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Book Reviews

No Conscience by Phil M. Williams

Logical Insight Report Card Grade: A
Reviewed by Laura

Beware the sociopath lurking in the shadows… in disguise

No Conscience cover image

Phil deftly weaves a tale about the insidious nature of the sociopath.

Wes Shaw, the outcast and truth-teller of the family leads us on a journey into dysfunctional family dynamics, a high-maintenance girlfriend with an entitlement complex (Tara thinks that she has a right to live in Wes’s home, although he pays all of the bills), and folks with flimsy facades. As the story unfolds, we see the fine cracks in their veneer.

There are humorous moments when fate intervenes for some justifiable paybacks.

The depths of the sociopath’s depravity are disturbing. You may find yourself wondering, how can some of Wes’s family members be so gullible to the seemingly transparent wiles of the sociopath?

It is quite satisfying to see the protagonist figure out what is transpiring and make a stand against the sociopath.

This is the first of eight books by Phil M. Williams that I have read, thanks to Nyssa introducing me to his writing. I am very impressed by Phil’s books and look forward to reading more.

Highly recommended.

Read what Phil’s character, Wes, has written about sociopaths:

Sociopaths make up about 4% of the population, so, for example, if you know two hundred people, you probably know eight sociopaths. Sociopaths do commit heinous crimes, with about 50% of the violent criminals in prison being sociopathic, but, by and large, most do not. Sociopaths simply do not have a conscience. They don’t feel bad if they hurt others as normal people would. They are not driven by love, friendship, or loyalty. They are not even driven toward material things or money, although that can be an end to their game. They are driven to win, to control, to manipulate, to cause problems, and to watch the carnage. There is no treatment, no cure. They will never stop. They will never change.

How do you spot a sociopath?

They look just like you and me, so don’t expect them to look creepy. They are adept at blending in, like a chameleon. Most of them do a good job of hiding their lack of conscience by acting normal. In fact, many of them are experts in acting. They’ve been faking it their whole lives. They are especially adept at manipulation. There are many traits, but, like normal people, their sociopathology manifests itself differently. One trait is most common above all others: the pity party. Perversely, sociopaths don’t typically prey on our fears. They prey on our sympathies. They love to play the victim. They do this because, when we pity, we lower our defenses to their manipulations.

Other possible traits (they won’t have the same ones, and remember that they will hide them as best they can.)

  1. They seek out the vulnerable to manipulate.
  2. They get those around them to keep secrets.
  3. They are like vampires, and the truth is like the sun. They will slander and assassinate the character of anyone who sees them for who they are, tries to tell the truth, or calls them out on lies.
  4. They will exhaust and drain you emotionally.
  5. They will charm those in power and hurt the weak.
  6. They love to throw pity parties. They will exaggerate illnesses, money woes, how badly they’ve been treated. They need you to feel sorry for them.
  7. They are often unreliable.
  8. They make suicide threats that are rarely carried out.
  9. They mirror your values. Do you feel like an outsider? Sociopaths will tell you that they’re an outsider too. Are you a teacher? They’ll tell you a story of how a teacher helped them and how they hope their kid becomes a teacher. They’ll mirror your interests and desires so you feel allied with them for the sole purpose of manipulating you.
  10. They use flattery, flattery, and more flattery. This is their most effective way to manipulate, and they’re masters at it. Don’t let your ego blind you.
  11. They often have addictions: drugs, alcohol, food, sex, shopping, etc.
  12. They lie and exaggerate. They lie big and small to cover something or to change perceptions. Anything to make themselves look good.
  13. They offer lots of promises but no positive action.
  14. They’re not great at holding a job.
  15. If caught in a lie, they’ll play the victim or get very angry and blame others.
  16. They use projection. If they’re spreading lies about you, they’ll accuse you of spreading lies.
  17. They’re immature. They’re superficial. They’re very concerned about their physical appearance and projecting a certain image. They love expensive cars and toys. They often have immature hobbies.
  18. They may have a criminal record.
  19. They may fake empathy for children, old people, and animals.
  20. They often leave a trail of broken marriages and relationships in their wake. They have strained relationships with family members.
  21. They divide and conquer. Sociopaths often manipulate and pit people against each other. They exploit weakness in family and work relationships.

Note from Phil M. Williams about Sociopaths:

What would life be like without a conscience? How would you treat others if you didn’t care about hurting them, deceiving them, or exploiting them? This is the reality for 4 percent of the population. According to the FBI, approximately twenty-five to fifty active serial killers are in the United States. According to psychologists, there are approximately thirteen million sociopaths. It’s unlikely that you’ve encountered a serial killer, but you probably have a handful of sociopaths who you interact with on a regular basis.

For the sociopath, life is a game, and you’re just the pawn to manipulate. These people plot and scheme and destroy. You pick up the pieces and wonder, what the heck happened?

The serial killer thriller has been done and redone, used and reused to shock the reader with scenarios they are never likely to encounter. With No Conscience, I wanted to explore the more pervasive problem of sociopaths – a predator who every single one of us have encountered.