The Grim Reader

The Psychopath Test

by Jon Ronson

The Gist

Psychopaths are helping run the world. That's the conclusion of Ronson, who weaves together psychology, criminology, and interviews with members of the "madness industry" to understand people who act without remorse. With each encounter, Ronson fortifies his belief that psychopaths aren't all underground or behind bars—they're often in highly visible positions of power.

The Judgement

Ronson's exposé is compelling and terrifying. Though the intricate narrative occasionally borders on labyrinthine, the stories Ronson shares are so fascinating that you'll keep reading. But leave the lights on: Spending time with cold-hearted psychopaths is chilling, and by the end, you may be convinced that someone you know fits the bill. —Karina Grudnikov

The Consuming Instinct

by Gad Saad

The Gist

With examples from pop culture, science, and personal experience, Saad delves into evolutionary explanations for modern consumer behavior. He examines the animal instincts behind sexual infidelity, porn's appeal, and men's preferences for women in sky-high heels, ultimately concluding that our modern motivations evolved in response to life on the savanna.

The Judgement

Everyone knows men love hourglass figures and our palates dig a fatty treats. Saad gets beyond the obvious and provides surprising Darwinian evidence for our choices—such as the family dynamics that surround gift giving. But lovers of self-help books or a higher power, beware: Saad offers intelligent but blunt denunciations of these and other closely held beliefs. —Nancy Ryerson

The Science of Evil

by Simon Baron-Cohen

The Gist

The Science of Evil relies on studies, not morality, to explain human cruelty. Autism researcher Baron-Cohen posits that brutality often stems from defective empathy circuits in the brain. He calls for a shift in how we conceptualize and handle crime, suggesting, for example, the addition of empathy disorder to the DSM-IV, and calm, secure communities instead of prison for some empathy-free offenders.

The Judgement

Those without a neuroscience background might get lost in the jargon, but if you stick it out, you may agree with the author's rigorously researched point: Many criminals should be medically treated, not thrown in jail. His discussion of how parents can instill lifelong empathy in their children is particularly useful, albeit a little too focused on mothers only. —Sarah Henrich

The E-Ego

The web brings out the worst in us.

Someone other than you is updating your Facebook status, shopping online with your credit card, and signing emails with your name. It's your online avatar, an alter ego that's released every time you enter the World Wide Web—and it doesn't answer to you. Creepier still, over time you'll become that avatar, as the boundaries between real life and screen time get thinner and thinner.

This is the eerie reality observed by psychiatrist Elias Aboujaoude in Virtually You. We become disinhibited online, and "the traits that come out are hard to resist," he says. "Throughout history, we've controlled them with religion and moral codes. But on the Internet, they've resurfaced." Remember those out-of-control town hall meetings about the health care bill? They sounded a lot like—you guessed it—rowdy online forums. "Watching them was totally surreal,"Aboujaoude says.

The antidote? Self-awareness.

Recognizing that we tend to let our kids run wild online helps us curtail maladaptive moves. Here are a few common avatar traits to try to avoid.

• Viciousness It isn't just anonymity that brings out mean streaks; after all, cruel or brusque emails and tweets include names. The Internet's lack of hierarchy may be to blame. In real life, we infuse, say, student-teacher or child-parent relationships with deference, but online, we're equals—and equally capable of cutting others down.

• Childishness If you die in World of Warcraft, you can rejoin the game in no time flat. "This lack of consequences has activated regressive tendencies," Aboujaoude says. "A disregard for punishment can translate to impulsivity and irresponsibility."

• Self-aggrandizement The Web is truly customizable: You can listen to radios that play only your preferred tunes and read newspapers that cover only your favorite subjects. "We're used to having our tastes perfectly matched, which leads to entitlement," Aboujaoude says. If we don't explore novel things or sit through experiences we don't enjoy, we'll become a nation of spoiled, sheltered brats. —Andrea Bartz