Have needed some time to reflect on this e-pdf-book and at first fumbled with post noise of what little I’d read and somewhere within there was resistance undoubtedly. Once the physical book was in hand however, read this very slowly, often rereading paragraphs not twice but three times even; this book seemed to be aimed at other trained physicians. As such, it is rather suspected that this book of Cleckley’s was not in its day rising the charts of readership, even amongst his colleagues there must have been great resistance having themselves been indoctrinated by others in the past who seemed such authoritarians, who presented things as matter of fact. How many of his colleagues even had this book, who knows, some obviously would have appreciated it for its honesty, others perhaps stuffed it between dusty books never to really read the words offered. Cleckley however, seems to have deeply studied the words or persons of history and letters very well and looked to the fruits of their existences and hidden nuances that many others just held as wonderment's, sages for all to know and faun over. Yet, their very actions in life and words leaked out for a few to notice. Nonetheless, it also seems that in life, as a defining aspect, it is the covert sexual side, or hate of that side, or hate of the other sex that often, for some it seems, is at such odds with their family life, religion, academic or business station, including sides of creativity and intellect that it is not a recognizable trait or dismissed if noticed as nothing at all, swept under the rug - it is just normal.
In reading this, there were times when what was been discussed was so dark that it seemed just so unbelievable, wanted to shout out emotional metaphors of every description at those who do unto others as described. Other times, could see the rippling causes from deep childhood wounds and just plain ignorance of who they were and what constituted normal. And that is the scary thing after all; I don’t think many in society understand that normal is slowly slipping away and are increasingly accepting of things never once imagined, osis. In reading this, even my own recognition of ignorance came to bear and that was even sadder to understand that thinking can be so easily stained.
In the end, one may become aware of the deep ponerizing nature of a few who seem to steer the ships of many. Cleckley on the other hand sees this, imo, not by that name, but for that very nature. His reasoning, his objective studies, his just darn common sense offers the reader very important lessons in societal measures. What of those measures though, Cleckley seems to realizes that there is no theoretical measure really, what one person says another will counter, calling them repressed themselves for having a stance. There seems two things of import to recognize, not a magic pill or label, one is illness and the second is common sense, the latter, all around being in very short supply these days.
This book was indeed insightful and necessary – thanks.