Why We Love Sociopaths (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781780990910)

Sociopaths are pervasive in contemporary television, from high-brow drama all the way down to cartoons -- and of course the news as well. From the scheming Eric Cartman of South Parkto the seductive imposter Don Draper of Mad Men, cold and ruthless characters captivate us, making us wish that we could be so effective and successful. Yet why should we admire characters who get ahead by being amoral and uncaring? In his follow-up to Awkwardness, Adam Kotsko argues that the popularity of the ruthless sociopath reflects our dissatisfaction with a failed social contract, showing that we believe that the world rewards the evil and uncaring rather than the good. By analyzing characters like the serial killer star of Dexter and the cynical Dr. House, Kotsko shows that the fantasy of the sociopath distracts us from our real problems -- but that we still might benefit from being a little more sociopathic.
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Author: Adam Kotsko
ISBN-10: 178099091X
ISBN-13: 9781780990910
Publisher: Zer0 Books
Language: English
Published: 04/16/2012
Pages: 107
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.20lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.40w x 0.20d