I wanted to write a book for 'gentle people with close to zero aggression.'
I wanted to fill this book with content that would help them develop healthy aggression.
These gentle, low-aggression people have the following characteristics:
They feel burdened by being given too much attention from others, they blame themselves first when problems arise, and they are particularly strict with themselves.
They also hate causing trouble to others and tend to avoid conflicts that arise in interpersonal relationships.

--- From the "Prologue"

You are not at fault.
You have lived your life very well.
Because they have lived well, narcissists have acquired a rare altruism and wisdom, and they have tried to understand the other person's perspective.
I hope you will retain your unique altruism and wisdom.
There is no need to tear yourself apart.
However, you just need to equip one more defensive weapon to protect you from the thugs.
Developing the "active self-assertion" skills introduced in this book will become your bulletproof vest.

--- From "Chapter 1: Why Are There Only Narcissists Around Me"

Because echoists see the world more accurately than others, they feel burdened whenever they face everyday life.
You will find yourself caught up in worries, concerns, and anxieties that others don't have.
But if we look at this from a different perspective, it also means that because echoists have the ability to look into and analyze situations more accurately than others, they can find realistic solutions to problems that others cannot come up with when faced with them.
(…) They live their lives with a completely different attitude towards life.


Because echoists are people who naturally consider others' perspectives, they believe that others will consider theirs as much as they do.
But for ordinary people who are not echoists, they don't know unless you tell them.
So, you need to practice letting others know your position.
Please let me know my position and what I want, so that people will not inadvertently forget and ignore my position, and so that they can be kind to me.
--- From "Chapter 2 You Are Not the One Who Deserves Such Treatment"

Greylock is significant in that it prevents narcissists from exposing their feelings to others.
Narcissists are people who get pleasure from seeing others feel and express the negative emotions they should be feeling.
When a narcissist criticizes and belittles the other person, the other person gets upset, angry, excited, and cries and complains, which is exactly the pattern the narcissist wants.
It's about breaking this pattern.
At times when we should be expressing our emotions, we remain completely unmoved, our expressions do not change, and we do not react at all.


Now that you know what a narcissist is and how to deal with them, here's what happens over time:
You will find yourself caring more about echoists than narcissists.
Narcissists aren't scary at all, but echoists will start to seem scary.
Echoists are people who tell the truth.
The standards for right and wrong are also clear.
If I do something wrong, the echoists mercilessly point it out and give me advice.
So later on, I become more nervous whenever I am in front of these soft, soft echoists.


I hope that you, as an echoist, will fully channel your foresight, problem-solving skills, and all your talents and abilities into something other than a narcissist, somewhere where you can exert a positive influence.
I hope you can fully experience in your daily lives the thrill that only echoists can feel, the thrill of victory that only those who survived the exodus can feel.

--- From "Chapter 3: Active Self-Assertion Training to Protect the Echoist"

This noble mission of gaining true authority through legitimate competence and leading many people to the right path is extremely difficult for those in the middle of the spectrum or narcissists.
Only echoists can do this.
If an echoist were to focus on self-improvement and begin to influence a large number of people, their life would likely be a little different from that of those in the middle of the spectrum.
A life as a selfish altruist, a wise giver, who succeeds in both work and relationships while maintaining the eco-ist's tendencies.

--- From "Chapter 4: You Can Live Cooler Than Anyone Else"