Offtopic Bookreview:
The book "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" has nothing to do with economics or finance. If you are still interested in the psychology behind the activity of killing, feel free to read on.
Lieutenant Dave Grossman is an American author who specializes in the psychological aspects of killing.
I have read it in English and I don't think there is a German version of it available for purchase.
The book deals explicitly with homocide and the psychological connections. Grossmann differentiates between all possible aspects of a killing as well as distance, automation, use or refraining from the use of firearms, explosives, stabbing or other weapons. He takes up different scenarios in which killing took place, analyzes them, and describes psychological effects that they entail.
The book is full of narratives from the many interviewees, accounts from historical events, and data layers. It contains impressive stories, some of which reflect atrocities that one would not normally want to deal with, and left a good impression on me.
This book is not about serial killers or other crime scenarios. The main focus is on the war. The interviewees are mostly soldiers who talk about their experiences. Grossman manages to use the interviews in a way that creates a very successful atmosphere. I had goosebumps at several points while reading the book. Since this book is not meant to be a pure narrative, Grossman combines narratives, reports and data layers with psychological aspects. Apart from the relatively difficult language, a very good book.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars (it really deserved 6 stars).
This book is not for the faint hearted, but does not require a degree in psychology either. However, a very good knowledge of English should be brought along, as what is written is not easy to understand. I think even people who speak fluent English will have to look up a word or two. I felt like I had to look up something every 2 pages.
New you get the book for 16,50€ at Amazon, used at other sellers also cheaper.
