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The Psychopath Test

A Journey Through the Madness Industry

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The Psychopath Test

By: Jon Ronson
Narrated by: Jon Ronson
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About this listen

Uncover the madness at the heart of society in this Sunday Times bestseller.

'The belly laughs come thick and fast' – The Observer
'Chirpy, inquisitive, funny' - Craig Brown

What if society wasn't fundamentally rational, but was motivated by insanity? This thought sets Jon Ronson on an utterly compelling adventure into the world of madness.

Along the way, Jon meets psychopaths, those whose lives have been touched by madness and those whose job it is to diagnose it, including the influential psychologist who developed the Psychopath Test, from whom Jon learns the art of psychopath-spotting. A skill which seemingly reveals that madness could indeed be at the heart of everything . . .

Combining Jon Ronson's trademark humour, charm and investigative incision, The Psychopath Test is both entertaining and honest, unearthing dangerous truths and asking serious questions about how we define normality in a world where we are increasingly judged by our maddest edges.

 Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Social Sciences Mental Health Crime Thought-Provoking Funny Health

Critic reviews

I began The Psychopath Test late at night, tired, dispirited and ill – then found myself laughing like the proverbial loon for page after page. (Will Self)
The belly laughs come thick and fast – my God, he is funny . . . Ronson’s new book is provocative and interesting, and you will, I guarantee, zip merrily through it.
All stars
Most relevant
Quirky is the best word I can find for this book. It opens with a mystery book, sent to various neurologists, by an anonymous sender, who Ronsen tracks down. After that, it's an enjoyable ride through psycho-land to meet Bob Hare, the leading world expert on the test for psychopathy - the Hare test, and then to meet and interview a series of gangsters, hatchet-CEOs, and other possible psychopaths to see if they fit the pattern.

However, Ronsen admits after a while that he starts seeing psychopaths everywhere... And it might be sending him a bit odd.

This is fun, with a serious message, and I liked Jon Ronsen as the self effacing narrator and author. The book contains many facts and references to other reading on this subject, while never getting boorish. I winced several times with embarrassment at his interview style, openly asking his subjects intimate details to gauge their psychopathy. The opening chapters are unusual, and have little to do with psychopathy, with references to the nerd classic "Esher, Goedel, Bach".

Overall however, i learned a lot about Psychopathy, DSM-4 and psychiatry, without seeming to. Best of all I liked Jon's self conscious admission that looking for psychopaths might just be creating non-human aliens in his own mind.

Quirky about Psychopaths (mostly)

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Jon Ronson reads The Psychopath Test himself in a deadpan tone that can be interpreted as you wish. Is he ironic, scared, appalled or simply as mystified as the rest of us? His investigation is a hunt for judgement, but the story is as full of triumph and disappointment as any thriller.

Ronson's writing is vivid to the eye, which is what you want from an audiobook. He snakes unstoppably through the world of the apparently sane and the apparently mad and the ground shifts beneath your feet. He raises questions, makes sense of the bizarre, exposes the sinister and insensitive, and does it all elegantly and with humour. I love this audiobook.

A classic

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Excellent. Get it now. At least fifteen words required so here are some more words.

Brilliantly entertaining

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Jon Ronson is the perfect narrator for his books. Defintely the best way to experience the story.

Loved It

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Jon Ronson's unique style of documentary story-telling shines in this fascinating tale of madness and psychopathy.

Masterful and intriguing from start to finish

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