A Sociopath Beside Me Paperback – February 6, 2012

Most folks know about famous sociopaths/psychopaths such as Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. However, not everyone with a lack of conscience turns to serial murder. Others who score high on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist run corporations or, in the case of the predator in "A Sociopath Beside Me" insinuate their way into people's lives, take what they want, and leave emotional and financial devastation in their wake.Junie Moon married Marvin, a charismatic and articulate young man who swept her off her feet. However, as time went on Marvin's true nature surfaced and he revealed himself as a merciless pedophile who used and discarded young boys like playthings. As Ms. Moon's denial gave way to the reality of the situation, she left Marvin and remarried. Eventually, as authorities finally closed in, Marvin fled with a young boy he adopted and is still at large."A Sociopath Beside Me" is a difficult read, but not because the author isn't a writer by trade. It's almost like a cheesy horror movie where the villain is unstoppable and all of his victims do stupid things that get them impaled on a machete. Marvin succeeded with his crimes for years by variously fooling, shaming, cajoling, and even threatening people into inaction. Even Ms. Moon was blinded until the evidence finally became inescapable that Marvin was a monster.In the end, all Ms. Moon could do was pick up the pieces of her life, rebuild, and try to help others escape Marvin's grasp. One might be dismayed at how miserably she fails to do this time after time, even with her own stepchildren. But at least she has attempted to redress missed opportunities by writing "A Sociopath Beside Me" as a warning to others who might encounter Marvin or someone like him.

Junie Moon writes this book in a way that a clinician or psychiatrist could not, but in a way a mother will not overlook. Her book allows the reader inside the 'crazy' that a sociopath and child molester creates to cover his predatory attacks on boys as young as eight. Her story will help a mother, neighbor, adult, recognize oddities that don't make sense or mismatched stories, lies with just enough truth that a sociopath most likely will use to cover up pedophilia. For the first few chapters she's cutting through the fog that victims of abuse have to recover from. The author, and ex-wife delays getting into the heart of the story for a few chapters, and, this might be signs of PTSD, still hanging on.Moon writes clearly but seems to do so in a fog -- until the real story begins, which is pretty much what happens after nearly twenty-years with a man without a conscience; a man who could talk his way out-of or into anything, and who enjoys taking everything she loved from her, and doing the same to any person who attempts to interact with him, intimately. The sociopath invests the most energy is deceiving the ones he hopes to dupe and the ones who give him the opportunity to financially gain from, or who can unwittingly give him access to his next victim. Her story is important. If she had known the red flags for the sociopath, she might well have enjoyed a life with someone capable of caring. Her child might have been safe from a pernicious hunter of children. Junie wants to tell especially single mothers how to spot the signs that should make the hair on the backs of their necks raise, and that they should pay attention to these feelings.

Author Junie Moon admits she is not a writer but she did a fine job with her memoir A Sociopath Beside Me describing 18 years with a sociopath (also known as psychopaths.) As the author of THE SECRET LIFE OF CAPTAIN X: MY LIFE WITH A PSYCHOPATH PILOT, she accurately writes how difficult it is to understand living with a person with this often misunderstood antisocial personality disorder. I especially liked when she mentioned her sociopath/psychopath “had the uncanny ability to sell ice to Eskimos,” a common trait of these people, as well as being extremely charming! Ms. Moon is just one of millions of women and men victimized by these people without a conscience. I applaud her for sharing her story.

A fairly "good" read, for as far as it goes. There is a LOT of guilt feelings to wade through, with all the associated apologies. I hope writing this book has helped the author to move past the guilt and apology. Neither is deserved or appropriate. But ... that's what sociopaths do. I lived with one (husband) for 21 years and had a brother who was a sociopath. Trust me, I am totally OVER IT. Read by a novice, the book could give the impression that ALL sociopaths are pedophiles. They're not. They are incredibly charming, inconsistent, and will make your life total chaos as you try to be all "understanding" and "supportive." If you feel your life centers around "supporting" another as they go from one "issue/problem/situation/tribulation" to another, and you find yourself thinking "After this, there will be time for MY dreams," the MINUTE you recognize the situation ... leave. As fast as you can! Many reading this book will rationalize, my (family member) is not a pedophile, so they must not be a sociopath. Wrong.

I found "A Sociopath Beside Me" a quick read in everyday language that paints a very informative picture of what a sociopath can do and be like without any one seeing. It validates the "See I'm not crazy" that so many people in relationships need. Though this book talks about what the author's sociopath did, the book, I felt, provided me with the tools and validation to understand that there are many types of sociopaths. I would recommend this book to anyone in this type of relationship.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was appalled at some of the things the Sociopaths get up to. It would make your hair curl. I recognised a boyfriends behaviour in this book. All I will say on this is "What a Lucky Escape I got when he dumped me" If you get the chance buy this book and read it. You will be forwarned to these people if you do. Great prompt service from the seller.Many Thanks Folks!

How courageous to recount this story, with an unfortunate ending. This is an ever thought provoking subject and vigilance is the key. Fractured families are today producing more and more individuals with personality disorders on varying scales and this needs to be recognised.

Very dramatic and realistic and well written and edited. My only reservation is that it was a too brief and perhaps more detail could have been included.It read like a newspaper article in some points and lacked dramatic effect. Still a good read!

Arrived quick. Great product . Many thanks.

It was a easy to read book on a very complicated subject. very good, the writer was clear and honest.