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do any of these books actually address the cause of such out of control greed of these creeps?
Columbine, by Dave Cullen.
From The NY Times book review:
"....his nuanced dissection of the differences between Harris and Klebold is first-rate, leaving readers in the strange (and challenging) position of feeling pity, almost, for Klebold. Cullen walks us carefully through the definition of psychopathy, and how it differs from insanity, noting how perfectly Harris met the profile — particularly in his egomania, outsize contempt for humanity and talent for manipulation. (Just months before the attack, a teacher wrote on one of his essays, “I would trust you in a heartbeat.”) Whereas Klebold, for most of the book, seems forlorn, awkward and miserable. “The anger and the loathing,” Cullen explains, “traveled inward.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/bo...or-t.html?_r=0
"Without Conscience" by Robert D. Hare, and "The Mask of Sanity" by Hervey M. Cleckley are classics about psychopathy. "Snakes in Suits" by Hare is another more recent one.
Those are about individuals and deviant behaviour. There are some books about social deviance among groups (and their recruits) that I find intriguing:
"The True Believer: Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movements" by Eric Hoffer, first published in 1951. It's about social psychology and mass movements, fanaticism, and even how fascism and communism won followers. I find it a terrifying, perceptive, and totally relevant read, even in 2015.
"Games People Play" by Eric Berne (first published in 1963) is a pop psychology look at exploitative, manipulative social "games" or strategies people often use... it's a quick, enlightening read.
There's also an intriguing magazine article that recently came out about school shootings, it examines one theory about how and why the phenomenon has spread:
There's also an intriguing magazine article that recently came out about school shootings, it examines one theory about how and why the phenomenon has spread:
Would add "The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule. She was a co-worker - and friend! - of Ted Bundy. She knew him first as a charming man, then - a monster.
Rule was not a psychologist, but she gives a fascinating, convincing account of the day-to-day life/encounters with a pure psychopath. Her observations and analysis of him once she became aware of his deviant, manipulative behavior (and his lack of awareness that she was on to him) are engrossing.
The book launched her career as a true crime novelist.
Would add "The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule. She was a co-worker - and friend! - of Ted Bundy. She knew him first as a charming man, then - a monster.
Rule was not a psychologist, but she gives a fascinating, convincing account of the day-to-day life/encounters with a pure psychopath. Her observations and analysis of him once she became aware of his deviant, manipulative behavior (and his lack of awareness that she was on to him) are engrossing.
The book launched her career as a true crime novelist.
Read that one, it was really sick how infatuated she was with him! Otherwise, a good read.
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Otherwise, a good read.
