How to Tell If Your Friend Is a Sociopath

Learning How to See Through the Smoke

By: Jonathan Jaye

Narrated by: Jonathan Jaye

A dangerous person without a conscience rarely looks that way. They often seem like the most charming and attractive among us. It is only when we are used or targeted that we learn who we're really dealing with - and often much too late. A trained mental health professional shares candidly about his personal and professional experiences with sociopathic individuals. Some basic guidelines for understanding this infamous personality style.

©2017 Jonathan Jaye (P)2017 Jonathan Jaye

Pithy, entertaining and educational - loved it!

First, although I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I must say that I would have happily paid the modest price for this amusing and humorous book. It's just my style.

The author, who uses profanity freely and naturally as he tells his stories, made me laugh out loud while driving and even made me laugh-snort a milk shake during lunch while listening. He speaks the way most of us wish we could if no one would judge us.

The author tells stories about different individuals and their behaviors in order to illustrate the ways of several sociopaths in the author's life. I love that he DIDN'T say, "Let's call my friend Kevin." He just talked about people and I believed him. I hate when authors change the names of people in such an obvious way that you remember that you're reading a book where they changed the names, if that makes sense. Like, seriously, who are you protecting, some sociopath? Thank God this author had the guts to just tell his stories and not pussy-foot around.

If you're not offended by some grown-up language that is often hilarious, always appropriate and never gratuitous, get this book for entertainment and education, and keep an eye on this author, Jonathan Jaye because he's got more stories to tell in the future for sure, and I'll be among his biggest fans.

lessons we learn

The book had a few stories of the authors life with dealing with some questionable people. It was a fast listen, the narration was good, but i dont think i learned much on how to see if one of my friends was questionable. I wish it was more detailed about how a psychopath works, and more clues to find them.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher

Some good information

This audio book had some good information in it. I agreed with some of the opinions, but not all. I will definitely apply this to my current friendships/relationships. I received this for free for an honest review.

Sex, Drugs, and Sociopaths

Through personal tales of sex, drugs and what seemed like friendships Jonathan Jaye tells of his personal experiences with sociopaths and what signs to look for to see through the web of deceit they leave in their wake.

The title of the book is slightly misleading. Jonathan Jaye does not exactly tell you how to tell if your friend is a sociopath but does go through how to see through the smoke of someone who is. While the personal tales were interesting to listen to I found the last chapter the only one that really had good takeaways. If you are looking for a quick read to learn about how to deal with sociopaths that may be in your life I would say this book is worth the cost. This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Unfortunately most of us know one 🤔

I requested this book in exchange for my honest review because of my boss.
I'm convinced he is a sociopath.
I found some useful information while trying to stay one step ahead of my narcissistic psycho boss 😂
Some of the examples given though were just a no brainer...
If you're hanging around people with addictive personalities, what do you expect?
Addicts are manipulative people without a conscience while they are using.
I know this first hand because my sister is living proof.
Anyone who has a bat 💩 crazy friend, relative, or coworker should give this book a listen.
Overall I found this entertaining and well narrated...

Reads more like a memoir

This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be research and facts given to help the reader determine sociopaths in everyday life; rather, it was a collection of anecdotal stories from the author's history with friends, co-workers, patients, drug addicts, etc. that he thought exhibited sociopathic tendencies. Although it was interesting, I didn't take away any concrete facts to help recognize a sociopath.
I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered...?

Is your drug dealer excessively friendly and eager? Does your therapist express an interest in you that has led to thoughts of deep friendship or intimacy? Do you and everyone else at work adore a co-worker that everybody loves to go drinking with, wants to bed, hang out with, and has indicated that he/she thinks you are exactly ______________, which is by the way, exactly what you have yearned to hear from someone so unofficially voted as most-popular-ever? Well then my friend, you might be about to become the hit and run victim of a SOCIOPATH!!!

Don't let this happen to you! This book delivers easy to understand examples from a trained mental health professional of how you too can identify and recognize sociopathic behaviors in order to avoid becoming his or her mark. Just read it already! You've surely got an hour somewhere to squeeze in this little audiobook, don't you? Listening to this is a lot like a life insurance policy. Jill didn't read it and now she is a happy brainless sex slave. Mack didn't read it and he's now a drooling vegetable. Henry didn't read it and he's a LAMP SHADE!!!!!

I was given this review copy of this book for free in the exchange for my unbiased review and the hope it will serve as an incentive to finally check myself in.

excellent info on sociopaths

lots of anecdotes from a professional psychologist. a very good resource and a quick audiobook.

Memoir and observations

How to Tell If Your Friend Is a Sociopath is a very quick read ostensibly about what sociopaths are like and how to identify them. What it is in reality is a collection of thoughts and memories of author Jonathan Jaye. Jaye is a psychiatrist and he collects memories and cases , both professional and personal, around sociopaths he has encountered, with occasional insights and thoughts about sociopathy between the stories.

The book serves a a memoir of these cases rather than a researched study of sociopathy. It is what he has learned through anecdote, not through data and research. I was expecting a book based on research and peer reviewed ideas, not one individuals memories and anecdotes.

While I have no inherent problem with swearing it felt very out of place in this book. Jaye using swearing throughout the narration - not just as quotes by patients/friends. This works to make the book feel even less of a study and more of a personal memoir. It made it feel a whole lot less professional.

While there is some insights into sociopathy provided here they are all from Jaye's singular history and don't appear to be well backed up. Overall it's a little disappointing to me.

Jaye also narrates his own book. For this he doesn't do too bad at all. It is a short non-fiction book, so there isn't a lot of scope for him to vary his narration work, but what he provides is more than sufficient. He is clear, well paced and easy to understand.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Tell If Your Friend Is a Sociopath to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version of this book

What did you like best about this story?

Honest and straightforward writing

What about Jonathan Jaye’s performance did you like?

He was perfect to read it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book had me from outright laughing to shaking my head. I loved the honesty and openness of the author!

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.