When most of us hear the word narcissism or narcissist, we envision vain, preening, braggarts who cant stop talking about themselves. But most of the time, weve got it wrong; many narcissists arent driven by looks, fame, or money--some may even be shy or soft spoken. The startling truth is weve been distracted by an empty stereotype that blinds us to far more reliable signs of danger--and an entire generation is suffering because of it. In Rethinking Narcissism Harvard Medical School psychologist Craig Malkin addresses the -narcissism epidemic- by illuminating the spectrum of narcissism, identifying ways to control the trait, and explaining how too little of it may be a bad thing. Readers will learn that theres far more to narcissism than its reductive invective would imply. The reality is that we all fall somewhere between utter selflessness and grandiosity. A healthy middle--a healthy degree of narcissism--is essential for a strong sense of self. Malkin deconstructs our misconceptions of narcissism and offers clear, step-by-step guidance on how to protect ourselves and how to promote healthy narcissism in our partners, our children, and ourselves.