How to Handle a Narcissist: Understanding and Dealing with a Range of Narcissistic Personalities (Narcissism and Emotional Abuse Toolkit: How to handle ... and heal from emotional abuse Book 1)

This book is a must-read. Written with fairness — as in not demonizing anyone — this book will help you find your own inner narcissist as well as handle the one you bought the book to analyze. I HIGHLY recommend you, the reader, take both tests in the book. The insight you will gain when comparing yourself to your possibly unhealthy narcissist will be hugely helpful. Interestingly, I found the first test challenging to take (it's a standardized test) because it was too "this or that" and I live in a bit more the gray zone. Theresa Jackson modified the test to take a second time — I found that I, myself, am quite narcissistic! (Gee, no wonder the things my partner says rings true.) Turns out, however, narcissism can have its benefits. If you don't stick around with your current narcissist, take away some new insight for yourself for your next relationship. Perhaps learn a little about what makes you tick in your career, too, if you're insightful. (This book is NOT meant for this purpose, depends on how much you'd like to take away for yourself in addition to deciding if you want to accommodate your "malignant" or "toxic" narcissist for whatever reasons you may have. Wishing you a healthy future — this book is a great start. The author is a clinician and researcher, and the book is extremely well documented, but she writes perfectly for the lay person in need of guidance.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It's written in a way that reads easily, while still discussing psychological terms, so a person doesn't get lost in a bunch of jargon. It also is one of those rare books that can thoroughly explain how a narcissist thinks, what motivates them and how to classify someone as a narcissist, all without demonizing narcissists. Reading this book answered a lot of questions for me that the narcissists in my life never gave me. There are three sections of the book (because there is a lot to cover, and this way covers it all in a linear fashion): how to classify someone as a narcissist, accounts of narcissists and how to deal with narcissists. I've seen some critical reviews on here that state the advice given in this book on how to deal with a narcissist is common knowledge, but some of it wasn't common knowledge to me at all. (I won't spoil it for you by telling you what the advice was, but I will say it helped.) I really feel as though I have new tools in my arsenal and a greater sense of understanding, and it's very possible that it will be the same for you. So, I strongly recommend giving it a read. Even if you're one of the people who end up reviewing it and say you learned nothing, it's still a good read!

Even though this book does NOT send the message the author intends, the information is still good enough to rate four stars. If you follow the advice, however, you may find it damaging to your mental health. Jackson asserts, repeatedly, that narcissism is on a spectrum. Everyone exhibits these traits. Jackson has something of a point here. We all overestimate ourselves somewhere. We all think we stand out more than others in some activity or another. All this drives us to improve, grow, etc. So according to Jackson, narcissists can be good. It's the "extreme" narcissists—the self-obsessed, grandiose, emotional black holes—who are the problem. And apparently, unless you want to get away from your pet narc, it is YOUR responsibility to manage these fragile, manipulative beings who will take from you until you're a husk. They're "addicts" to their "narc supply", you see, so we have to put up with it. After spending nearly half the book defending narcissists, Jackson then goes on with a couple case studies (with few piercing insights) and then a checklist of things you can do. If you don't want to get away from the narc in your life or can't for whatever reason, it is YOUR responsibility to manage the narc's "supply" by doing things like holding yourself to higher ethical standards while saying nothing about them; diminishing yourself so the narc doesn't feel threatened; never exposing them as the frauds they are; don't get in their inner circle; and so on and so forth. I feel for people trapped with a narc in some way, and this information may be helpful to them. For people with options? I find Jackson's approach irresponsible and enabling victim blaming (you shouldn't have taken your narc's supply! What were you thinking?) Actually, even in the case of people who can't get away for whatever reason, this book is full of stuff that a narc would use for victim blaming. Gross. If you're an "extreme" narcissist, you deserve to end up alone and nobody should have to manage your easily-wounded ego unless they do so while preparing to get as far away from you as possible. Point blank.

Since I work with individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues, I found Theresa Jackson’s book compelling. How to Handle a Narcissist is an excellent primer into the psyche of a narcissist and how to protect yourself from their tendencies. It’s a quick read and easily understandable to anyone concerned that a narcissistic person is negatively affecting their lives. The book is comprised of four sections: understanding the narcissistic person in your life, dealing with real narcissistic people, taking back control, and assessing the situation objectively. The first section describes both healthy and unhealthy narcissistic traits as well as takes a look at the brain chemistry of a narcissistic person. There are also two tests to help assess where you and the person in question falls on the narcissistic spectrum. The second section gives detailed case studies of individuals involved in narcissistic relationships including lovers, coworkers, and family members. The third section gives excellent, practical techniques on handling narcissists and avoiding feeding their narcissistic supply. Finally, the fourth section gives resources on objectively assessing the situation you are in with a narcissistic person. This includes worksheets for journaling and documenting behavior. If you suspect someone close to you struggles with narcissism, this book will give you the tools to handle them empathetically--if you choose to stay in the relationship--and let you regain control of your life. I highly recommend this book to anyone wondering if a narcissistic person is invading their quality of life.

I liked this. I major in college for psychology with a focus in criminal psychology. Now I got a bachelors degree which in no way makes me the expert in anything but I still really enjoy reading about the mind. However much like college I don’t like spending hours on end reading about it it it’s very dense and difficult to care about. Per I major in college for psychology with a focus in criminal psychology. Now I got a bachelors degree which in no way makes me the expert in anything but I still really enjoy reading about the mind. However much like college I don’t like spending hours on end reading about it it’s very dense and difficult to care about. For me personally this was a good read on it was easy it was fast I didn’t get bogged down in details and there are interactive parts to this book. It’s not just read about this kind of nurses week about examples of an extreme narcissist or love with a narcissist it’s not just that it is an examination of your role in a narcissistic relationship and how to deal with it. I think that pretty much just sets it apart from all the books that I’ve read over my life and education I would recommend this if you just want a quick psychological book to read or if you like books that involve you because the checklist to me was just the most fun part .

Every book I have read on the subject of narcissism addresses the narcissistic parent, particularly the mother, but I have yet to read anything about abusive adult children toward their parents. As a parent, I will undoubtedly admit I have made mistakes raising my adult child, but I do not feel that I should suffer the abuse that my adult child imposes on me because of his narcissistic behavior. I would like to read input from qualified people on the subject of narcissistic children instead of the constant reference to narcissistic mothers. Both parents and children fall into the narcissistic category of mental disorders. I am willing to admit to and atone for my mistakes as a parent. I,too, just want to be treated with compassion and empathy and I do not want all the good things I did for my child to be swept under the carpet.

This book has been so informative and helpful that I absolutely had to write this review. It is a must-read for anyone that faces challenges when dealing with a narcissist in their life. The book is packed with useful information. There are stories of narcissist that helps the reader both identify and relate to such complex relationships. In addition there is a quiz that helps the reader sort through the "levels" or extremes of narcissim: there are healthy narcissm traits and unhealthy, negative extremes as well. The book also offers strategies on how to take back control and how to assess situtations objectively. Being in a relationship with a narcissit can be challenging, but Theresa Jackson's book offers much needed insight and wisdom that will greatly enhance ones ability to meet these challenges and live in peace. I highly reccommend this book for anyone that struggles in a narcissistic relationship.

Narcissistic Behavior is so prevalent out there that it is difficult to identify when it has reached the level of an (extreme) "Personality Disorder". In my own personal experience it takes an extremely harmful action perpetrated by a Narcissist before the flags are raised by "peripheral" friends and/or innocent bystanders. Close relations on the other hand are very much aware of the narcissistic personality disorder of their loved one but many times shield the individual hoping that this behavior is only temporary and that it will soon disappear. Ms.Jackson books succinctly but systematically classifies and analyzes the different types of aberrant behavior that Narcissists may exhibit. This is a very helpful tool to protect somebody from being victimized by such a behavior. Loving partners especially may easily and unknowingly become enablers of such behaviors. Ms.Jackson's advises that there are circumstances in which the only good alternative is to altogether leave the relationship behind. This is a sobering prospect for anyone who is experiencing such a painful relationship. The book is about "Handling Narcissists", since mot of us suffer from mild to extreme Narcissism I hope that this book may also prove useful to self-diagnose and and self-improve that aspect in our personality.

Me ayudó a entender muchas conductas, y sobre me ayudó en su momento a llevar la situación de la mejor manera posible para ambos.

I enjoyed it :)

Um dos melhores livros que já li sobre narcisismo. Recomendo para quem quiser lidar com este tipo de criaturas tóxicas ou para saber mais sobre o assunto.

This book is an excellent guide to help you understand the narcissistic personality. I give this book 5 stars 'cause it is well written, easy to ready and very helpful: I used to be blocked in an unhealthy relationship with a narcissist and I was still having trouble understanding what went wrong. This book gives you hints on how to recognize a narcissist, a list of behaviors and patterns they usually follow and even a test to better understand if you or someone close to you has a narcissistic personality. The most useful part for me was the one with the examples and storytelling: thought examples and the "what could be learned from this story" you are able to get a better insight of a narcissist and realize how much can an unhealthy relationship hurt you. It also provides you with guides on how to overcome all of this, how to deal with a narcissist if you are forced to stay in that relationship or even gain your own indipendente. Very useful starting point to help you analyze how to deal with these kind of people. Highly recommended: anyone in a unhealthy relationship should read this.

Some great guidance but I would have appreciated more detail on how to deal with a Narcissist with some examples.