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The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success Hardcover – October 16, 2012
In this engrossing journey into the lives of psychopaths and their infamously crafty behaviors, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals that there is a scale of "madness" along which we all sit. Incorporating the latest advances in brain scanning and neuroscience, Dutton demonstrates that the brilliant neurosurgeon who lacks empathy has more in common with a Ted Bundy who kills for pleasure than we may wish to admit, and that a mugger in a dimly lit parking lot may well, in fact, have the same nerveless poise as a titan of industry.
Dutton argues that there are indeed "functional psychopaths" among us―different from their murderous counterparts―who use their detached, unflinching, and charismatic personalities to succeed in mainstream society, and that shockingly, in some fields, the more "psychopathic" people are, the more likely they are to succeed. Dutton deconstructs this often misunderstood diagnosis through bold on-the-ground reporting and original scientific research as he mingles with the criminally insane in a high-security ward, shares a drink with one of the world's most successful con artists, and undergoes transcranial magnetic stimulation to discover firsthand exactly how it feels to see through the eyes of a psychopath.
As Dutton develops his theory that we all possess psychopathic tendencies, he puts forward the argument that society as a whole is more psychopathic than ever: after all, psychopaths tend to be fearless, confident, charming, ruthless, and focused―qualities that are tailor-made for success in the twenty-first century. Provocative at every turn, The Wisdom of Psychopaths is a riveting adventure that reveals that it's our much-maligned dark side that often conceals the trump cards of success.
- Print length288 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherScientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication dateOctober 16, 2012
- Dimensions5.95 x 1.05 x 8.67 inches
- ISBN-100374291357
- ISBN-13978-0374291358
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“A terrifically entertaining and chilling book.” ―William Georgiades, Slate
“The Wisdom of Psychopaths is an engaging and enlightening look at both the positive and negative sides of the personality characteristics that make up the diagnosis of psychopathy.” ―Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
“[A] high-octane charge across the psychopathy continuum.” ―Kaja Perina, Psychology Today
“There's no denying it: we love our psychopaths….[and] in his entertaining new book…Dutton sheds some light on the stunning magnetism of the ethically challenged.” ―The Daily Beast
“It's hard not to like Dutton's book . . . Dutton, like [Norman] Mailer, is waging war against the bien-pensant. And I'm with him. Life would be more fun if more people cultivated their inner psychopath.” ―Ann Marlowe, Tablet
“Dutton deftly navigates through some disturbing subject matter, but his message is ultimately upbeat: Scientists may be able to learn a lot from the darker side of human nature.” ―Allison Bohac, Science News
“A convincing study . . . The admirable quality of this book is Dutton's refusal to accept easy answers in one of the more sensational fields of popular psychology.” ―Tim Adams, The Observer (UK)
“Dutton spins a solid yarn, turning what could easily have been a dry survey of psych research into entertainment.” ―Scott Olster, Fortune (CNN Money)
“The Wisdom of Psychopaths is a surprising, absorbing, and perceptive book. Kevin Dutton has amassed a great deal of knowledge about these charming, cold, fearless, emotionally indifferent people, who are so attractive in some ways and so appalling in others, and set it out in a briskly readable prose studded with gripping anecdotes. I found it altogether fascinating.” ―Philip Pullman, author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy
“Dutton tackles an elusive, important, and much neglected aspect of the mind: our personality. He presents some highly original insights and does so in a provocative and humorous style―offering practical tips along the way for both ‘normals’ and ‘sociopaths.’” ―V. S. Ramachandran, Ph.D., author of the bestselling The Tell-Tale Brain
“Dutton has written a masterful, readable, and entertaining treatise on psychopathy and its manifestations in everyday life. Some of his ideas will generate debate and controversy, but he clearly has provided a thought-provoking book for those seeking to understand the ‘psychopathic' world in which they live.” ―Robert D. Hare, Ph.D., author of Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us and developer of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist
“The irrepressible Kevin Dutton has done it again! This time he has produced an irreverent romp through the bright side and dark side of the mysterious psychopath, and does a great job of mixing the scientific with the personal, offering readers an insider’s glimpse into the workings of fascinating persons―and fascinating personalities. Readers will come away both enlightened and entertained.” ―Scott O. Lilienfeld, Professor of Psychology at Emory University, President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, and coauthor of 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology
“If you’ve been keeping your inner psychopath locked up in the maximum-security unit of your mind, Kevin Dutton explains why giving him some fresh air from time to time may actually do you―and, more important, the rest of us―a world of good. Just give him this book to read and make sure he’s a literate, functional psychopath.” ―Jesse Bering, author of Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 37779th edition (October 16, 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 288 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0374291357
- ISBN-13 : 978-0374291358
- Item Weight : 1.06 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.95 x 1.05 x 8.67 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #193,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #84 in Medical Mental Illness
- #313 in Medical Psychology Pathologies
- #632 in Popular Psychology Pathologies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Dr Kevin Dutton is a research fellow at the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford. He is an affiliated member of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. He is the author of the acclaimed Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion and The Wisdom of Psychopaths: Lessons In Life From Saints, Spies and Serial Killers. He lives in the Cotswolds.
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Psychopath's do not have "disorders", we are a different breed of human being. I suppose just as there are different breeds of wolves, or antelopes, etc. all which fall under the same broad stroke species..Our brains are formed, wired and function very differently than the brains of non-psychopathic people. This book is chock full of studies, tests and social experiments which confirm this; and more than that which show in many instances that the right amount of psychopathology in a personality can actually be a very valuable asset, especially when it really counts in life.
This is a totally impartial, insightful, and incredibly well written (and humorous) work of literature, which finally takes a slant on psychopathology which is not stained with automatic negativity and disdain toward us as human beings. We are different yes, less fit for normal society in many ways than our non - psychopathic counterparts in life (normal people); Yet more fit and ept in many ways and for the newer society emerging before us, the fast pace, cut throat, capitalistic feeding frenzy which is becoming the world. This book does an amazing job of pointing this out, and trying to discover what "our" psychopathic purpose and origin may be on earth, and among the human race.
Finally people may begin to understand that some of the bravest, successful, and outright phenomenal people on this earth are psychopaths. Unfortunately some of us with the psychopathic "dials" turned all the way up (as Dr. Dutton so perfectly puts it) have also been responsible for some of the worst atrocities ever recorded in history...In my humble opinion, this is a matter of choice. We as psychopaths are basically capable of doing whatever we want to do, without any "internal" turmoil, guilt or remorse attached.
That does not mean however that we do not have a free will, and do not have a choice as to the actions we take or how we utilize that gift (if we can call it that). This book does an excellent job of illustrating this point very subtly and reminding us of the fact that people choose their own paths, and that a psychopath can be anything from a top CEO, to a firefighter, to an SAS agent - right down to a notorious serial killer. It may be harder for a psychopath to be a "good person" as defined by society due to our limitations and lack of conscience..But it is possible for us to integrate and do the right things. I do it everyday, its a choice I make.
It is very, very difficult to put this book down, and the information within is relayed in such a way that it leaves you thinking much more deeply than when you picked it up...You will certainly never think of psychopaths the same way again..Personally I can't wait to read it again..
A very big thumbs up from this psychopath Dr. Dutton...Thank you.
Many hold a picture of the psychopath as the evil, violent criminal who is far distant from any personal contact we might have. Instead, readers are presented with the picture of the "successful," psychopath -- the chief executive, our representative in the House of Representatives, our Senator, or has even been the case in several of our presidents who have scandalously misbehaved, or worse, lied to the country. From Lyndon Johnson (the gulf of Tonkin deception) to John F. Kennedy (multiple adulterous affairs) to Richard Nixon, (who, it has been recently discovered, in addition to all his other lying and criminal activity, successfully manipulated peace talks allowing him to win the 1968 election) to Bill Clinton, (the Monica Lewinski affair) ending with George W. Bush, ("weapons of mass destruction") all have provided more than ample evidence of their psychopathy.
After reading, however, our instant revulsion at the thought of being associated with, or worse, the victim of, the psychopath is tempered with the fact that psychopathy is necessary to a growing and progressive society. For some professions the fearlessness, the aggressiveness and persistence are both present and essential. Without these attributes, what these individuals undertake could not be achieved. The work of the neurosurgeon requires not the slightest quiver in his hand while deep inside the brain; the bomb disposal technician cannot have so much as a bead of sweat on his brow as he makes his moves to disarm the deadly explosives confronting him. This is not to say that any of these professions demonstrate the evil which characterizes many psychopaths -- only that there is an overlap in what distinguishes such individuals from the rest of us.
Although short, the author fills the text with fascinating descriptions of experiments carried out by large number of researchers. The last 25% of the book consists of notes and our expenses enabling the reader to extensively continue pursuit of additional information about this fascinating subject.
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