The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry

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Pan Macmillan, Jun 3, 2011 - Psychology - 320 pages

What if society wasn't fundamentally rational, but was motivated by insanity? This thought sets Jon Ronson on an utterly compelling adventure into the world of madness.

Along the way, Jon meets psychopaths, those whose lives have been touched by madness and those whose job it is to diagnose it, including the influential psychologist who developed the Psychopath Test, from whom Jon learns the art of psychopath-spotting. A skill which seemingly reveals that madness could indeed be at the heart of everything . . .

Combining Jon Ronson's trademark humour, charm and investigative incision, The Psychopath Test is both entertaining and honest, unearthing dangerous truths and asking serious questions about how we define normality in a world where we are increasingly judged by our maddest edges.

'The belly laughs come thick and fast – my God, he is funny . . . provocative and interesting' – Observer

 

Contents

The Missing Part of the Puzzle Revealed
The Man Who Faked Madness
Psychopaths Dream in Black and White
The Psychopath Test
Toto
Night of the Living Dead
The Right Sort of Madness
The Madness of David Shayler
Aiming a Bit High
The Avoidable Death of Rebecca Riley
Good Luck
Notes Sources Bibliography Acknowledgements
Copyright

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About the author (2011)

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of many bestselling books, including Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie, Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries, The Psychopath Test, The Men Who Stare at Goats,Them: Adventures with Extremists and So You've Been Publicly Shamed. His first fictional screenplay, Frank, co-written with Peter Straughan, starred Michael Fassbender. He lives in London and New York City.

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