Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas
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Web ID: 15843587Are Killers Born or are Killer Made?
In "Mind Hunter" by Mr. John Douglas sparks the question. Are Killers Born or are Killers Made? In this 1st of 3 amazing books by John Douglas, he allows you to decide but also gives his professional and personal opinion. This is an amazing book, even for a seasoned "True Crime Junkie" like myself. If you are just starting to dip your toes into true crime this would make a great introductory book. Just a warning, there is some graphic content. I had to take a break from reading it a few times ( the reason it took me almost 2 months to read it) due to the graphic nature of the crimes. This book is definitely beyond a 5 star read!
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Mindhunter Review
Such an interesting book front to back.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Needs more focus on the topic, less J. Douglas
The first 3rd of the book is an auto biography of John Douglas. About his personal life - his screw ups as a young man, his relationships, his many attempts at getting an education, his biased (and often incorrect) opinions of others, and frivolous details such as the name of apartments and streets he lived in, clothing he wore, etc. There was very little about the beginnings of the FBI profiling or any criminal investigations. The man himself isn't likable in my opinion. He comes across as an arrogant, self centered, know it all who isn't all that intelligent. At one point in the book he talks about sitting in on a psychology class and that no one was talking to him. When he asked them about it it turns out they thought he was spying on them. He then writes “The paranoid self-importance of these people never ceased to amaze me”. No, John Douglas. I think you have that wrong. They were thinking an FBI agent is there for a reason. They think someone in the room may have done something very bad. That put them on the defensive. Wouldn't that be the most likely reason they weren't talking to you? Most of the book is written in this style. Ironic that the one who come across as self-important often sees others as having the same character flaw. I found it unpleasant to read so I stopped. Perhaps the rest of the book focuses on the FBI and his activities relating to the crime unit and less about himself?
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Very interesting
I love true crime and there were a few cases in this book that will stick with me forever! Also used it as references in my college papers! 10/10
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Watch the Netflix series instead
My reading of this book may have been too sporadic, but I finish it feeling underwhelmed. It's tough subject matter - serial killers are, as a whole, a pretty sick group, and case after case of gory details starts to wear, but at the very least should inspire empathy for those who actually have to investigate these types of criminals. The tone of the book is casual and conversational - these are the memories of an experienced agent who trained himself and others in an entirely new branch of criminology. Nevertheless, I feel as if I got much less out of the book than I'd anticipated (though I ask myself if I really want to understand the minds of people that can commit such crimes). I think the lives of the agents, their relationships, the development of the unit at the FBI, and the evolution of the science of psychological profiling is communicated much better in the Netflix series of the same name that was inspired by this book - in this rare instance, my recommendation is that the show is better than the book.
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