For me, I had to run into a few manipulators before I truly understood how to deal with them and how to not get taken advantage of. Those were some hard lessons! But damn, you are so right with the narrative, compulsive lying, and lack of authenticity. Through my experiences I've learned to really set my boundaries, and if something doesn't feel right, I'll address it. If that doesn't settle things, I keep my distance.
Great post here @jeffderiso. I'd love to hear your thoughts about my recent post: Expand Your Options, Expand Your Life