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

What would you do if you discovered you had the brain of a psychopath? A neuroscientist investigates why he turned out differently from the serial killers he studies in this fascinating deep dive into psychopathy, criminal behavior, genetics, and the human brain.

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

In 2005, over a decade before true crime became a cultural obsession, fifty-eight-year-old neuroscientist and medical school professor James Fallon uncovered a lead that caused him to embark on a detective-style case of his own.

While studying the brain scans of serial killers, Fallon exposed a shocking truth: his own brain looked strikingly similar to the cold-blooded murderers he researched. A few months later he learned that he was descended from a family with a long line of murderers, which hinted that Fallon's own brain pattern wasn't a fluke. Not only would this realization disrupt his personal and professional life, but it would also lead him to interrogate the very nature of his identity.

The Psychopath Inside tells the fascinating story of Fallon's discovery and the questions it arose. Despite their matching brain structures, he had very little in common with psychopaths on the surface: he was close with his loving, supportive family, married his high school sweetheart, and had three kids and lots of friends. So how do some people with psychopathic traits become violent, while others lead successful, ordinary lives?

Fallon intended to find out. In a combination of personal story and groundbreaking research, The Psychopath Inside reveals more about psychology's most misunderstood condition than ever before explored, and Fallon's ultimate diagnosis will forever change the way we view the disorder.

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.