Overview

You definitely know one. This book is about the poisonous people who walk among us. The romantic partner who twists every conversation, the office bully who keeps being promoted, or the reckless relative who never takes responsibility for their actions.  Award-winning psychologist Leanne ten Brinke has studied dark personalities for decades, examining their behaviour in settings as varied as prisons, schools and financial boardrooms, even in the United States Senate. Dr ten Brinke uses a mixture of new science and storytelling to: help you identify dark personalities  understand how they cause so much harm take evasive action before you become their target prevent bad behaviour  decide if you should leave get out of toxic situations unscathed The latest research shows that a relatively small number of people are bringing the rest of us down. This insightful, humane, optimistic and empowering book gives you powerful, evidence-based tools to neutralise their poison and improve your life.

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9781398535619

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Chosen as one of the best new popular science books of 2026 by New Scientist 

Author Information

Leanne ten Brinke, PhD serves as an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, where she directs the Truth and Trust Lab. She has published dozens of academic articles on deception, distrust, and psychopathic personalities in the courtroom, boardroom, and halls of government. Her work has been featured in media such as The New York Times, Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Harvard Business Review, BBC, NPR, and CBC. Prior to joining the University of British Columbia, Dr. ten Brinke was an assistant professor at the University of Denver and held a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Haas School of Business and Department of Psychology at UC Berkeley. Dr. ten Brinke holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and a BSc degree from Dalhousie University. She was born and raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

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