From fiction to nonfiction (and even memoirs), there are plenty of books about sociopaths, psychopaths, antisocial personality disorder, and the dark triad of personality traits. This curated list of books about sociopaths will introduce you to fictional sociopaths, self-help books for those dealing with sociopaths in their life, and even a memoir from a self-proclaimed sociopath.

Less than Zero
by Bret Easton Ellis
IN A NUTSHELL. Drug-fueled alienation & apathy
SHORT & SIMPLE. A wealthy college student in 1980s Los Angeles parties his way through winter break with a group of people who exhibit no care or empathy for other human beings.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a fictional first-person narrative book about sociopathy.
Bret Easton Ellis is better known for the book American Psycho (another book about a sociopath), but Less than Zero is his first novel. The protagonist, Clay, occasionally engages in surface-level commentary about the lack of care his fellow partiers exhibit towards each other, but frankly, pretty much every character in this novel feels sociopathic. Less than Zero is a vibe, and that vibe is sociopathy writ large.
fiction
Sociopath: A Memoir
by Patric Gagne
IN A NUTSHELL. Firsthand account of sociopathy
SHORT & SIMPLE. Former therapist and self-proclaimed sociopath recounts her life.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a non-fiction memoir book about sociopathy.
Patric Gagne, the author of this memoir about sociopathy, is a former therapist with a Ph.D. in a clinical psychology and a sociopath. This memoir interweaves personal stories with scientific information and explores the experience of growing up knowing you’re different and not feeling the things you’re supposed to feel. Sociopath: A Memoir, is an interesting read, but one that could be uncomfortable for anyone who has experienced sociopathic abuse.
nonfiction + biographies & memoirs
Ordinary People
by Judith Guest
IN A NUTSHELL. Understated sociopathic mother
SHORT & SIMPLE. Sociopathic mother makes life miserable for struggling son.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a fictional book about a sociopath in a family setting.
This 1976 novel from Judith Guest is ostensibly about a wealthy family in the ‘burbs reeling from the aftermath of the death of the oldest son and the toll that traumatic event has taken on the younger son and rest of the family. That said, no one is going to convince me that the bigger story in this novel isn’t the sociopathic mother. In a very understated way, she manipulates and casts herself as the victim while emotionally abusing her youngest son. If you want your book about a sociopath to be eerily understated, Ordinary People is for you. (Check out the 1980 movie adaptation of this book, too. It’s one of those rare instances where the movie lives up to the book.)
fiction
5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life: Identifying and Dealing with Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Other High-Conflict Personalities
by Bill Eddy
IN A NUTSHELL. Protect yourself from sociopaths
SHORT & SIMPLE. A lawyer and therapist explains how to recognize and deal with sociopaths.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a non-fiction book about protecting yourself from sociopaths.
The author of this book about sociopaths, Bill Eddy, is both an attorney and a therapist. In this book he teaches readers how to recognize when they are dealing with someone who is a sociopath or has an otherwise high-conflict personality (HCP). Eddy also provides tips for how to interact with sociopaths and HCPs to protect yourself and safely end high-conflict interactions. Eddy’s book is a very practical, easy read for those looking to protect themselves from a sociopath at work or in their personal life.
nonfiction + self-help
You
by Caroline Kepnes
IN A NUTSHELL. Obsessive stalker gets the girl
SHORT & SIMPLE. An obsessive stalker manipulates his way into dating a grad student.
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a disturbing thriller book about a sociopath romance.
You may recognize the title of this book from the Netflix series of the same name starring Penn Badgley. But, before it was a Netflix series, You was a well-paced sociopath romance about an obsessive stalker hunting down his prey. You is book one in a five book series with Hidden Bodies, Providence, You Love Me, and For You and Only You. A disturbing, but also somehow enjoyable, read, You, might be just the book about a sociopath that you’re looking for.
fiction