Rating: 
Summary: Invalid Thesis
Review: The problem I have with this book, is the author's thesis that human beings have an inborn, biological resistance to killing other human beings, that is supposedly located in the forebrain. I remain unconvenced. The author uses examples from modern christianized america, and the disproven theories of Freud to justify his blanket statement. His thesis is way too general. All his research proves is that modern christianized human beings have an inborn resistance to killing humans FOR THE WRONG REASONS. The author clearly has never read the book, "Scalp Dance." If he had he would be hard pressed to fit the native americans documented actions into his theory, because it won't fit. They hacked up their victims, men, woman, and children into little pieces. No guilt. They held murder as a virtue. And what, they don't have a forebrain? Going even further back in time, to groups untouched by 'thou shall not kill' religions, we have the Huns, and the Vikings. There are numerous accounts of viking raids, where men, woman, and children are hacked to death, up close and personal with apparently no resulting guilt, because they went out and did it again and again. I believe modern religions have a huge impact on people's ability to kill. It causes them to feel guilty. Christianity says that all human life is sacred and created by God. If someone held that belief then, yes it would be hard to kill. But to the above mentioned groups who held no such belief, it was not hard to kill. They say killing as a fact of a hard life. Thus there is no INBORN resistance to killing at all. Merely a learned guilt. Ever heard the saying 'your a barbarian, a savage.' What happened between the barbarian age and now? Christianity is what happened. The author spends alot of time interviewing people who have killed for the wrong reasons, and should feel guilty. Murder by definition is an unjustified killing. How was anyone justified by killing in any of the major wars? In none of the wars was our National Security at risk. They were forced to kill not for our Nation, like they thought they were doing, but for the some other nation, for someone elses interests. The soldiers of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam experienced guilt because they killed people for politicians, not to protect their country. This is what caused the psychiatric casualties of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam. I am absolutely certain that killing for the right reasons produces no psychiatric casualties. Thus, humans do not have an inate resistance, to all killing, just killing for the wrong reasons. What constitutes killing for the right reasons, and the wrong reasons is entirely in someone's mind. Some would say there is no right reason to kill and they would suffer psychiatric problems if they killed for any reasons, others would kill in defense of their children, country ect. and would suffer no psychiatric problems. Period. I am amazed that his theory is swallowed whole and not critized, seeing that it is taught at major universities. There are major holes in it. The author should interview vigilantes, or parents who have tracked down their childrens killers and killed them. I can assure they have no problems sleeping at night. What about the relatives of Oklahoma City Bombing victims, they flew over to Indiana to watch Timothy McVeigh be killed, because they felt it was just. They need to see him die, to feel at peace. Watching him die made them sleep better at night. It was theraputic. The opposite of what Vietnam vets experienced, because again, it's the difference between just and unjust killings. Clearly, the author needs to refine his theory. If the facts disagree with the theory, then get yourself a new theory.
Rating: 
Summary: Definite Truth
Review: As an Army cadet I have learned about the techniques used to train our soldiers to become killers. The U.S. Army now even uses a modified video game to train their soldiers, it uses an electronic M-16A2 and plays just like a first person shooter. This past April I had the oppurtunity to meet Lt. Col. Grossman (Ret.) at the U.N. building, we had many interesting discussions and it interested me in his book, so I ordered it after already reading parts. The whole book hits the nail on the head talking about the psychological effects. The book is so well in-tuned with the way that the military does things, "On Killing" is required reading for West Point Cadets. I think anyone concerned with the violence in today's society, and any soldier, cadet, or anyone involved in the military should read this book
Rating:
Summary: A Vietnam vet agrees
Review: It's been 30 years and the experience of combat hasn't left me yet. In all that time, I've searched for answers as well as ways to turn off the sights, sounds, thoughts and feelings that sometimes come close to overwhelming me. But I never knew why. Now I have an insight into the experience which has turned out to be the watershed event in my life. Because I'm working on a novel in which combat is a significant part, the title of Dave Grossman's book, caught my eye: On Killing. Well, that's what it's all about, isn't it? Killing? I didn't know what to expect, but was fascinated by what I found. I discovered that only 15 to 20 percent of the front line soldiers fired their weapons in WW II, but that 95 percent of us did. I didn't know that. I know that when there was contact, virtually everybody in my platoon was firing, but didn't think that was unusual. Come to find out: it was the training. We were trained differently... and it worked! We became different. And we paid a price for that "better" training. Whether the forces which decided on our training knew there would be consequences or not, they took no steps after our time in Vietnam to prepare us again for civilian life, to restore our Ph balance as it were. We came back still poised to fight, still oriented toward fulfilling our training. I lived it, but I didn't understand it. Not till I read this book. I immediately sent a copy to another Vietnam vet friend of mine, and he found the same answers and healing that I did. It put the experience into perspective, supplied many answers to questions that had not even yet been formulated. I'm very grateful. Very. Needless to say, I would recommend this book to everyone, not just to vets, but especially to them. Read it and learn, brothers.
Rating:
Summary: Give it a name
Review: I've read Lt. Col. Grossman's book "On Killing" four or five times. So much so that my original copy is dog-eared and battered. I've also attended a seminar where he spoke. I highly recommend it. When I left the auditorium after the presentation, I realized that Lt. Colonel Grossman had given names to things I'd been feeling for years and not had names for. In that way he made my job easier. I'm a twenty-five year peace officer and have been in many critical incidents. I re-read Lt. Col. G's book again after my second officer-involved shooting to ensure that the coping mechanisms I chose and the things I was feeling were resolved and compensated for in a healthy manner. For police, military, trainers, doctors, psychology professionals, teachers or just for the citizen who wants to fully understand today's headlines, you need look no further.
Rating:
Summary: Having dealt with murderers and combat veterans...
Review: I know that this guy's done the research. The price a man pays for willfully taking a human life is awesome. This book helped me better understand the combat veterans I've dealt with, and gave me insight to the conversations I've had with convicted murderers in the course of doing my duties.I'd recommend it for correctional and law enforcement professionals as well as for those in the military.
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Commentary
Review: On Killing provides a detailed explaination of man's natural resistance to killing man and how the military has recently learned to override this resistance. Perhpas most alarming of all, however, is Grossman's argument that our children are learning many of these same techniques from television and video games. This is not a diatribe against the television and gaming industries. It is a commentary on how people learn to kill, how those who have killed cope, and what the consequences of killing is to individuals and to society. (Grossman's conclusions may surprise you.) The book has much to say on the costs of killing,and about human nature. In light of high school tragedies like Paducah, Springfield and Columbine, the book shed a little light on what we are doing to ourselves - both in the military and civilian world.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and provocative
Review: I highly recommend this book to historians, law enforcement officers, military personnel, martial artists, psychologist and others. Dave Grossman presents a facinating history of how soldiers have adapted psychologically to killing other humans. Wether you're interested in training yourself to have the ability to kill if necessary or in presenting a strong argument against violence on TV, this book is for you. I have referred this book to many friends and family and they all enjoyed it. Ted Weimann, author of Warrior Speed.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for police command, investigators and CISD peers
Review: An exceptional account of PTSD and how operate and classical conditioning methods have improved how police and military groups have evolved. The down side of these actions are also presented as is the impact these processes have had on our children and society. The examples and quoted research used are second to none in this arena. LTC Grossman has an exciting writing style and is able to keep the reader's attention on what could otherwise be a dry subject.
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately All too Relevant
Review: An incredibly disturbing book on a horrifying topic that far more people --especially those in Hollywood-- should read. Grossman leads the reader deep into the abyss of mankind, through the ages, and breaking down myths along the way. It describes man's natural repulsion to killing but how various techniques can be used to desensitize people and make it easier or even automatic. What is horrifying is that many of the techniques that were used to train soldiers to do society's "dirty work" are now being used in mass media without any regard for the consequences and without the counterbalancing professional soldiers get. Surely it is a must read for soldiers; video junkie oughts to be forced to read this to understand what is happening to them. Its not for the weak of heart. Strangely, at one level it does have practical professional value in that it might explain the average person's aversion to the 'tough call'; and how those in power should be careful to distinguish between the "sheep dogs" and the "wolves." If you read military, you should read this. Military reading won't be the same afterwards. You'll respect and empathize the PROFESSIONAL soldier even more.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most important books that one could ever read....
Review: I'm not the sort to write an overly long review that no one is going to read the entire way through. But, if any book deserves one this one does: it is a masterpiece that should be read by ANYONE studying public policy, military affairs, or society in general. Dave Grossman's take on the social ramifications of applied military psychology is haunting, and something that one is not likely to forget. The thesis of this book generally states that the programs which the military uses to teach people to set aside aversions to kill are harmful (and that these devices are mirrored by other devices in society, that are even more harmful-- because there are no checks and balances to control them). Grissom's work attempts to illustrate the multifaceted ways in which they are negative-- and he succeeds..... I went to pretty good schools and read an awful lot of books that had an implied purpose of attempting to teach a person how to better make decisions that affect society in positive ways. This book, which I found on a shelf... in some small town in Ohio, probably has affected my thinking moreso than the sum total of my elite education. As such, I implore anyone who reads this review who hasn't read this book to get it and read it..... the world will be better off.....
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