Surrounded By Narcissists

Surrounded by Narcissists
By Thomas Erikson
St. Martin's Essentials, 2022. 298 pages. Nonfiction

Are the narcissists in your life making you miserable? Are you worn out by their constant demands for attention, their absolute conviction they are right (even when they're clearly not), their determination to do whatever they want (regardless of the impact), and their baffling need to control everyone and everything around them?

In this thought-provoking book, Thomas Erikson helps you understand what makes narcissists tick and, crucially, how to handle them without wearing yourself out in the process. With the help of the simple, four-color behavioral model made famous in his book Surrounded by Idiots,  Erikson provides all the tools you need to manage not just the narcissists around you but everyday narcissistic behaviors as well - something the author says is becoming more widespread in the age of social media.

Disclaimer: I am a librarian, and not a mental health professional. That being said, the promise of this book is that it will help you to free yourself from the thrall of others' toxic agendas so you can pursue a happier, more fulfilling and successful life. I found the suggestions in this book useful, but the most important part of it for me was how much I was able to connect with seeing the people in my life described in this book written by someone who doesn't know us. Long story, short - it's incredible to recognize yourself/loved ones in nonfiction and then be given practical tools to help yourself heal. I recommend this book!

If you like Surrounded by Narcissists, you might also like: 

Raising Resilient Children 
By Margalis Fjelstad
Roman & Littlefield, 2020. 219 pages. Nonfiction

Children can be negatively affected emotionally by a narcissistic or borderline parent, but the other parent can do a lot to mitigate those effects by using compassion, open communication, honesty, validation, and unique problem-solving skills. The authors provide research-based insight and information that is invaluable for parents to increase their inner strength and self-confidence, so they can protect their children from adverse consequences and teach them to develop emotional insulation, courage, self-confidence, and resilience.

The Facebook Narcissist
By Lena Derhally
Health Communications, 2022. 228 pages. Nonfiction

This is a comprehensive guide for understanding how narcissism on social media impacts our mental health, how to protect ourselves and our children from those affects as well as from narcissists, and how to use social media more mindfully. The author is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in relationships and using her clinical expertise, along with scientific research and interviews with experts, she provides a full picture of how to identify narcissism on social media and use it in a balanced way that inspires fulfillment and connection instead of entitlement, attention-seeking, and lack of empathy.

Rules of Estrangement
By Joshua Coleman
Harmony Books, 2020. 311 pages. Nonfiction

A guide for parents whose adult children have cut off contact that reveals the logic behind estrangement, explores its cultural causes, and offers practical advice for parents trying to reestablish contact with their adult children. Estrangement is one of the most disorienting and painful experiences of a parent's life. Popular opinion typically tells a one-sided story of parents who got what they deserved or overly entitled adult children who wrongly blame their parents. However, the reasons are far more complex and varied. This book helps to alleviate the ongoing feelings of shame, hurt, guilt, and sorry that commonly attend these dynamics. It gives parents the language and the emotional tools to engage in meaningful conversation with their child, the framework to cultivate a healthy relationship moving forward, and the ability to move on if reconciliation is no longer possible. 

LKA