Narcissism: Behind the Mask

by David Thomas

This work shines a light on the reasons why narcissists are like they are, and on the pain and suffering they inflict on the codependents around them - and, more importantly, it shows how both can move towards winning back control and regaining happiness in their lives.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction

181 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: David Thomas

David Thomas works as a company director and consultant. Formerly, as CEO, he built a business up from three to nearly one hundred employees. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and holds a masters degree in management from Sheffield Hallam University and a doctoral degree in managerial psychology from the University of Derby.

His research interests are in managerial psychology, narcissistic behaviour, and the philosophy of happiness. He has researched over many years the behaviour of CEOs and senior managers, as well as other office staff and shop floor workers from a variety of walks of life. His doctoral thesis is entitled 'Analysis of Senior Management Teams in Organisations that have Demonstrated a Proclivity for Growth'; it is held at the British Library and is available for download (PDF) from the main catalogue.

Reviews

[Michelle]

I enjoyed this read because it was helpful for me but obviously, true narcissim is a nightmare to endure.

That being said, I felt I had to point out that it seems disgusting to combine the words "enjoy" and narcissism in the same sentence! Haha

With that aside, I've "endured" narcissism and this book was the most interesting and helpful for me, personally, to see the damage and abuse I endured as part of that narcissistic individual's own failing completely outside of myself and not my own.

[Janice]

I'd done some research, and this book by David Thomas was supposed to be one of the better books on narcissism. On-line it goes for up to $300. Whew. I want to see and read something before I invest that amount of money in a book. Boy, did I have a devil of a time finding it. Finally, with the help of my sister in law, who found it via her inter library loan, I had an opportunity to skim through it.
It was ok, but certainly not what I was expecting. Bummer. My brother in law said, this guy must be a narcissist to charge $300 for a book.
I found nothing here that I had not already read. So, no need for me to invest in my own copy. Narcissism is hard to pin down. Like many personality disorders, it's more likely to be a range of behaviors, rather than a hard and true set of behaviors, with cause merely a guess.