuse any future bad behavior they may witness. While this disorder obviously influences her actions if felt like she has let her diagnosis (or lack there of) completely define who she is. She literally tells strangers about it almost as an icebreaker. This is not working to overcome an illness or condition, this is using it as a reason to keep behaving in ways you know are not right.

Either way it's holding my attention and I am enjoying reading it.