Reviews
Powerful and a must-read! Dr. Bonn examines the serial killer, as depicted in fact and fiction, as a timeless cultural imperative. . . . Insightful, compelling, and an excellent source of myth-busting information for laymen and professionals alike." —Burl Barer, award-winning crime author and radio host Considered one of the world's top experts on criminal behavior, Scott Bonn has delivered a book which is so powerful and provocative, you cannot put it down. Indeed, through his diligent work and unparalleled access to these infamous killers who've committed some of the most horrific crimes of our day, he provides chilling and critical insight into these deviant and pathological criminal minds . . . and reveals the truth behind the headlines." —Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning television host and bestselling author For those of you that are interested in serial killers—why they do what they do—and want to go the extra mile and delve into their disturbed minds, this book is a must-read! Author Scott Bonn explains how their evil minds work and also takes on the challenge of debunking myths that go along with them. He explains their twisted fantasies and motives by getting it straight from the horse's mouth—the killers themselves. He also discusses the members of our society who collect the belongings of serial killers, including hair, clothing and even dirt from their crime scenes. There isn't a stone left unturned in this book, that is, if you want to learn about the worst killers on the planet." —Victoria Redstall, author and investigative journalist In Why We Love Serial Killers , Drew University criminology professor Scott Bonn, PhD, simultaneously examines the public's and media's fascination with the monsters among us and the ways in which that attention impacts them. He writes about serial killers' behaviors and the research—from the FBI's original work to more recent models—that informs the law enforcement professionals charged with profiling, catching, and studying them. A real bonus: Dr. Bonn's correspondence with Dennis Rader (BTK or Bind, Torture, Kill") for its insight into the mind of an especially chilling murderous psychopath. As such, it is a stark reminder that, irrespective of any deceptively benign appearances to the contrary, they" are never like us." —Sue Russell, award-winning journalist and author of Lethal Intent , a biography of Aileen Wuornos Scott Bonn has taken on one of the most horrifying, disgusting, and chilling type of criminals, serial killers, and illustrates their enduring appeal. Using social constructionist and functionalist analyses, he delves into society's strange attraction to these infamous murderers, provides insight into some of America's most famous examples, and explains why we are so attracted to the nuances of these people's lives and motivations. Squarely looking the news media in the face for sensationalizing and even romanticizing these criminals for the sake of ratings and raising the public's fear, Bonn answers the questions about why we remain lured by these stories, our fascination with them, and why the serial killer will long endure in our consciousness as a repulsive yet captivating character in criminology." —Peter Adler, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology, University of Denver, and Patricia Adler, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology, University of Colorado, Powerful and a must-read! Dr. Bonn examines the serial killer, as depicted in fact and fiction, as a timeless cultural imperative. . . . Insightful, compelling, and an excellent source of myth-busting information for laymen and professionals alike." --Burl Barer, award-winning crime author and radio host Considered one of the world's top experts on criminal behavior, Scott Bonn has delivered a book which is so powerful and provocative, you cannot put it down. Indeed, through his diligent work and unparalleled access to these infamous killers who've committed some of the most horrific crimes of our day, he provides chilling and critical insight into these deviant and pathological criminal minds . . . and reveals the truth behind the headlines." --Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning television host and bestselling author For those of you who are interested in serial killers--why they do what they do--and want to go the extra mile and delve into their disturbed minds, this book is a must-read! Author Scott Bonn explains how their evil minds work and also takes on the challenge of debunking myths that go along with them. He explains their twisted fantasies and motives by getting it straight from the horse's mouth--the killers themselves. He also discusses the members of our society who collect the belongings of serial killers, including hair, clothing and even dirt from their crime scenes. There isn't a stone left unturned in this book—that is, if you want to learn about the worst killers on the planet." --Victoria Redstall, author and investigative journalist In Why We Love Serial Killers, Drew University criminology professor Scott Bonn, PhD, simultaneously examines the public's and media's fascination with the monsters among us and the ways in which that attention impacts them. He writes about serial killers' behaviors and the research--from the FBI's original work to more recent models--that informs the law enforcement professionals charged with profiling, catching, and studying them. A real bonus: Dr. Bonn's correspondence with Dennis Rader (BTK or Bind, Torture, Kill") for its insight into the mind of an especially chilling murderous psychopath. As such, it is a stark reminder that, irrespective of any deceptively benign appearances to the contrary, they" are never like us." --Sue Russell, award-winning journalist and author of Lethal Intent, a biography of Aileen Wuornos.
