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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Easy to read and found it fascinating to read while I was watching the show. After reading some other comments here, the author is definitely arrogant. But he was also right a lot.
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
This is a difficult book to review because it changes tone so many times its like reading 6 books mixed together.
The first half is fantastic. John Douglas exploring his past as an FBI "blue flamer" acting as a bit of a maverick, breaking the rules to get a better insight into the minds of serial murderers. Using what he learns to put together categories and build what we now have as the investigative psychology handbook. He's hard working, passionate and most of all HUMBLE.
This can not be said for the rest of the book.
It quickly breaks down into Douglas sharing his biggest cases (or at least the ones he was most correct about).
You can tell he's trying to get to a point in each chapter by the title and structure but this ends up going all over the place as he wanders off talking about one thought he's had that reminds him of another case etc etc and before you know it he's thrown out a random chunk of inside information into profiling without any follow up.
It starts out as "here's how we tried to find this information". It should then really go into "and here's the conclusions we came to". But instead it skips the conclusions and goes straight to "and here's proof Douglas is awesome and not flawed in any way".
I just started to get sick of hearing this old man's opinions about his job being pushed at me. He clearly had his own agendas when writing this.
The book could use a good re-edit.
Here's a few things you should know when reading this book based on other books on the subject:
1. This book won't teach you profiling. Any actual teachings are given out accidentally and incomplete. You're better reading investigative psychology books.
2. Douglas glazes over the fact that profiling is so subjective his colleagues regularly testify on the opposing side in many court cases.
3. Douglas' profiles have been incorrect or not useful almost as much as they have been useful. (He only talks about his successful cases)
4. Lots of the information in this book is Douglas' opinion and not based on any facts e.g whether insanity is a suitable defence.
This all said the book is still really good. The first half especially is worth picking up the book for.
As harsh as I am about the writer I still recommend this book to a lot of people.
Judging by the way Netflix are handling the telling of this story I think the picking up all the good points and fixing the issues with the book (including showing Douglas slowly getting more up himself over time). I look forward to season 2.
The first half is fantastic. John Douglas exploring his past as an FBI "blue flamer" acting as a bit of a maverick, breaking the rules to get a better insight into the minds of serial murderers. Using what he learns to put together categories and build what we now have as the investigative psychology handbook. He's hard working, passionate and most of all HUMBLE.
This can not be said for the rest of the book.
It quickly breaks down into Douglas sharing his biggest cases (or at least the ones he was most correct about).
You can tell he's trying to get to a point in each chapter by the title and structure but this ends up going all over the place as he wanders off talking about one thought he's had that reminds him of another case etc etc and before you know it he's thrown out a random chunk of inside information into profiling without any follow up.
It starts out as "here's how we tried to find this information". It should then really go into "and here's the conclusions we came to". But instead it skips the conclusions and goes straight to "and here's proof Douglas is awesome and not flawed in any way".
I just started to get sick of hearing this old man's opinions about his job being pushed at me. He clearly had his own agendas when writing this.
The book could use a good re-edit.
Here's a few things you should know when reading this book based on other books on the subject:
1. This book won't teach you profiling. Any actual teachings are given out accidentally and incomplete. You're better reading investigative psychology books.
2. Douglas glazes over the fact that profiling is so subjective his colleagues regularly testify on the opposing side in many court cases.
3. Douglas' profiles have been incorrect or not useful almost as much as they have been useful. (He only talks about his successful cases)
4. Lots of the information in this book is Douglas' opinion and not based on any facts e.g whether insanity is a suitable defence.
This all said the book is still really good. The first half especially is worth picking up the book for.
As harsh as I am about the writer I still recommend this book to a lot of people.
Judging by the way Netflix are handling the telling of this story I think the picking up all the good points and fixing the issues with the book (including showing Douglas slowly getting more up himself over time). I look forward to season 2.
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
A thrilling look into the process of developing profiling and catching serial killers. This book is not for the faint of heart, as there is graphic depictions of the violence perpetrated by society's worst offenders. Douglas's view of prisons, reforming criminals and police activity is harsh, something that must come from the constantly hunting of killers and other violent offenders. The last quarter of the book loses some steam due to organizational issues, but overall the book is fascinating.
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
WOW! This book was an addicting read. It truly was a look inside of the mind of an FBI/BAU agent. I have always loved crime shows and this book did not disappoint with the ability to show how these individuals think, act, and become who they are. It was an interesting mix of seeing how the killers were acting, why they believed they acted that way, his professional opinion, and the story of how the BAU was formed. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who is interested THOUGH it does not flake on the graphic details and at times I felt sick to my stomach that anyone would think to do these things to another human.
Now I will go watch the Netflix series and see how that adds up!
Now I will go watch the Netflix series and see how that adds up!