The Envy Trap is a rigorous and unsettling examination of one of the most powerful yet least openly discussed forces shaping human behavior, professional life, and social hierarchies: envy. Drawing from psychology, evolutionary biology, history, and classical political theory, this book exposes envy not as a personal flaw or moral weakness, but as a structural force that emerges wherever status, competence, and relative success exist. Envy is shown to be most dangerous not between enemies, but among near equals-colleagues, peers, allies, and those who once shared similar rank. Through historical case studies, modern professional scenarios, and clinical observations, The Envy Trap demonstrates how rising competence, visibility, or independence can provoke subtle resistance, reputational attacks, obstruction, and silent sabotage. The book explains why good intentions, generosity, and transparency often backfire in competitive environments-and why success frequently attracts hostility rather than admiration. Grounded in the works of Machiavelli, Jung, Klein, Festinger, and modern behavioral science, the book introduces a clear analytical framework for recognizing envy-driven dynamics before they escalate. It offers readers practical strategies to protect themselves from social backlash, misdirected aggression, and the psychological toll of being targeted for advancement. Rather than offering simplistic motivational advice, The Envy Trap provides a sober, strategic understanding of human nature as it operates in real institutions: medicine, academia, business, leadership, and everyday professional life. It challenges the reader to abandon naïve assumptions about fairness and goodwill, replacing them with clarity, self-command, and informed restraint. This book is written for professionals, leaders, clinicians, academics, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of power, rivalry, and the hidden emotional economies that govern human systems. Envy does not announce itself. It waits, watches, and acts when you rise.