The 13 Power Moves of Dark Psychology

Lena Sisco’s The 13 Power Moves of Dark Psychology is an engaging and accessible guide for readers interested in understanding how exploitative and abusive behaviors take root in everyday life. Drawing on her background as an interrogator with the U.S. Department of Defense, Sisco distills years of professional experience into a practical handbook on recognizing and resisting manipulation. She focuses on the “dark triad” of personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—illustrating how these tendencies can wreak havoc on relationships, poison workplace environments, and derail lives.

What makes the book particularly effective is Sisco’s reliance on real-world examples. Drawing from her own experiences and observations, she shows how manipulative patterns emerge, how they can be identified early, and what strategies can help disarm them. The advice is pragmatic and immediately applicable, offering readers tools to navigate situations with toxic individuals in both personal and professional contexts.

Though the book is rooted in the self-help genre, it avoids the overly clinical tone often found in psychology texts. Instead, Sisco blends straightforward explanations with no-nonsense advice, creating a balance between accessibility and authority. Her writing is candid, clear, and purposeful, reflecting her background in military and intelligence settings. This directness makes the book especially valuable for readers who prefer advice that is both grounded and actionable.

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Editor's Note: This review was originally published in San Francisco Book Review.