It's a good book explaining the narcissistic personality disorder and narcissism, but I found it a bit too long due to whole paragraphs and letters from abuse survivors. And some things repeat. But overall, a good book

While the focus is on narcissists, I think most of this could be applied to any kind of abusive relationships. It would be helpful even if you haven't had any kind of abusive relationships so you know what signs to look for to keep yourself safe. It has a lot of helpful tips and a lot of other peoples snapshot stories so you get different kinds of experiences.

There is a venom behind this book that makes me extremely wary.

It took me a bit longer to finish this book, because it was so packed with useful information. I can recommend this book to everyone who has experiences some sort of an emotional trauma, even if it was not by a Cluster-B disordered person. This book validates you, while at the same time giving you different resources that may assist you in your healing journey. I also recommend reading the E-book and, because the author was so gracious to put various hyperlinks in the book that lead to different helpful articles, videos and websites. I truly hope everyone finds something in here that may help them in their journey of healing.

Did the trick of helping me finally block my abusive ex, so 3 stars for that. Pretty repetitive and simplistic content, though.

I might have mispurchased this book or approached it with the wrong expectations in mind (then again, expectation management is everything, is it?). I want to give this book four stars anyway because to a person other than myself, it could be a gold mine.

This book is for people who are currently finding themselves, or have recently found themselves and made an exit from, an abusive relation(ship) with a narcissist and need tips and tricks on how to make it through, which this book provides in staggering abundance without ever going into the nonsensical. This book is also for people who need someone to cheer them on, help them find the motivation to get back on their feet after a shattering experience, and provide them with ardent advocacy in the face of their abuser, in the face of societal misconceptions and in the face of their own spirit who is likely battered and bruised and prone to slip-ups. You can feel the author poured her heart into this book and it is a valuable resource.

Unfortunately I expected a more "popular science" approach to the pathology of narcissism without pep-talks or self-help resources taking the main stage. All in all I think the book focuses much more on addressing the victims and making sure they'll be ok, and much less on actual narcissism as a pathology (even though you find a lot of info on that, too) than I expected. It's just the ratio that wasn't cutting it for me personally because I am not immediately in need of help.

This book is for you if:
+ You have been or are a victim of narcissistic abuse and need immediate help, a reality-check, or simly something to get you thinking in a different direction
+ You care to enlargen your repertoire of sources to connect to other abuse survivors
+ You haven't yet read or heard a lot about the condition, the resulting relationship dynamics, and the precautions to take in general. This is a good book for newbies to the topic.

This book is not for you if:
- you are easily annoyed by repetitions
- you want to take an in-depth look at the science behind narcissism/psychopathy and expect a popular science approach to the topic
- you already have immersed yourself a lot in the topic and want to gain more in-depth knowledge
- (for audio book listeners): if you enjoy a more lively narrating style; in the beginning, this one sounded a bit like google translate reading out words in its automated voice. Admittedly, it gets better as you get used to the style and proceed further into the book.

Final feedback on what could improve the book:
- I was wondering about late-aftermath effects on future relationships of victims. Can it for example happen that they successfully take their dark episode with a narcissist as a learning experience, but bounce "too hard in the other direction", becoming too defensive or too harsh in a next relationship? I would have appreciated a more long-term look on the mental workings of survivors
- I listened to the audio book and THEY READ OUT HYPERLINKS! Stop this madness. Provide a separate glossary with numbered references with the audiobook if you must. But nobody wants to hear "http forward slash forward slash colon double u double u double u dot XXX forward slash XXX dash X forward slash", repeatedly. It almost feels violating.

I would be very thankful for more "popular science style" recommendations on the topic, and in the meantime whole-heartedly encourage anyone to read this who needs a supportive voice when coping with trauma.

When I first discovered this book, I was in the midst of my recovery journey, feeling lost, hurt, and overwhelmed by the effects of narcissistic abuse. Arabi's writing style is warm, empathetic, and relatable, making me feel seen and understood in a way that I had never experienced before.

The book is organized into clear and concise chapters that cover a wide range of topics, including the signs of narcissistic abuse, the tactics used by narcissistic individuals, and the steps you can take to protect yourself and heal from the effects of narcissistic abuse. Shahida also provides practical tools and techniques for building resilience, strengthening self-esteem, and reclaiming personal power.

One of the most powerful and practical aspects of this book is the way it helps survivors of narcissistic abuse reclaim their power and become the narcissist's worst nightmare, all while providing survivors with the tools and knowledge they need to regain control and take their lives back.

This book is so solid & thorough. I think it's an excellent resource for survivors. Whether you're just beginning to believe you've encountered or been involved with narcissists or are already aware but not clear on a lot of the tactics & effects, this is a good place to start. It's a pretty hefty book but when you're searching for answers, that may not likely be a hindrance. I found answers, understanding, clarity & validation. It definitely stirred a variety of emotions & I suppose that's all normal when learning & understanding how you were traumatized & how it affected you. The book is primarily about romantic relationships but I find narcissistic parents act no differently & it is often re-enacting trauma from said parents that shapes the relationships we choose & how they develop. I believe that is key to helping break these abusive cycles. I am relieved to see a chapter about narcissistic women as male victims of abuse are seldom believed or heard & that's if they even come out about it, which most don't.

If you know or think you've encountered this kind of abuse, this is a good book to help with your understanding. Be advised, it will likely affect you emotionally.

This has some great advice in dealing with narcissists such as dealing with abuse amnesia and how forgiving and forgetting or letting it go will not work when dealing with someone this toxic. It also reinforces that society's belief that people are "too cute," "too smart," or "too strong" to go through emotional or physical abuse is completely false. The tips on when you cannot avoid them were pretty on target too.

Desperate for this info, but every book about this kind of abuse seems to be terribly written.