Dept. of Flattery
May 23rd, 2011




One of the most unattractive qualities in writers is the impulse to believe you’re the source of all ideas. You see this all the time, especially with bloggers who begin posts by archly noting “As I wrote last month . . .” before linking to something someone else has written that’s vaguely similar.

I try, as best I can, to check that impulse in myself because, the truth is, there’s very little that’s really new under the sun.

All of that said, last year I wrote a story about Barack Obama’s narcissism for The Weekly Standard, “American Narcissus”:

Last night, I came across an add for a book from St. Augustine’s by a fellow named George J. Marlin. It’s called Narcissist Nation:

I’m sure the book is great.



  1. Jason O. May 23, 2011 at 11:54 am

    I don’t see the connection??….

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  3. Crank May 23, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    It’s like you’re looking at your own reflection.

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  5. Dave S. May 23, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    That’s very sincere flattery. I wonder if WS feels similarly flattered?

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  7. Judith May 23, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    Not having read the book, I can’t say how much the writer’s thoughts are owed to you. Others have noted Obama’s narcissism (I think Krauthammer & I know neoneocon). But, whoever did the graphics for The Weekly Standard’s cover definitely should be getting royalties.

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  9. Steve Sailer May 25, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    But perhaps your suspicions of plagiarism are just a reflection of your own narcissism?

    Nah, it’s a 100% copy.

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