Unlike many dry psychological books, "The narcissist" is written in a friendly tone, rich in practical examples. Burgo not only talks about narcissists as a diagnostic label, but describes them as people with deep shame, covered by a pretension, manipulation, and lack of empathy. From lovers who always make you feel "not good enough", bosses who like to control and take credit, to parents or children living around themselves - all can be forms of narcissism that you "know".
The special feature of the book lies in the way Joseph Burgo classifies narcissism into many types: ostentatious narcissism, implicit narcissism, moral narcissism, victim narcissism... Through this, readers realize that not everyone who is confident or selfish is pathological narcissism, and not every narcissism is easy to identify. It is the sophisticated narcissists, who always play the role of the hurt or the noble morality, who are the ones who make us most emotionally exhausted.
The narcissist" does not encourage readers to judge or "label" others in a hurry. On the contrary, the book helps you understand why narcissism forms, often originating from early psychological trauma, suppressed shame and the need to be recognized. This understanding is not to justify harmful behavior, but to prevent you from blaming yourself when you become their victim.
The most valuable part of the book lies in self-protection strategies. Burgo emphasizes: you cannot "healing" an extremist narcissist if they do not realize the problem themselves, but you can completely protect your own boundaries, self-esteem and mental health. The book published by Bach Viet in Vietnam guides how to identify emotional manipulation, how not to get caught up in power games, and most importantly, how to escape the loop of shame - anger - guilt that narcissists often create for others.
In the context of modern society that values achievements, personal image and ego, "The narcissist" is not only a book about pathological psychology, but also a cultural warning. It makes readers wonder: are we nurturing healthy self-confidence, or are we unintentionally encouraging collective narcissism?
For those who have felt lost in a toxic relationship, have doubted their self-worth for others, or simply want to understand more deeply about modern human psychology, "The narcissist" is a book worth reading, worth contemplating and highly applicable.
Joseph Burgo is an American clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author, famous for his ability to interpret complex psychological concepts in easy-to-understand language. He has many years of experience working with personality disorders, especially narcissism and psychological shame. Burgo regularly writes for prestigious psychological magazines and blogs, and is known for his profound, humane writing style but does not avoid unpleasant truths about people. He helps readers understand themselves and others with sobriety, without judgment.
