Reviews

Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World's Most Savage Murderers by Scott Bonn

arundlestl's review

1.0

This title doesn't even explain what to book is about. It was a total waste of my time.

lexy's review

2.0

There’s a lot to unpack here. Bonn spends pages dismissing people interested in true crime (ie his readers) and shames the “media” for sensationalizing serial killers, making them out to be monsters rather than people. Conversely, he then continues to shame the public for knowing names of serial killers but not their victims, and then concludes by telling us society needs serial killers to keep “regular people” from not straying too far into their violent urges? This book lacks any awareness, any new information, and no clear thesis.

dedasab's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.0

The book was too long and repetitive. It really didn't need to be almost 9 hours. It was a solid 4 stars until the last chapter. That conclusion was really unnecessary, in my opinion.
All in all, a great performance and an informative book, yet ruined by the conclusion. 

ahhh_meee's review

5.0

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. And I've been hesitant to read it - honestly, because of the title and my concern that, while claiming to be based in sociology and psychology, that this book would end up glorifying serial killers in a way that is all too common. I could not have been farther from the truth. Bonn approaches the subject of our cultural fascination with serial killers with a researcher's perspective. He eloquently explains that while this fascination "makes sense" psychologically, it should not be glorified from a sociological perspective. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

demzy's review

3.0

We love them because we need them is a hot take but what do I know. Interesting enough, though definitely read like a text book.

bookishlysophie's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

2.5

This is actually quite an academic book and goes on a number of tangents. It did lose me for this reason but still made incredibly valid points. I’d still recommend.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Rape, Child death, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping