The Psychopath Inside - by James Fallon (Paperback)

About the Book

A compelling career memoir by an award-winning neuroscientist describes how while studying his own family's brain scans for research he made the disturbing discovery that his own reflected a pattern he recognized from those in the brains of serial killers, a finding that offered new insights into the role of biology in behavior.

Book Synopsis

"Compelling, essential reading for understanding the underpinnings of psychopathy." -- M. E. Thomas, author of Confessions of a Sociopath

For his first fifty-eight years, James Fallon was by all appearances a normal guy. A successful neuroscientist and professor, he'd been raised in a loving family, married his high school sweetheart, and had three kids and lots of friends. Then he learned a shocking truth that would not only disrupt his personal and professional life, but would lead him to question the very nature of his own identity.

While researching serial killers, he uncovered a pattern in their brain scans that helped explain their cold and violent behavior. Astonishingly, his own scan matched that pattern. And a few months later he learned that he was descended from a long line of murderers. Fallon set out to reconcile the truth about his own brain with everything he knew as a scientist about the mind, behavior, and personality.

Review Quotes

"The Psychopath Inside is a deeply compelling personal story of an eminent scien-tist's discovery of his own psychopathy. Jim Fallon confesses the sins of his biology and in doing so receives the absolution of being human. I couldn't put it down."
--PAUL J. ZAK, PhD, author of The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity

"As comprehensive as it is compelling, essential reading for understanding the genetic and neuroscience underpinnings of psychopathy."
--M. E. THOMAS, author of Confessions of a Sociopath

"Just the word 'psychopath' is enough to grab anyone's attention and it has inspired numerous TV shows and films for many decades. In truth, I believe the word itself does little to wrap its arms around the infinite behavioral traits psychopaths pos-sess, for good and bad. Fallon lets us inside his mind as he takes us on a deftly woven journey, breaking down every convention of psychopathic behavior."
--SIMON MIRREN, former executive producer of Criminal Minds

"In a thought-provoking account of self-exploration, Fallon puts himself 'under the microscope' in an attempt to make sense of how his own biological and developmental history has shaped his life. His perspective on psychopathy pushes us to consider the important roles of nature and nurture, and the fine line between adaptive and mal-adaptive personality traits."
--JOHN F. EDENS, PhD, professor of psychology, director of clinical training, and Cornerstone Faculty Fellow, College of Liberal Arts, Texas A&M University

"An intriguing look into the dark side of the brain. A must-read for anyone curious about why our brains think our darkest thoughts and how many of us go into states of psychosis without even realizing it. Dr. Fallon's study of my own brain helped me come to terms with my strangest ideas and why I function the way I do. Few people understand the brain as well as Dr. Fallon, and can write about it in such a fun and engaging way. A fascinating read."
--ELI ROTH, writer, director, and producer

"Absorbing, insightful and quirky"
-Kirkus

"His surprising final diagnosis could broaden the way we see normality."
-Nature journal

About the Author

James Fallon is an award-winning neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine, where he has taught for thirty-five years. He lives in Irvine, CA.