I have mixed feelings about Sociopath: A Memoir. Once again, a three-star rating reflects more what the book was versus what I wanted it to be.

First, the positives: I really enjoyed the writing and storytelling. I listened to this as an audiobook, and the author did a fantastic job bringing her story to life. The pacing was strong, and the narrative was engaging throughout. I was particularly gripped early on by the details of her childhood and the way she learned to manage the “pressure” she felt in her head at such a young age. I understand she grew up before therapy was widely accepted, but my god why didn’t her parents think to take her to a doctor?

That said, here’s what didn’t work for me:

I was less engaged in the adult sections of the memoir. It felt like the same types of situations repeated themselves, and that space could have been better used to explore aspects of her life beyond her relationships. I would have loved to read more about her dissertation, her work in graduate school, or even her current work as a therapist. I wanted to see how her education shaped her self-understanding more clearly. Instead, the only real insight into her growth came through sessions with her own therapist. For all her academic and professional work, we didn’t get much of a glimpse into how it transformed her beyond just embracing who she is. Secondly—and I know this might sound harsh—but the “I am a sociopath” theme felt a bit overplayed. Yes, it’s the title of the book, but I wanted a deeper dive into what that means, not repeated anecdotes about how many times she’s told people she’s a sociopath. I hesitate to say this, but some parts of the memoir felt a little too fantastical, and that made it hard for me to stay grounded in the narrative. I would’ve appreciated more scientific exploration—especially since, as the author briefly acknowledges, the concepts of sociopathy and psychopathy are widely debated amongst psychiatric professionals.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I just wish the narrative had been a bit more balanced.