From a reader (and let's play a game where we guess what gender the sociopathic reader is then I tell you at the end):
M.E.,
First, I do want to express my sincere appreciation for your having written your book. There are so many expressions of your perspective that absolutely take my breath away with their accuracy. I really thought I was the only one who thought the same things.
Let me start by saying that I am a miserably bad sociopath. I have all the intellect, the lack of emotion, the ruthlessness, the egoism and swagger, the charm, the wit, the lack of absolute moral code, etc. I rate fairly high but not the highest on every sociopath "test" I've taken so far, mostly because many tests unfairly include causing harm to others a requisite. However, I often fail when it comes to using these advantages in the workplace or in my personal life. When I do succeed (and I definitely have), it's often due more to raw talent and intelligence than any utilization of my skill set.
You see, for a long time, I was (and still am in some ways) completely and unfairly crippled by the fact that I was home schooled from 4th through 7th grade. Being thrown into the lion's den of junior high school with no context or social capabilities would be bad enough for an empath, but is obviously a nightmare for someone like me. To have those years back and be able to observe and participate in the most essential social development years would be invaluable to me.
As a result of this, I stumbled my way through my teen years, always a few degrees off kilter from everyone else and unable to understand that they most decidedly did not think or feel like me. In fact, not even knowing there was any other way to think or feel. I would often enter social situations and groups, dazzling them with the native charm but fairly quickly become the most hated member of the circle without ever knowing why. They just knew somehow that I was not like them, that I didn't relate to anything they were saying or feeling.
This background has turned me into a different sort of sociopath, I think. I have developed an abhorrence for harming others; you see, everyone I could harm during my social development years was someone essential to my survival or personal enjoyment. This left me completely defenseless when dumped unceremoniously into the public world. Also as a result of this, I've probably also suffered more harm than they typical sociopath might, as i developed an extreme hesitation to strike back and have typically been utterly naive to possible threats to my person.
I could go on, but you're no stranger to the aspects of wearing this strange mantle. Suffice it to say that, although it's rather late, I'm glad to finally feel free to know and be who I am.
Female.