The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Altruists, Psychopaths, and Everyone In-Between Hardcover – Illustrated, October 10, 2017

Abigail's research and her findings on psychopaths and altruists are especially fascinating to me because I am one of the living kidney donor participants of her studies. I suppose I am a bit biased because of this connection and have been anxiously anticipating the results of her work for some time – anything I can learn is going to be exciting to me and fulfill my curiosity. What I didn't expect was the content covering her research on psychopaths – amazing! I'm a bit ignorant of science, and for the most part, it has not been of interest to me, but this book has changed that. She has provided the perfect balance of human behavior (which has always fascinated me) and data and shared it in a way that is easy to comprehend. As one of the subjects, I found myself psychoanalyzing my behavior and my life in a way I hadn't before. I would nod my head and smile as I brushed through the quotes and comments of the donors that Abigail sprinkled throughout the book. She is spot on with her research and I can't say that any of her findings were unexpected. I can't speak for the psychopaths, for obvious reasons, but I would imagine they too are equally accurate.I don’t feel you have to have a personal connection as I did to appreciate this book on the level that I have. Anyone curious or interested in what makes us tick is going to enjoy this book. I was pleasantly surprised to get through the entire thing without having to stop every other page to look up an unknown word in the dictionary. She illustrates the scientific findings with simplicity and ease that keeps the reader going without scratching their head with confusion.The book gave me a sense of comfort in human behavior, and lots of hope that perhaps over time we will someday see the same volume of living donors donating their kidneys as we do blood donors. Her research supports that our human race is kind, compassionate, and naturally cares for others, stranger or not. Personally, I am grateful for her work in a way I can never thank her for enough, as she is the living donor community’s biggest cheerleader.

I heard about 'The Fear Factor' a few times on NPR and it sounded intriguing. I read mostly fiction. I pick up non-fiction now and then and I'll read a few chapters at a time between novels. But 'The Fear Factor' I finished in less than a week. It was as compelling as a novel! Diving into the psychology of psychopaths and altruists pulled me in while Marsh’s relatable writing kept me interested. Her personality comes through the writing and makes the book as enjoyable as it is powerful. The chapters on psychopaths were fascinating-- I kept stopping and going to find my husband or call my adult daughter to reread passages because I had to share the information. I learned so much and I can’t help but view people differently now. The other day I encountered an unusually mean man and instead of simply making assumptions about his life experiences, I found myself wondering about the size of his amygdala. And the chapter The Milk of Human Kindness opened my brain to brand new ideas about why humans (and animals) are compelled to nurture that I can’t stop thinking about. I also loved the optimism Marsh offers: "It is easy to be misled by attention-grabbing atrocities, but try not to be. The actual numbers are clear: goodness is overwhelmingly common, and kindness is the norm, not the exception.” This captivating look at the best and worst of humanity is one of my favorite reads this year.

One of the most commendable aspects of this book is the very accessible presentation of scientific material. However, perhaps in an effort to assure such accessibility, there are occasional passages of examples and/or elaboration that become repetitive, making some sections a bit of a "slog." Nonetheless, a very worthwhile and stimulating achievement.

I thought this was a fascinating topic, ably presented by Abigail and found it very interesting.

Dr. Marsh's work on altruism and psychopathy and the scientific link between them is a must-read for everyone. Her prose is beautifully written and easy to read for the lay person, yet delves into the scientific and anatomic/psysiologic background to enhance the knowledge of those in her field of research. The studies and background she lays out are fascinating, and the personal stories she tells are entertaining. It is rare to find a book that educates yet entertains and can speak both to the professional and the masses. On a personal level, I struggle in my own life to understand why some people are kind and empathetic, yet others seem to have an evil core or selfish motivations. Dr. Marsh has gone a long way to helping me understand the behavior of others and myself.

This book is fantastic fort people who are interested in psychology. It explains enough for people who have studied psychology but still is presented so it is approachable for everyone. Not deep into the subject matter like a journal article. Lots of personal stories and the journey across the author's academic career, relating to her study of psychopathy and super altruistic individuals. She makes the case that they are linked by fear and are part of the same spectrum. Great read.

This is a really great book. I can see it being a little challenging for people with no background in psychology or brain science, but it beautifully illustrates how behavioral neuroscience is done without being too technical. On top of that, it is a true pleasure to read, and it tells a great story about human nature.

First third was great, last two thirds were repetitive and ennui inducing, this was both sad and unexpected, ruining an otherwise positive and insightful read.

This is an excellent read! The mixture of personal insight and reader-friendly discussion of the issues surrounding empathy makes this book appealing to a large variety of readers from researchers to the general public.

great read

Fascinating insight into psychopathy with just enough personal experiences and anecdotes to keep the non-medical background reader absorbed. An interesting and thoughtful read.

One of the most amazing psychology books I've ever read! Fascinating, awe inspiring, an amazing read. Can't recommend this book more highly!! Brilliant