Customer Reviews

The Mask of Sanity: An Attempt to Clarify Some Issues About the So Called Psychopathic Personality

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Cleckley first wrote this book in 1948, and it still reads as fresh as ever. He was a therapist in a mental hospital who found that criminals sent there were excellent at playing the therapy game but were actually conning him. From this he developed perhaps 20 definitive characteristics of a type he called "psychopath", a term that had a variety of unclear meanings up until this point. The term has since been changed to sociopath and changed in the last two DSMs to "anti-social personality disorder". Whatever they are called their principal characteristic as far as society and the individuals who have to deal with them are concerned is that they do not have a conscience (a lack that is hard for some people to conceptualize and that is hard to measure). Cleckley's work is a classic because of its impact, yet he is too often forgotten. For example, from his experiences in the same hospital, Samenow authored the widely regarded Criminal Personality in the 1970s, yet does not acknowledge his debt to Cleckley. The most amazing thing about Cleckley's book is that it is so well written. It is a good read and has literary merit. Cleckley underestimated the dangerousness of psychopaths because of the sample he was dealing with, but his Mask of Sanity is still very much worth reading for anyone who is interested in psychopaths or criminals. Indeed, it is far superior to Hare's popular 1990's book on psychopathy, and Robert Hare is the author of the DSM dianostic criteria for psychopathy (which he ignores in his popular book).

I really recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject. His case histories are a book in themselves and capture the soul of a psychopath so well. A very thorough book that examines every aspect of the condition, I am impressed by his attempt to even explore historical and literary references. Ahead of it's time because his conclusions cannot be shaken even now. A much better book than Hare's "Without Conscience". Hare even lifts phrases directly out of the book eg."trivial, impersonal affairs".

Astonishingly accurate portrayal of psychopaths without sensationalizing the subject. I like how he gives different types of psychopaths; these are men and women in the street, 'ordinary' individuals but so disturbed (hence the very apt title).

His analysis is spot-on: he really knows his subject. More thorough than Hare's. He doesn't fudge any details. Really all you need to know about the topic. Still the best book about psychopaths.

Several other good reviews explain what this book is about but I can add a personal note. Some years ago I was describing to an older lawyer a bizarre, frightening man who had filed suit against my clients. "They guy's obviously a psychopath," he said. "Haven't you read Cleckely?" He gave me a copy and after reading it I understood what I was dealing with. A judge had recommended it to him many years before when he had his own first encounter with a psychopath (nowadays a person suffering from "anti-social personality disorder"). Those who work with people in stressful circumstances -- doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc. -- owe it to themselves, and to their patients and clients, to know this book.

I first read this book in a psychopathology class; it has always stayed in my mind. Everyone should read it. The author's defining characteristics of the psychopath are still as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago: the psychopath (today usually called an "anti-social personality") is much like a gourd; there's an outside (the "mask of sanity"), but inside there's nothing there. No conscience, no guilt, no remorse. They're great actors, though. In their more disturbed forms they're the serial killers, such as Ted Bundy. Cleckley suspected these people were literally monsters, lacking whatever made them human. A must-read for those involved in law enforcement.

Cleckley wrote the definitive book on psychopaths. This is a complex subject which is not easy to explain, but Cleckley's writing style makes it very entertaining and easy to read. He describes each of his criteria for psychopathy, then he presents a brief vignette, which is often very amusing. His examples are so real that you start to recognize people in your life in these descriptions (Pretty scarey). The only book which compares with this is Robert Hare's "Without Conscience," which is also brilliantly explained and easy to read. Understandable, since Dr. Hare based much of his work on Cleckley's work with psychopaths.

There is no need to add more detail to the previous, eloquent reviews except to say "absolutely and amen!" Everyone, professional on down, should read this book to understand and deal with (or avoid) the devils among us in every walk of life. Our young people must read it; it should be on every required reading list (sadly, it is not). The Mask of Sanity describes, explains, and exposes the tactics of these monsterous people that cause heartbreat and havoc...and worse. Reading this book essentially saved my life. Give it to your children and friends. It will be one of the greatest gifts you will ever give them. There are more phychopaths/sociopaths out there than one can ever imagine. Protect yourself: learn about them. This is the book to do that. It will never be out of date.

There are many more psychopathic personalities living among us than the general public and professionals first supposed. The troublesome brother or sister - the boyfriend or girlfriend we love but are puzz,led by their inconsistant behavior; the teacher, physician or lawyer whose behavior makes us think we are crazy, are among the many. This book puts the victims ( usually family members or their loved ones) in a position of understanding how to deal with the individual who has no conscience and no emotional feelings. This book will aid in relieving families of the guilt and financial burden that so often follows the psychopathic personality.

Some say Cleckley is outdated. I say "Never"! Cleckley doesn't deal in his book with hardened criminals or serial killers, but rather the kinds of psychopaths that wandered into his practice. For this reason, there are no heinous crimes to distract or any anger to make us turn away, but rather we can observe with a more detached curiosity and learn a lot about the nature of psychopaths.Pat Brown/Director/Investigative Criminal Profiler/The Sexual Homicide Exchange, Inc.

I heard of this book through the Cassiopeia web-project, a website dedicated to psychopathy. They've scanned Cleckly's book, and offer it as a PDF. Just google for Cassiopeia and Cleckly.

I read a large part of the book, and as a (Dutch, please pardon my spelling in places) psychologist I am in awe of this book. Much has been said in the other reviews.
Cleckley doesn't choose the easy way; he painstakingly and consciently tries to distinguish between sociopathy (as psychopathy is currently called) and a number of other human and mental conditions. Such as schizophrenia, narcissm, ordinary human variation, your runn-of-the-mill neuroticism. And, very importantly, and perhaps the hardest distiction to make, Checly puts in perspective how sociopathy can be distinguished from rebelling against the moral standards of a particular era. The book was first written in 1948, and sexuel promiscuïty meant something different then then it does now. Such distinctions are where a dated book most clearly shows it flaws, and Checkly comes out as timeless and fresh as when it first came out.
His book is a very well written (his style reminded me of Oliver Sacks in places) essay into the meaning of a certain, everyday kind of human evil. The book answers the frustrated question of everyone who has dealt with a such a psychopath: "How could he DO that?" Cleckley estimates that 5 % of the population will have some psychopathic tendencies, although many of those psychopaths lead succesful lives with careers and marriages. So the odds are, you will meet one. If you want to understand him or her, and have enough background knowledge to tackle this book, read it.

I read and did a graduate level paper on this book, using the 3rd edition from 1955, and even then Cleckley was able to provide an accurate understanding of the psychopath that researchers have attempted to provide today.