The Anatomy of Motive

"The Anatomy of Motive" by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker is an excellent read for anyone interested in forensic psychology. The book offers a well-written, insightful look into the minds of violent criminals, with detailed case studies and practical applications of criminal psychology. Douglas's firsthand accounts provide a compelling narrative, debunking claims of egoism. The final chapter's interactive case studies are particularly engaging. This book is both informative and entertaining, making it a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and those curious about the art of profiling. Highly recommended!

Great read

A well told tale that provides many insights. Great read worth the time and cost. Great insights from a true expert

"The Anatomy of Motive" is a good mainstream read about forensic psychology for people who are inclined toward the subject. It works for both pop readers as well as those more deeply interested in the subject. Some people accuse the author of being self-lauding and egoistic. I disagree. He describes the cases as he experienced them. I think it's less bragging on his part and simply more first-person accounting. It offers interesting case studies as he examines different types of motives for different types of criminals. It's a good, informative, easy, and interesting read.

"The Anatomy of Motive..." by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, ISBN 0-671-02393-4 (PB), Pocket Books 1999 - is a 393 page exposition by a seasoned writer (11 publications) and FBI's legendary profiler. It is a well-written and indexed (19 pp) mind-probing study of violent evildoers which seeks to observe why misdeeds are committed in especial ways and how that may indicate who (UNSUB) did the particular crime. Douglas had two decades with the FBI (with teaching and investigative assignments) Behavorial Science Unit (BSU) at Quantico and he discloses the field practice of applied criminal psychology to the crime scenes, forensic evidences and interrogation techniques. An extensive listing and/or recital of many high profile cases is looked to - including Manson, Berkowitz, Speck, Gacy, Zamora, Pierre & Andrew, Ross, Nickell, List, Coleman & Brown, Cunanan, and Kaczynski is but to highlight a few. I found his judgmental commentaries on these killer criminals were useful, and based on his personal thorough experiences. The final chapter includes 4 brief case studies where the reader is to provide the 'who' (suspect) utilizing the basics of 'why' and 'what' had occurred. This book is entracing and based entirely on true facts, raising the question of why one would want to read crime fiction in place of real people in real places.

Although I do like that show, the gore is just exploitative. This is the real thing; Douglas answers all the questions you've always wondered. There is also a chicken-molester story in here that is absolutely priceless; I haven't gotten that much laughs out of a non-fiction book, (ironically, one as dark as this) in ages. You also develop a real appreciation for the art form of profiling, which has sometimes been maligned as pseudoscience that is inaccurate at best. Obviously, it's like any other profession-- some do it brilliantly and some fail. Douglas obviously does it brilliantly. He was also the model for the "Jack Crawford" character in "Silence of the Lambs". Combining this with reading Dr. Dorothy Lewis & Dr. Johnathan Pincus is a good way to get all sides of forensic psychiatry and criminology. Lewis is more sympathetic, and Pincus brings neurology into the picture to give another scientific perspective.

Very interesting book, a true page turner.

In this book, as the title suggests, John Douglas gets into a bit of what makes certain types of criminal tick. For those who don't know, John Douglas is one of the guys who got FBI criminal profiling off the ground. His career is quite impressive and he can come across as arrogant (but when you've worked as many famous cases as Douglas has, it's hard not to). I disagree with Douglass on some political issues, but when it comes to profiling, he is spot on. This book will help make what sense can be made of the actions of mass murderers (such as Tim McVeigh, Charles Whitman, and the Newtown shooter), bombers, poisoners, and the various types of serial killer. I recommend this book to adults who are interested in psychology, criminals, forensic science, and those trying to understand why some tragedies like Newtown occur.