Only the extremely lucky among us have never faced or felt the effects of narcissistic behaviours and attitudes. These people might include colleagues, bosses, friends, parents, and lovers who boast and brag constantly, take credit for other people's work, expect favours but return few or none, and never listen but always know all the answers, what is right and best regardless of the topic. They devalue others, micromanage, are hypercritical and mistrustful. Other characteristics of this harmful personality include an inflated sense of importance, although achievements are exaggerated and actual outcomes do not support any feelings of superiority. They are exploitive, without empathy, and believe they are envied by all. The author explains why many people, who may not display all of the characteristics necessary for a formal, full-blown narcissist diagnosis, still display what she calls a destructive narcissistic pattern that results in much the same anguish to surrounding people, and she provides methods for people to cope with a near-narcissist. Specific coping methods are offered for dealing with a narcissistic colleague, supervisor or boss, parent, and intimate other.