The Anatomy of Evil by Dr. Michael Stone

Prometheus, 2009
Available: New, used & digital (multi-format)
ISBN: 1591027268

Prepare for a journey though the dark side with today’s most widely recognized forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Michael Stone. After years (and hundreds of killers studied) Stone created the Graduations of Evil Scale, and this book is his explanation of the process. The Anatomy of Evil is intense, featuring many profiles of killers, and none of the ones you’d expect. There are no Bundy, Gacy or Dahmer profiles here. And the focus doesn’t stay on serial or mass killers at all.

Stone doesn’t give a text book regurgitation of facts, but also adds theories on how religion, media and social influences what our ideas of evil are, and how these notorious (often unrepentant) killers fit into that. The Anatomy of Evil is THE definitive work on killer psychology and likely will remain so for a while to come. It also tackles the difficulty of defining evil itself, the causes, effects and way society can deal with it. Stone’s style, while academic, is not beyond the understanding of the casual reader. The book is an incredible read, infinitely fascinating and should be a mandatory part of every public collection. Its research value, be it to writers or budding psychiatrists and law enforcement, or just people trying to understand the motives of those around them, is immense. While Stone handles the horrible details without allowing the book to become profane or gory it is a difficult read just because of the depths of the depravity it explores. But Stone handles the rough subject matter with delicacy and skill, and most of all composure, that most would struggle with.

Contains: descriptions of true, horrifying criminal acts including torture, rape and murder