Gaslit Brain: Protect Your Brain from the Lies of Bullying, Gaslighting, and Institutional Complicity

by Jennifer Fraser

Reveals the psychological functions of the manipulator’s brain and the impact of gaslighting on our minds, shining a spotlight on how manipulative brains seduce us into belief and disrupt our ability to think effectively

This psychological study analyzes the onslaught of gaslighting that has recently dominated the world stage, making many turn to the dictionary just to figure out how it works, who’s at risk, and why it’s becoming normalized. When power, credibility, and social status are harnessed to manipulate―not just individuals―but whole populaces may suffer violence against facts and truth. Our recent concern with gaslighting’s destructive force has made psychological safety a priority in relationships at home and at work.

In PART ONE, we look at the impact gaslighting has on targets’ brains and minds. Many do not realize that gaslighting has an extremely harmful neurological impact. If manipulation leads to insanity, it’s because the brain and mind have been distorted and compromised. With the advent of non-invasive technology, scientists use brain imagery to examine what happens to brains that are lied to, manipulated, and betrayed. The damage is physical and visible and provides insights into why the mind’s functions are compromised.

PART TWO lasers in on the brains of those who bully and gaslight. Many do not realize that those who lie and manipulate have deficits in their brains. If manipulation leads to insanity, it’s because the brain and mind have been distorted. With the advent of non-invasive technology, scientists use brain imagery to examine what's going on in the brains of bullies and gaslighters and why they're so effective. The damage is physical and visible, and it provides insights into why the mind’s functions are compromised, destructive, and dangerous.

PART THREE is practical and applicable. It teaches how to harness psychology and neuroscience to stay safe and sane. It provides proven exercises to keep us sharp and skeptical when faced with every manipulation from smear campaigns to spin doctors. It provides the tools needed to maintain clarity when exposed to those who are sowing the seeds of confusion and destabilization in an attempt to shatter our brains and lives. We can strengthen our brains and minds’ capacity to recognize and resist falsehoods, level by level, mechanism by mechanism, function by function. PART THREE of The Gaslit Brain turns the psychological and brain research into practical, applicable strategies that anyone can apply to identify and resist the manipulation of gaslighting.

Genres: Nonfiction

392 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

When people are gaslighting - "the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one's own personal advantage" - you need to identify it and draw on your brain power to stay safe and sane.

In 2022, gaslighting was looked up at Merriam-Webster dictionary 1740% more frequently than before. Why? It's a deadly form of psychological abuse that fuels our era's "war on truth."

New book "The Gaslit Brain: Protect Your Brain from the Lies of Bullying, Gaslighting, and Institutional Complicity" is designed to keep you safe in personal relationships and in the workplace.

It uses brain science to train you step by step how to resist manipulation, how to reject gaslighters' attempts to make you believe you can't trust your memory or perceptions or emotions and that you're losing your mind. It applies to intimate partner violence, to the workplace, all the way into politics.

Reviews

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gaslit Brain by Jennifer Fraser is an important and insightful read that tackles the crucial topic of gaslighting and its profound impact on the brain. The book is well-researched and thoroughly referenced, providing a clear understanding of how emotional abuse rewires the brain. The stories shared are deeply moving, often touching you to the core and evoking both frustration over injustice and motivation to support change. While the writing is clear, it sometimes feels a bit heavy and could benefit from a more polished style. Nonetheless, Fraser’s dedication to the subject shines through, making this a valuable read for anyone interested in the psychology of manipulation and the urgent need to foster a better, more just world.

[Jess Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be asked to read an early copy and read it not long after The Bullied Brain. The Gaslight Brain continues the exploration of how this behaviours impacts us and offers meaningful insights into how insidious it can be. This is written in a thought provoking and engaging way, to open the eyes of the reader to how gaslighting presents on society, how to spot it and what to do. Must read.

[Reviewer Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating and unsettling look at how gaslighting—especially when it's coming from people in positions of power—can actually change the structure of our brains. Jennifer Fraser blends neuroscience with real-world examples to show how this kind of psychological manipulation operates in everyday institutions, often in ways we don't even notice at first. What stood out to me was how accessible the science felt, and how practical the recovery strategies were without feeling oversimplified. It’s one of those books that quietly shifts the way you see the world—and yourself.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chances are that you've experienced gaslighting at some point in your lives. Particular politicians are adept with it and seem to make gaslighting a cornerstone of their public (and likely private) persona. If you've ever wondered about the impacts on your brain, how to prevent institutional gaslighting, how to recover, etc., this book is for you.

The author delves deeply into the neuroscience of what happens in the brains of those who gaslight and those who are gaslit. Fraser shares stories that illustrate the way institutions frequently side with the bullies/gaslighters and why. Many readers may recognize their own experiences or those of loved ones when reading this book. Thus, it can be hard to read at times.

However, the book ultimately provides hope through a blueprint for preventing gaslighting. Readers learn specific steps they can take to help gaslight-proof their brains and workplaces.

As someone who is a survivor of bullying in schools and workplaces, as well as the gaslighting of various forms of abuse, this book is invaluable to me. I have learned so much, and I recommended it specifically to others who've been victimized by gaslighting and bullying at former workplaces. I hope leadership will read it and implement the practices to protect talented workers rather than continually rewarding those who cause harm.

There are two drawbacks for me. 1. The author seems to be helping someone sell their brain training program, as it's mentioned so frequently and glowingly when others are available. and 2. The author doesn't seem to take autism into account. There are passages that are blatantly centering allistics, though the whole book does that to an extent.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Martin Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Globe Pequot and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy.

This book offers a fresh, grounded take on how manipulation reshapes our minds. It’s honest, sometimes heavy, but always insightful. The mix of research and relatable experiences makes it stick. Not always an easy read, but definitely worthwhile for anyone curious about emotional health and personal growth in tough environments.