shonaningyo's review
3.0
I haven't read this in quite awhile, but from what I remember it was an OKAY book. It didn't reveal any epiphanies or present a new method of understanding the topics it presented to discuss, which is what I kind of look for in books that deal with psychology or other social sciences studying human behavior and society and whatnot.
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Mental illness, War, Violence, Murder, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Gore, Hate crime, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
namson's review
1.0
It should be clarified that 1) this book is about empathy, the "evil" part in the title is just a marketing tactic, and 2) this is a quintessential popular book meant for the general audience – university presses would've rejected it outright.
As for the ideas, they are either oversights of past findings, or straight-up biases – his unwillingness to go beyond empathy is a detriment, there's little to no mention of war crimes, or Zimbardo, or Milgram, not only that but his assertions toward personality disorders and Autism are quite dubious.
A book that could only deceive idiots, really.
As for the ideas, they are either oversights of past findings, or straight-up biases – his unwillingness to go beyond empathy is a detriment, there's little to no mention of war crimes, or Zimbardo, or Milgram, not only that but his assertions toward personality disorders and Autism are quite dubious.
A book that could only deceive idiots, really.
allegedrat's review against another edition
3.0
I had different expectations going into this book. I thought it would be more about how we view those who are evil and dissect varying meanings of evil. However, despite the book turning out to be an argument for why we should push the study of empathy, I was pleasantly surprised. Cohen uses many arguments for how empathy is developed and understood (environmental, genetic, etc) so I don't feel he is pushing a particular origin rather suggesting that empathy has a larger role in our lives than currently understood and that we need to continue to learn about it. I'd compare this book more so to a review on what we already know about some disorders and their relation to empathy and the development of new terminologies and frameworks could elucidate how we continue to think about those disorders and future ones.
This book posits more ideas than concludes but I think if you're open minded to reading an opinion piece with substantial evidence to support it, it could be an interesting read.
This book posits more ideas than concludes but I think if you're open minded to reading an opinion piece with substantial evidence to support it, it could be an interesting read.
nramlal1's review against another edition
2.0
There was definitely some interesting information and theories presented in the book, but at times the descriptions of individuals with mental illnesses/disorders that were used as examples seemed more for fear mongering and dehumanization rather than for educating the reader.
izarravarela's review
3.0
An enjoyable and remarkably earnest exploration into the world of "Zero Negative" disorders (Borderline Personality Disorder, Psychopathy and Narcissistic Personality Disorder). Author Simon Baron-Cohen (cousin of Sasha, a.k.a. "Borat") argues convincingly that empathy, or lack thereof, lies at the nexus of all "evil" behavior. I'm won over by his earnestness, but I had a difficult time with the last chapter, which felt a bit too conversational and shallow to be a fitting end to a serious work of nonfiction. With that said, the last couple pages—in which the author describes two bereaved fathers, on Israeli and one Palestinian, who now campaign together to stop the violence—will stick with me for a while.
A fun read, but still not a first-rate book.
A fun read, but still not a first-rate book.
melle's review
5.0
This book is admittedly snack-sized, especially considering the depth and complexity of the topic, but I appreciate how approachable Baron-Cohen makes the subject matter, and how he provokes one's own thoughts.
Basically, a book about evil that's more about the opposite of evil: empathy. And, especially, what the spectrum of empathy looks like in humans, and what results when it's absent. As with many psychological issues, mental illnesses, and other conditions these says, it's all, as aforementioned, about the spectrum. Or seven levels of empathy. There is also a consideration of positive vs. negative lack of empathy, which seems odd to begin with -- how could a lack of empathy ever be good? -- but then he goes on to explain the autism spectrum as it relates to empathy. And one would think Baron-Cohen knows a thing or two about autism. :)
I imagine for anyone in the mental health profession, this book would seem a bit pop culture-y and simplistic, but I think it's a good introduction to some ideas, and a basic primer to learn more. It also shares some fascinating theories, like the one that anorexia may partly be a form of autism (which is interesting to consider, and would certainly affect treatment protocol).
At the end of the book, it also dips into humanitarian issues. After all, there are people in the world who lack empathy, and who have committed heinous crimes. There are people who think such criminals are permanently "evil" and should be executed, and there are those who think it's possible to successfully treat and change such people, i.e. not everyone who has killed is guaranteed to do it again.
All in all, a quick read and well recommended, as much for how it gets you thinking and imagining your own ideas as for how it gets you chewing on his.
Basically, a book about evil that's more about the opposite of evil: empathy. And, especially, what the spectrum of empathy looks like in humans, and what results when it's absent. As with many psychological issues, mental illnesses, and other conditions these says, it's all, as aforementioned, about the spectrum. Or seven levels of empathy. There is also a consideration of positive vs. negative lack of empathy, which seems odd to begin with -- how could a lack of empathy ever be good? -- but then he goes on to explain the autism spectrum as it relates to empathy. And one would think Baron-Cohen knows a thing or two about autism. :)
I imagine for anyone in the mental health profession, this book would seem a bit pop culture-y and simplistic, but I think it's a good introduction to some ideas, and a basic primer to learn more. It also shares some fascinating theories, like the one that anorexia may partly be a form of autism (which is interesting to consider, and would certainly affect treatment protocol).
At the end of the book, it also dips into humanitarian issues. After all, there are people in the world who lack empathy, and who have committed heinous crimes. There are people who think such criminals are permanently "evil" and should be executed, and there are those who think it's possible to successfully treat and change such people, i.e. not everyone who has killed is guaranteed to do it again.
All in all, a quick read and well recommended, as much for how it gets you thinking and imagining your own ideas as for how it gets you chewing on his.