The Selfishness of Others

An Essay on the Fear of Narcissism

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Psychology, Personality, Interpersonal Relations, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science
Cover of the book The Selfishness of Others by Kristin Dombek, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kristin Dombek ISBN: 9780374712549
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publication: August 16, 2016
Imprint: FSG Originals Language: English
Author: Kristin Dombek
ISBN: 9780374712549
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication: August 16, 2016
Imprint: FSG Originals
Language: English

They're among us, but they are not like us. They manipulate, lie, cheat, and steal. They are irresistibly charming and accomplished, appearing to live in a radiance beyond what we are capable of. But narcissists are empty. No one knows exactly what everyone else is full of--some kind of a soul, or personhood--but whatever it is, experts agree that narcissists do not have it.

So goes the popular understanding of narcissism, or NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). And it's more prevalent than ever, according to recent articles in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Time. In bestsellers like The Narcissism Epidemic, Narcissists Exposed, and The Narcissist Next Door, pop psychologists have armed the normal with tools to identify and combat the vampiric influence of this rising population, while on websites like narcissismsurvivor.com, thousands of people congregate to swap horror stories about relationships with "narcs."

In The Selfishness of Others, the essayist Kristin Dombek provides a clear-sighted account of how a rare clinical diagnosis became a fluid cultural phenomenon, a repository for our deepest fears about love, friendship, and family. She cuts through hysteria in search of the razor-thin line between pathology and common selfishness, writing with robust skepticism toward the prophets of NPD and genuine empathy for those who see themselves as its victims. And finally, she shares her own story in a candid effort to find a path away from the cycle of fear and blame and toward a more forgiving and rewarding life.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

They're among us, but they are not like us. They manipulate, lie, cheat, and steal. They are irresistibly charming and accomplished, appearing to live in a radiance beyond what we are capable of. But narcissists are empty. No one knows exactly what everyone else is full of--some kind of a soul, or personhood--but whatever it is, experts agree that narcissists do not have it.

So goes the popular understanding of narcissism, or NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). And it's more prevalent than ever, according to recent articles in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Time. In bestsellers like The Narcissism Epidemic, Narcissists Exposed, and The Narcissist Next Door, pop psychologists have armed the normal with tools to identify and combat the vampiric influence of this rising population, while on websites like narcissismsurvivor.com, thousands of people congregate to swap horror stories about relationships with "narcs."

In The Selfishness of Others, the essayist Kristin Dombek provides a clear-sighted account of how a rare clinical diagnosis became a fluid cultural phenomenon, a repository for our deepest fears about love, friendship, and family. She cuts through hysteria in search of the razor-thin line between pathology and common selfishness, writing with robust skepticism toward the prophets of NPD and genuine empathy for those who see themselves as its victims. And finally, she shares her own story in a candid effort to find a path away from the cycle of fear and blame and toward a more forgiving and rewarding life.

More books from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Cover of the book Capacity by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book The Great Forgetting by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Woodholme by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book The Book of Intimate Grammar by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book The Runaway Princess by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book A Glorious Defeat by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book A Shopkeeper's Millennium by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Train Dreams by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book The Force of Things by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book A Roomful of Hovings and Other Profiles by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book A Change of Skin by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Distant Mandate by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Twists and Turns by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Stillness by Kristin Dombek
Cover of the book Beyond Oil by Kristin Dombek
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy