Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Dangerous Personalities summary
Joe Navarro
An FBI Profiler Shows You How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Harmful Personalities
17 mins
Brief summary
Dangerous Personalities by Joe Navarro is a book that sheds light on the dark side of human behavior. It examines the traits and behaviors of individuals with dangerous personalities, providing insights on how to identify, avoid, and protect oneself from them.
Topics
Table of Contents
Dangerous Personalities
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Narcissistic personalities care only for themselves, and they’ll do whatever it takes to feel superior.
Do you remember the classic tale of Cinderella? Even if only foggily, you probably remember the evil stepsisters who forced poor Cinderella to do their bidding.
These stepsisters were memorable villains, but they’re also a great representation of narcissism, our first dangerous personality disorder.
Narcissists generally believe they’re above the law, exempt from society’s rules, and they’ll lie, cheat or even kill if it’s in their best interest.
Outside of fairytales, we can see the real-world dangers of narcissism in the 2001 Enron scandal, still the biggest US corporate bankruptcy to date.
Behind this corporate crime was Jeff Skilling and Kenneth Lay, Enron’s narcissistic CEOs, who were found guilty of conspiracy and fraud. Thinking only of themselves, these two continually lied to their 20,000 employees, encouraging them to invest any penny they had in Enron, resulting in thousands losing their life savings.
Records show this to be more than standard criminal behavior – these two believed they were entitled to every ill-gotten cent. This is also a sign of arrogance, another narcissistic trait that often results in highly elaborate and grandiose schemes.
Society often benefits from big ideas, but when they come from a narcissistic mind, there’s only one person who’s benefiting. We can see this difference by contrasting Walt Disney with cult leader Jim Jones.
Disney envisioned Disneyland as a “magical” place for families to have an amazing time. Jim Jones took every cent from his followers to create Jonestown, an isolated camp in the wilds of South America where people had no choice but to obey his every command.
Disney wanted to spread the joy; Jones wanted it all for himself.
This also points to two other narcissistic traits: superiority and lack of empathy, both exhibited by the notorious Bernie Madoff. This financier defrauded thousands by using money from new investors to pay off current clients who believed he was a sound businessman and a trustworthy friend.
But narcissists only see a friend as someone to be exploited for further gains.
Want to see all full key ideas from Dangerous Personalities?
Key ideas in Dangerous Personalities
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Dangerous Personalities about?
Dangerous Personalities (2014) is a guide to the dark side of the human psyche. It offers a look inside the minds of some of the world’s most dangerous people, exploring the kinds of personalities that have taken the most lives, as well as taken the biggest toll on society. Learn the traits of serial killers and those who wouldn’t think twice about stealing your life savings. Who knows, you might be able to spot trouble before it has a chance to strike.
Dangerous Personalities Review
Dangerous Personalities (2014) by Joe Navarro explores the dark side of human behavior and provides valuable insights into identifying and dealing with dangerous personalities. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical strategies for recognizing and protecting oneself from individuals with dangerous personalities, empowering readers to navigate challenging situations confidently.
- Through real-life examples and case studies, the book illustrates the characteristics and behaviors of different dangerous personalities, enhancing understanding and awareness.
- With its accessible writing and gripping anecdotes, the book offers a compelling exploration of the psychology behind dangerous individuals, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.
Best quote from Dangerous Personalities
All of Marilyn Monroes biographers have written about her emotionally unstable personality.
—Joe Navarro
Who should read Dangerous Personalities?
- Fans of true crime stories
- Safety conscious people
- Anyone interested in criminal profiling
Categories with Dangerous Personalities
Book summaries like Dangerous Personalities
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Dangerous Personalities FAQs
What is the main message of Dangerous Personalities?
The main message of Dangerous Personalities is understanding and identifying dangerous individuals.
How long does it take to read Dangerous Personalities?
Reading time for Dangerous Personalities varies. Blinkist summary takes about 15 minutes.
Is Dangerous Personalities a good book? Is it worth reading?
Dangerous Personalities is worth reading as it provides valuable insights into identifying and dealing with dangerous personalities.
Who is the author of Dangerous Personalities?
The author of Dangerous Personalities is Joe Navarro.
What to read after Dangerous Personalities?
If you're wondering what to read next after Dangerous Personalities, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Mindreader by David J. Lieberman
- Sizing People Up by Robin Dreeke and Cameron Stauth
- Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime by James O. Pyle and Maryann Karinch
- What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro
- The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton
- The Silent Language of Leaders by Carol Kinsey Goman
- Making a Psychopath by Mark Freestone
- The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
- Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
- Spy the Lie by Philip Houston
Featured Titles
- 4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication
- A Burning
- Against Interpretation
- All You Need to Know About the Music Business
- And the Mountains Echoed
- And Then There Were None
- Communication Miracles for Couples
- Conversation Casanova
- Effective Intercultural Communication
- Extraordinary PR, Ordinary Budget