Inside the Criminal Mind (Newly Revised Edition)

Enjoying. Easy read and keeps my interest.

Samenow takes us on a blunt tour through the criminal mind. He first begins by bringing up things that society tends to use to explain why some people are criminals: poverty, racism, religious fervor, etc. Then Samenow deconstructs these reasonings to demonstrate that, for the most part, being a criminal is due to errors of thinking. (He also points out a couple times that not *everybody* in these situations terrorizes their community. In fact, most don't.) Criminals are typically selfish (although not in every arena of life), hypocritical, narcissistic, able to shut off their conscience, desire control, want immediate payoff for efforts, etc. Even "crimes of passion" are just the endpoint of a fantasy the person has been entertaining for a long time. Crime becomes a way to achieve excitement, power, control, influence, money--whatever they have their eyes on. It's not that poverty and what not don't play a role, it's that these are only factors. What makes a criminal a criminal really comes down to faulty thinking, although of course some will be incorrigible due to severe mental illness. But when we present reasons for a murder, theft, etc., the criminal latches onto these in order to dodge responsibility. Nothing is ever their fault. It's always parents, a boss or coworker, or society, or they were justified in what they did. They'll try to, for example, blame dope for their ways. Samenow points out that, if you look in these people's histories, the vast majority of them were already committing some kind of crime. Or, if not committing crimes, terrorizing people, which is just one step down. Shoplifting and bullying seemed the most popular to me. What happened was the dope got the criminal to the point of arrest. Samenow presents quite a few of his past "clients" (if you will). Some of them I felt a little bad for, and some of them I would happily pay to put on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific somewhere. Like Terry. If your blood doesn't boil reading about Terry, you need to go to the nearest priest to see if you still have a soul. There is hope for those who genuinely want to reform! Like anybody with messed up thought patterns, a criminal dedicated to change can learn to be a "civilized", responsible human being. It's a lifelong process, sort of like an alcoholic in recovery. If you're an alcoholic in recovery, it never stops. It's a choice you make every day. Same thing when rehabilitating from a criminal mindset. You learn to take responsibility, to tame anger and entitlement, etc every. Single. Day. This book was an eye-opener. At times I thought Samenow was too hard on people who were given a bad lot in life, but too many stories were of people from stable or even affluent backgrounds, people who put themselves in their bad lot, etc. I still have some sympathy for some criminals, but definitely a lot less after reading this book. One of my trashy hobbies is to watch bodycam videos. After reading this book, I see those videos in a *very* different light. Once you're aware of the errors of thinking, you can see them falling out of people's mouths like a rubber ball down a set of spiral stairs.

I received my book looks great thank you

Good book but the back was ripped

REALISTIC INSIGHTS… This is one of the most insightful books that I’ve read for a long time. It presents extensive evidence-by-experience that… —> … criminal behavior results from ‘stinking thinking.’ —> … some criminals can change and have positively changed ‘stinking thinking' by slow and arduous — but rewarding — efforts, when assisted patiently by individuals trained and qualified to help. Having had years of extensive discussions with criminals of all sorts, this author is qualified to quite-logically link a panoply of criminal behaviors with criminals’ revealed problematic thinking behind them — most of which is extremely self-centered . Again, the author cites examples of success in modifying this ‘stinking thinking’ in criminals willing to change, resulting in LASTING change. …VS. DETERMINISTIC HYPOTHESES The author provides many examples of why so many untested (or unsuccessfully tested) and clearly-deterministic-minded theories common in criminology wrongly focus on and blame factors *exterior* to criminals — while neglecting the root causes embedded in the *mindsets* of these individuals. —> Do exterior factors influence criminal thinking? Doubtless they do to some extent. We are ALL — law-abiding and criminal — influenced by genetics and by attitudes, teachings, and difficulties around us. Perhaps many who’ve chosen the criminal life have been especially so influenced. —> However, the author provides many examples of ineffectiveness and harm stemming from misdirected-blame theories and hypotheses. He cites cases in which two individuals in the same environment differently choose their thinking and resultant behaviors. The author also discusses examples of people from excellent environments who developed criminal mindsets early in life — despite loving parents and affluence. Teaching criminals all sorts of skills to legitimately succeed in life, WITHOUT changing the person inside, is often unsuccessful in in ending criminal behavior. SOME BOOK-INSPIRED THOUGHTS Might the criminal mind have in some ways ceded to evil influences — even beyond-the-brain* evil influences? Per the book, one criminal “…acted as though his emotions arose from outside himself and he had nothing to do with them.” Moreover, I’ve seen in myself — a morally-concerned, law-abiding citizen with a keen interest in ‘The Problem of Evil’ — some occasional negative thinking patterns analogous to what the author discusses. Other honest people will undoubtedly admit to such thoughts as well. What makes the difference then between… —>…my handling — and other responsible peoples’ handling — of such thoughts? —> …a criminal’s handling of such thoughts? Can it be that… —> ….the criminal mind has substantially yielded to beyond-the-brain* evil influences to think — and ultimately act — in evil ways? —> …the majority of minds — especially minds that have been instructed in positive moral principles — are less likely to yield to such influences? ______________________________ *I refuse to limit my perspectives to reductionist, scienTISMic assumptions that our minds are exclusively physical. Why? Because of my knowledge of clearly-external-to-brain events, including a plethora of amazingly-on-target premonitions [which, as an analytical person (a scientist), I don’t accept carelessly].

Arrived in a good condition .

Looks great!

l'ho acquistato per fare un regalo, è arrivato in ottime condizioni

Love the book

Leitura essencial para quem pretende desmistificar as origens da criminalidade. O autor exibe sua experiência no estudo médico de criminosos, rompendo as amarras das origens preponderantemente sociais do crime. Recomendo aos operadores do direito penal como um todo.