Rick and Dee
A Book About Narcissism
Rick and Dee is not a clinical textbook, nor a dramatized exposé. It is a grounded, human-centered exploration of narcissism as it appears in real life—through patterns of behavior, emotional distortion, control, charm, and quiet damage.
Using the fictionalized lens of two characters, Roger Keyserling examines how narcissistic traits manifest in relationships, families, and social systems. Rather than labeling or diagnosing, the book focuses on recognition: how narcissism feels from the inside, how it reshapes perception, and how it erodes trust while often remaining invisible to outsiders.
Rick and Dee are not caricatures. They are composites—constructed from lived experience, professional observation, and psychological reality. Through their interactions, the reader begins to see how manipulation disguises itself as affection, how control masquerades as concern, and how empathy is gradually replaced by obligation and self-doubt.
This book is written for those who have lived through confusion rather than conflict—who sensed something was wrong long before they could name it. It speaks to survivors, professionals, and quiet observers alike, offering clarity without blame and understanding without sensationalism.
Rick and Dee does not tell the reader what to think. It shows them what to notice.
What this book explores
Narcissistic behavior without clinical jargon
Emotional manipulation and psychological erosion
Why narcissism is difficult to recognize while inside it
The difference between confidence and control
Recovery through clarity, not confrontation
Who this book is for
Those recovering from narcissistic relationships
Mental health professionals and advocates
Readers seeking understanding, not diagnosis
Anyone learning to trust their perception again
