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A review by deearr
Murderous Minds: Exploring the Criminal Psychopathic Brain: Neurological Imaging and the Manifestation of Evil by Dean Allen Haycock
5.0
“The negative consequences of having a wide gap between the educated and the uneducated are as dangerous as having a wide economic gap between the haves and the have-nots.” The book thus ends with words from the author, Dr. Dean A. Haycock, aptly describing a theme that travels throughout its pages. Throughout, Dr. Haycock seeks to rectify that situation.
The intention of the author was to make the information accessible to all, with enough description to allow a layman to understand while still holding value for those in the field of neuroscience. Being in the former group, while I did struggle a few times grasping some of the terms, nothing was too difficult and at worst I was forced to read a few of the earlier chapters at a slower pace than normal. The accompanying real-life examples of criminal and non-criminal psychopaths was extremely helpful. While the author relates the background info of murderers most of us are familiar with – Eric Harris/Dylan Klebold (Columbine), Jared Loughner (Tucson-Gabby Giffords) – there are also lesser know criminals whose stories will illuminate and help achieve deeper understanding of the subject matter.
However, the book is not merely a grouping of definitions and examples. As Dr. Haycock points out, even within the field of neuroscience not everyone agrees with the data that has been compiled. In fact, interpretation of that data is also sometimes debated. Couple those discussions with the legal ramifications and it is easy to see that this book will give readers plenty to think about. The author presents everything in a matter-of-fact way, and is quite fair in presenting all sides of an issue if there is disagreement. Based on the book’s presentation, I would have to say that the goal of educating readers has been achieved.
Recommended for those who are interested in the field of neuroscience. Unless you are heavy into the clinical aspects of why people commit murderous crimes, readers of true crime might find this a bit scientific (still a good read). Also recommended as good background info for crime writers. Five stars.
The intention of the author was to make the information accessible to all, with enough description to allow a layman to understand while still holding value for those in the field of neuroscience. Being in the former group, while I did struggle a few times grasping some of the terms, nothing was too difficult and at worst I was forced to read a few of the earlier chapters at a slower pace than normal. The accompanying real-life examples of criminal and non-criminal psychopaths was extremely helpful. While the author relates the background info of murderers most of us are familiar with – Eric Harris/Dylan Klebold (Columbine), Jared Loughner (Tucson-Gabby Giffords) – there are also lesser know criminals whose stories will illuminate and help achieve deeper understanding of the subject matter.
However, the book is not merely a grouping of definitions and examples. As Dr. Haycock points out, even within the field of neuroscience not everyone agrees with the data that has been compiled. In fact, interpretation of that data is also sometimes debated. Couple those discussions with the legal ramifications and it is easy to see that this book will give readers plenty to think about. The author presents everything in a matter-of-fact way, and is quite fair in presenting all sides of an issue if there is disagreement. Based on the book’s presentation, I would have to say that the goal of educating readers has been achieved.
Recommended for those who are interested in the field of neuroscience. Unless you are heavy into the clinical aspects of why people commit murderous crimes, readers of true crime might find this a bit scientific (still a good read). Also recommended as good background info for crime writers. Five stars.