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.