Book Review — The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry

Jon Ronson, a journalist, and writer, while investigating a mysterious book that had been sent to numerous academics around the world, decides to find out more about his anxiety. The quest leads him to find something else. This book is about following Jon as he learns about psychopaths. He writes all about his interviews with alleged psychopaths, psychiatrists, Scientologists, and psychologists.

With only 11 chapters and most of them being short, this may be a quick read for a casual reader looking to also find out more about this subgenre. For a researcher or someone with more knowledge of psychopathy, however, it may not serve its purpose.

He starts with “Tony” a psychiatric hospital inmate who faked mental illness to get around a prison sentence and now can’t convince the doctors he’s not ill. The Scientologists think Tony’s case is an example of why we should not trust psychiatry and campaign for Tony’s release.

Some parts of it are quite frightening. But again Jon’s way of writing has a way of containing your fears.

“What percentage of the non-prison population is a psychopath?” I asked.
“One percent,” said Essi.”

He goes on to explain how common it is to find psychopaths in the world today and how they are at the top of the food chain because “Sociopaths love power. They love winning. If you take loving kindness out of the human brain, there’s not much left except the will to win.” He explains why these people lack empathy with examples.

In Chapter 4, you get to meet Bob Hare and his test containing 20 personality traits, Bob Hare being a leading Canadian psychologist in this field. From there on, Jon attempts to judge people/psychopaths by this test, some passing clearly and others failing. One of the 20 items that stick with me being item 8: “Callous/Lack of Empathy”

In the last chapter, Jon realizes there can still be a grey area not marked by Bob Hare’s test. Excitingly, Jon introduces you to names and phrases that you will enjoy researching elsewhere.

Interesting but scary read. Check it out.

Best Parts: Sessions with Tony

Worst Parts: Chapter 3 ( Paul Bindrim’s methods)

Favorite Quote: “Well,” he said, “the downside of having no barriers between doctors and patients was that everyone became a patient.”. — Adrian

Rating: 3.0 / 5 stars