Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of being manipulated? That feeling you got in the pit of your stomach when you realized that someone you trusted was preying upon you for their own gain was soul-crushing. You probably beat yourself up and wondered how you missed it. How could you not have realized what was going on?
Fortunately, there is great information and support out there to help you both recognize the early warning signs and avoid getting taken advantage of again. It’s surprising that this book, In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People, by Dr. George Simon was first published nearly 25 years ago. It reveals powerful insights on how to recognize and deal with the wolfs lurking in our lives. I loved the information, but I’ll admit, it was disturbing to learn the things that drive and motivate these people. Not to mention the lengths they will go to go get what they want – no matter what it does to their victim.
Terms like narcissism, sociopath etc. are thrown around casually these days, but Dr. Simon gets to the heart of behavior and motive without the need for labels. One of the things I really liked about this book was just that. It didn’t focus on pathology or even trying to define or present information for the reader to diagnose any of the serious personality disorders that may be present. It focused on the reader and helping understand both the behaviors of the manipulator and the behaviors they may be exhibiting that make them tempting targets.
This book is a must read for any leader. It presents practical information and advice on how to deal with the wolves in your life. It’s not about changing them – but about educating you. You’ll find a new awareness that will help you more objectively evaluate your environment and your interactions with difficult people. Armed with this awareness, you can take appropriate and effective actions – a number of which are provided in the book. Dr. Simon explains it all in accessible language that is still relevant today.
If want to get your head out of the wolf’s jaws and maybe even avoid it getting there in the first place, this book is the place to start. You will gain a whole new level of understanding about people, motive and behavior.
If you’re interested in reading or listening to this book, you can find it on Amazon at the link below.