A newly-published book by the British journalist Simon Crompton has suggested that narcissism is rising, particularly among men.

In the first of two extracts from his new book, Crompton holds a mirror up to Britons in the age of the narcissist.

But narcissism is about more than the way you look. We all know about the David Beckhams, the Frank Lampards, who are happy to admit that they pluck their eyebrows, the Times wrote in a report.

They are narcissistic softies compared with the real narcissists: people who are so obsessed with projecting a glorious image of themselves onto the world that they tend to forget reality. Think of Tony Blair.

Narcissism is a form of arrogance and emotional self-containment, which, at its most extreme, is defined by psychiatrists as a form of personality disorder affecting one person in a hundred. Therapists report that narcissism is on the rise, perhaps a reflection of a society that prizes celebrity and pushing yourself forward above “fitting in”.

The thing about adults with strong narcissistic traits is that they really do believe they're the center of the world, and that has some interesting -- and sometimes positive -- consequences for society.

Narcissists have such drive to prove a point about themselves that they often acquire positions of real power or public prominence. They are the sort of people who, given the right circumstances, can doggedly work their way to where they want, regardless of what anyone else thinks. They have a glorious image of themselves to fulfill, and their lack of empathy can be a positive boon when it comes to making tough business or political decisions.

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