Maxine (Booklover Catlady)'s Reviews > In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People

This is such a popular book that it’s been a bestseller for twenty years. For good reason. The content is essential reading for anyone wanting to identify, escape, heal from and avoid any person who uses manipulation on you. This can be anyone from your spouse to your boss or your teenager.

It covers different types of aggression and the desire to control especially from what is labelled a Covert-aggressor. Not to be mixed up with Passive-Aggression which is different. The CA list of operating tactics and impact on others is very similar to the Covert Narcissist but not exactly the same.

These are dangerous people with totally wrong motives who can cause tremendous harm in your life. Reading this book gives you the insights into how they tick, what that looks like, how they achieve it and identify you as a target and most importantly how to not be vulnerable and recognise the manipulative predator early...and run!

One thing that stuck with me after reading this was the comment that many of us think people are fundamentally the same. Maybe someone is a bit broken, damaged and if we try to help them they’ll change. Wrong. The book teaches that certain personality disordered people are hard wired that way and do not think the same or have the same agenda to their counterparts. Keep that tidbit handy.

Details of how manipulation looks to what it can do over time. You’ll be worn down, hopeless, confused and this can lead to depression and other issues that make you even more vulnerable to the predators need to control you covertly.

An essential read. Everyone should be aware of how these dangerous folk operate and be educated on how to avoid them. 4 stars.