Making a Psychopath book cover

Making a Psychopath by Mark Freestone Summary

Making a Psychopath
Mark Freestone
3.51 (1259 Reviews)
Psychology
Society
Health
Overview
Key Takeaways
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Overview of Making a Psychopath

Explore seven dangerous minds with Dr. Mark Freestone, forensic psychiatrist and "Killing Eve" consultant. What separates psychopaths from us? Through rare case studies from Broadmoor Hospital, discover how trauma shapes killers and why some can be rehabilitated against all odds.

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Key takeaways

1

The Hitman Who Ran the Prison

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A maximum-security prison officer once told me something chilling: "The scariest inmates aren't the ones who look dangerous - they're the ones who make you forget where you are." Paul embodied this perfectly. With his striking looks and easy charm, he ranked among the most psychopathic 1% of all prisoners, scoring 38 out of 40 on the standard assessment. Yet he moved through the prison like he owned it, and in many ways, he did. Born into a criminal dynasty and trained in the "con code" from childhood, Paul had worked as a hitman - torturing debtors, eliminating rivals - yet carried himself with the relaxed confidence of someone hosting a dinner party. What made him truly dangerous wasn't his violence but his surgical precision in manipulating everyone around him. He nearly tricked me into smuggling contraband by making me feel I'd broken a promise I never made. More devastatingly, he seduced Louise, an exemplary prison officer, starting with small favors that escalated from magazines to cigarettes to cannabis until she was completely compromised. Paul understood something fundamental: manipulation works best when the victim never realizes they're being played.

2

When Your Brain Can't Feel Fear and the Masks People Wear

3

The Archangel Gabriel Goes to Rome

4

The Boy Who Couldn't Leave and the Violence of Dependency

5

The Stabbing That Broke My Heart

6

The Man Who Became What He Hated

7

Rethinking the Monster Within

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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@Jaded_Falcon
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