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  • Published: 1 November 2013
  • ISBN: 9780099551065
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $22.99

The Wisdom of Psychopaths




A fascinating exploration into the mind of the psychopath - beneath the hype and the popular characterisation, psychopaths have something to teach us.

'A surprising, absorbing and perceptive book. I found it altogether fascinating' PHILIP PULLMAN
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Psychopath. No sooner is the word out than images of murderers, rapists, suicide bombers and gangsters flash across our minds.

But unlike their film and television counterparts, not all psychopaths are violent, or even criminal. Far from it. In fact, they have a lot of good things going for them. Psychopaths are fearless, confident, charismatic, ruthless and focused - qualities tailor-made for success in twenty-first-century society.

In this groundbreaking adventure into the world of psychopaths, renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals a shocking truth: beneath the hype and the popular stereotype, psychopaths have something to teach us.

With a new introduction from the author
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'Highly original . . . provocative and humorous' V. S. RAMACHANDRAN

'This startling study considers whether or not we have anything to learn from psychopaths . . . it's good to know that rubbing shoulders with such dangerous characters hasn't destroyed his sense of humour.' THE TIMES

'Inspiring and revelatory. Dutton's book gave me an insight into who I really am' ANDY McNAB

'Dutton's curiosity takes him from boardrooms and law courts to neurological labs . . . Psychopaths, we learn, are the ultimate optimists; they always think things will work in their favour' GUARDIAN

'The Wisdom of Psychopaths is captivating. Dr. Dutton's book invigorated my consideration of not just a certain television character, but slow-pulsed overachievers everywhere' MICHAEL C HALL (Dexter)

  • Published: 1 November 2013
  • ISBN: 9780099551065
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $22.99

About the author

Kevin Dutton

Dr Kevin Dutton is a researcher at the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, and a member of the Oxford Centre for Emotions and Affective Neuroscience (OCEAN) research group. He regularly publishes in leading international scientific journals and speaks at conferences around the world. He is the author of the acclaimed Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion.

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Praise for The Wisdom of Psychopaths

Dutton tackles an elusive, important and much neglected aspect of the mind; our personality. He presents some highly original insights and does so in a provocative and humorous style

V. S. Ramachandran, Gifford lecturer , Reith lecturer and author of The Tell-Tale Brain

The Wisdom of Psychopaths is a surprising, absorbing, and perceptive book set out in briskly readable prose and with gripping anecdotes. I found it altogether fascinating.

Philip Pullman

Dutton has written a masterful, readable, and entertaining treatise on psychopathy and its manifestations in everyday life. Some of his ideas will generate debate and controversy, but he clearly has provided a thought-provoking book for those seeking to understand the "psychopathic" world in which they live.

Robert Hare, PhD

Inspiring and revelatory. Dutton’s book gave me a real insight into who I really am.

Andy McNab

Goes beyond cliché to view the world through a psychopath's eyes … this book knows how to get under the skin

Guardian

An original and thought-provoking study

Daily Mail

Kevin Dutton is a Special Forces style psychologist. Daring. Original. All-action. No nonsense.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes
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