Posted on January 5, 2026

I recently read "5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life" by Bill Eddy, and I found it to be a fascinating and insightful book. It delves into five different types of personality disorders—Narcissistic, Borderline, Antisocial, Paranoid, and Histrionic—and explains how dangerous individuals can be when these disorders are combined with high-conflict personalities. This combination can make someone especially harmful, particularly if you become their target of blame. 

Eddy's book provides practical advice on recognizing, avoiding, and managing interactions with high-conflict people. He repeatedly cautions against telling someone you suspect they have a personality disorder, as this can make you a target for their hostility—especially if you observe high-conflict behaviors like all-or-nothing thinking or intense, unmanaged emotions.

 If you find yourself targeted by a high-conflict person, the book recommends seeking support from an experienced therapist, trusted family members or friends, or even a lawyer. When entering therapy, it's important to focus on your own growth and well-being, rather than on changing the high-conflict individual or obsessing over their behavior.