6 Best Books on Narcissism: Insights and Recommendations

Many times we decide to read and explore something but then we don’t know where we should start.

There must be times when this question pops up in your head: why do certain people always demand entitlement?

You often feel these entitled goons are the vampires who are draining you mentally, and you don’t know what to do.

Look no further, we have handpicked the best books on Narcissism written by professional psychologists, including scientific analysis and clinical experiences of the leading authors.

• Narcissism; Types of Narcissism
• Narcissistic Personality Traits
• 6 Best Books on Narcissism; Insights and Recommendations
• Final Thoughts

Narcissism & Types of Narcissism

Narcissism is the tendency to have an excessive amount of self-centred behaviors; such as needing constant attention and admiration and having no regard for others. Psychology explains Narcissism as the difficulty in differentiating between the individual and external self.

Narcissistic Personality Traits

Narcissists commonly have the following personality traits;

• Self-grandiosity
• Egocentricity
• Seeking Attention and Validation
• Lacking Empathy
• Need for Admiration
• Intense need for possession of power

To answer this thought-provoking question; understanding the “why” behind Narcissism we delve into the literature, facts, and figures about Narcissists.

But before you jump straight into book reading to understand Narcissism, you must know people with Narcissistic traits may develop Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This disorder is always clinically assessed and diagnosed by professional mental health practitioners.

6 Best Books on Narcissism; Insights and Recommendations

We’ll discuss now the top 6 books on Narcissism, and how you can gain critical insights into the machination of Narcissism.

1.    Classical Literature on Narcissism

“Letter to His Father”, a book on Narcissism by Franz Kafka unfolds the role of his Narcissistic father, and how his father’s stringent disapproval shatters his love life. Kafka’s work sheds light on how people with Narcissism misuse the possession of power and authority to abuse others.

Narcissistic parents tend to malign their children’s personal and social lives by showing hostile disregard. They keenly manipulate their children to instill insecurity and self-doubt in them. This book is a must-read for adults dealing with Narcissistic parents.

2.    Relationship with a Narcissist

Why Is It Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism, a book on Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss is based on the clinical experience she had with a Narcissist’s partners. The writer talks about how Narcissistic partners struggle to form a healthy relationship. It focuses on how Narcissistic couples tarnish their relationship with a lack of reciprocity of love and effort.

If you are dating a Narcissist or found yourself entangled with a Narcissistic partner, you must read Sandy’s work. It will help you to understand the manipulation and exploitation Narcissists do in love life. How again and again you fall into the trap of a sweet and shy narcissistic facade, Sandy’s extensive clinical insights help you with ending unhealthy relationships, saying no to emotional abuse, and forming healthy boundaries.

3.    Self-help Books on Narcissism

Unmasking Narcissism: A Guide to Understanding the Narcissist in Your Life, this one of the best-selling books on Narcissism. Mark Ettensohn a renowned Clinical Psychologist has designed this guide to help people deal with Narcissistic work colleagues, family members, partners, friends, etc. It provides handy tips and techniques with researched proven facts and figures.

Cutting down your ties with a Narcissist is never easy, we need new strategies and communication styles to interact with them. Mark’s Unmasking Narcissism has crucial insights for regaining your mental and emotional peace. It also uncovers the dynamic of people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and how we can combat them.

4.    Recent Work on Narcissism

The New Science of Narcissism: Understanding One of the Greatest Psychological Challenges of Our Time—and What You Can Do About It, Dr. Campbell’s groundbreaking work on modern times Narcissism is a great pick for you.

Dr. Campbell’s book on Narcissism enables the reader with contemporary science behind Narcissism, and how it varies from the past. It defines how we can identify Narcissists by their fake persona, it also explores how as a society we can deal with exploitation and psychological abuse caused by Narcissists.

5.    New York’s Best Sellers

It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People, the book by Ramani Durvasula on Narcissism addresses the key details of Narcissism and how adversely it impacts the lives of others.

Recently pop psychology has been reshaping the outlook of Narcissism. Ramani Durvasula with years of experience as a Clinical Psychologist, has made her valuable contribution to defining Narcissism to a layman. This book can help anyone understand how draining it is to suffer with Narcissists partners and acquaintances. This book aims to heal the trauma of gaslighting and help with identifying the manipulation exerted by Narcissistic individuals.

6.    Narcissistic Abuse

Traumatic Narcissism and Recovery: Leaving the Prison of Shame and Fear, the psychoanalysis-rich insights on Narcissism by Daniel Shaw, is a pinnacle in itself. This book explores how Narcissism leads to forming a trauma based on emotional and physical abuse. The writer has provided great detail about the ways Narcissistic Abuse takes place.

Daniel Shaw designed this book for professional mental health practitioners and the victims of Narcissism. He has mentioned the multiple ways Narcissistic Abuse affects the lives of the victims. The best part of Leaving the Prison of Shame and Fear is about becoming the survivor of Narcissistic Abuse. It helps in healing the victimization and liberating the reader from dependency on narcissistic bonds.

Final Thoughts

We hope by reading till the end you would have picked your most needed books and added them to your TBR (to-be-read).

Navigating life with Narcissistic people around is highly devastating, but we believe in empowering you through your journey from victim to survivor of Narcissism.

Further exploring weird things Narcissists do helps you to identify Narcissism in other spheres of life. If you want to know more about Narcissism and Narcissists, then click here!