The Psychopath Test: A Journey through the Madness Industry

by Jon Ronson
The Psychopath Test: A Journey through the Madness Industry cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Investigative Journalism
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  • ID: 3450
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781101515167
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2011-05-12
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Jon Ronson, a bestselling journalist, delves into the intriguing and sometimes unsettling world of psychopaths and the experts who study them. His investigation leads him to discover that the line between the observers and the observed can be disturbingly thin. Ronson learns to identify psychopaths through subtle verbal and nonverbal cues, encountering a range of individuals from a death-squad leader to a high-profile CEO. His journey reveals the complexities of the 'madness industry' and the unsettling reality that those at the helm may be as unbalanced as those they study. /n/nAs Ronson navigates through the corridors of power and institutions, he uncovers a hoax that challenges the very foundations of psychological research. His encounters with various individuals, including a patient in an asylum, highlight the blurred lines between sanity and madness. The book ultimately questions who the real psychopaths are and how society defines and deals with mental illness.

Reviews
Stuck in a Book · 2018-04-05
positive 4.00

The book is praised for its engaging exploration of the impact of the psychopath test and its analysis of criminally psychopathic individuals. The writing is found to be compelling and thought-provoking.

This reviewer found the book to be a compelling journey through the minds of those diagnosed as psychopathic. Jon Ronson's exploration of the impact of the psychopath test is both fascinating and well-researched. The analysis of criminally psychopathic individuals adds depth to the narrative, making it a thought-provoking read. The writing style is engaging, and the stories shared are both intriguing and unsettling, providing a unique perspective on mental health and the criminal justice system.

Quick quotes

    Ronson explores the impact of the test, as well as analysing many of the people who have been criminally psychopathic.

    The book provides a fascinating journey through the minds of madness.

    Jon Ronson's exploration of a potential hoax being played on the world's top psychiatrists is both compelling and thought-provoking.

The Week · 2015-01-08
positive 4.50

The book is seen as a persuasive argument about the dangers of tools like the Hare Psychopathy Checklist. The writing is engaging and the exploration of the subject matter is both compelling and thought-provoking.

This reviewer appreciates the book's persuasive argument about the potential dangers of tools like the Hare Psychopathy Checklist. Jon Ronson's writing is engaging, and his exploration of the subject matter is both compelling and thought-provoking. The book provides a unique perspective on the madness industry and raises important questions about the diagnosis and treatment of psychopathy. While the narrative is engaging, some readers might find the subject matter unsettling, but it's a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about mental health.

Quick quotes

    Ronson winds up making 'a persuasive argument' that yardsticks such as the 20-item 'Hare Psychopathy Checklist' can be dangerous weapons.

    The book provides a unique perspective on the madness industry.

    Jon Ronson's exploration of the subject matter is both compelling and thought-provoking.

Goodreads · 2011-05-12
mixed 2.50

The book is enjoyed for its engaging writing style, but the reviewer finds it too self-consciously iconoclastic and less impressive than other works by the author. The exploration of psychiatry is seen as accessible but somewhat lacking in depth.

This reader is a fan of Jon Ronson's work but felt this book didn't quite live up to their expectations. The writing is engaging, and complex topics are made accessible, but the approach comes across as too cutesy and iconoclastic. They appreciate the exploration of psychiatry and the way Ronson breaks down complex ideas, but feel the book could have delved deeper into the subject matter. Overall, it's an enjoyable read but not as impactful as some of Ronson's other works.

Quick quotes

    This was to be a self-consciously iconoclastic, too-cutesy look at psychiatry.

    I am a fan of Jon Ronson, but less so after this book.

    I enjoyed reading about the various individuals and their stories, but felt the overall narrative was a bit thin.

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