Rating: 
Summary: "A Chilling Odyssey of Distressed Murderous Minds"
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: "A Chilling Odyssey of Distressed Murderous Minds"
Review: "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.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating Look Inside the Minds of Criminals
Review: A unique opportunity to learn the motivations and psyche of career criminals. Well written and interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Amusing
Review: At first glance, profiling seems to be about someone trying to understand and decipher the mind of a person who kills. It's often promoted as entering the mind of this person and discovering why and how this person became and acts this way.
This is not exactly how it seems to be though. Throughout this book, the author points out common elements between the killers, things that reoccur. This appears to be the whole of his job. He interviews these people and collects patterns. He is very good at drawing similarities between killers and using this, but when it comes down to actually understanding "why" they did it, he falls hopelessly short. According to the author, they did it because they were "losers" or "inadequate". This is far too simplistic, and the author isn't able to understand the complex intereactions that make a person kill. He catches these people because they follow similar and predictable patterns, but not because he can put himself inside their minds and feel what they do.
This may be annoying to some readers, who I'm sure, have formed their own opinions of why they believe someone would kill. This book is basically an overview of the common patterns amongst killers, but in no way does it delve into deep discussion on why these patterns are the way they are.
The author has a large degree of anger toward these killers, which, I'm sure is a pretty normal reaction in his position when you think about it. The only thing is that most of us out here are trying to understand, but not to judge explicitly. We want to know why, we don't want to hear the author's emotional outbursts. On the other hand though, this makes the book slightly interesting because what we have here is not a discription about why killers do these things, but a depiction of a profiler and how he sees the world around him. How he percieves it, his personality and how it has effected him. Don't read this book for its analysis or you'll be dissapointed. Read it instead to gain insight into his life and the things around him.
The only other thing that might annoy some people is if they are assuming that because of his job, the author is highly intellegent. Because he isn't. He seems pretty average in that department, he is just very good at sussing out similarities. So, I'll say it again, there is no intellectual discuss on the complexities of human emotions and how or why they are the way they are. The authors world is very black and white, and you can't help but feel a little sorry for him.
Either way. Two stars because it is an interesting view port into this man's world. But no other three stars, because its just too childish.
Rating:
Summary: Plenty of compassion
Review: Douglas doesn't claim that anyone is born bad. He's delved into what turns human beings into monsters, often an abusive upbringing, and in fact has often stated that programs like Head Start are the best way to prevent serial killers and rapists, and crime in general. He merely states that by the time he or other law enforcement officers get involved it is far too late to fix anything. Someone like John Wayne Gacy could have been helped while he was a child, but by the time the FBI is involved he's already learned that he enjoys killing. Douglas' job isn't to try and undo decades of mental developement, it is to render a very sick person incapable of doing further harm. As for calling these men cowards, I don't know what else to call a man who preys on the weak to bolster his self esteem. Douglas and Olshaker make a great writing team. Anyone who has in interest in investigation, psychology, or criminal justice should read all of their collaborative efforts.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and enlightening.
Review: Douglas has trod this ground before, but never so well as this book. It's my favorite of his writings. Some critics claim that Douglas is unbearably arrogant about his work, but with his track record, who can blame him? Criminal profiling has got to be one of the most fascinating subjects; a science combining intuition, detective work, and common sense. Douglas gives overviews of different types of killers: serial, mass, spree, and tells how they differ from each other. Those profiled include Andrew Cunanan and the Tylenol poisoner. Douglas also profiles two of the most intriguing killers, in my opinion, John List and Charles Whitman. Two more different people could not exist, and yet they both resorted (chose, in Douglas' opinion) to murder. Douglas main refrain is that these people, through a combination of physiological and psychological factors, environmental conditions, and situation stressors, choose to take the course they do. That is, lots of people may have a brutal upbringing and negative life situations, but do not kill people. So, it is a choice, and not a compulsion they cannot avoid (as Douglas puts it, none of these killers would murder while a unformed policeman stood nearby). At the end of the book, Douglas gives us four scenarios and gives us an opportunity to figure out whodunit. If you've been reading carefully, he says, you should be able to tell. I got three out of the four, so I guess I'm headed for the FBI academy! If you like Douglas' work and writing, you will enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A quick read about a grisly subject.
Review: Douglas is one of my favorite "true crime" authors. Even though he spent years working in the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI, he shows in his writing that he hasn't lost his sense of humor. His writing style keeps the reader entertained and intrigued, even when he's describing murder scenes, posed corpses, and interviews with the most abominable of criminals. John Douglas is, in my opinion, the foremost expert on forensic psychology and profiling.
Rating: 
Summary: More on Motive
Review: Douglas takes a stunning number of cases to portray his point that a killer is not born - a killer is made. However, almost all of the cases exemplified are those he himself has been a part of. Whenever the book becomes informative, he suddenly delves into a life story or a pat-on-the-back for his life's achievements. Also, I am rather disappointed in his amateur use of language. He will scientifically explain a circumstance, then throw in a vulgarity; he interrupts his flow with his novice writing experience and in turn, makes the work very colloquial. If you are looking just to get a basis for circumstance, this is a good book, but if you are looking for something deeper, perhaps on the intermediate or advanced level of dealing with any form of forensic psychology, then this bombastic excuse is not for you.
Rating:
Summary: Anatomy of Motive - Super read!!
Review: Douglass gets back to business in this volume which is on par with Mindhunter (and far better than Journey into the Darkness). He maintains a tight focus on the Why? which leads us to the Who? in crime. He focuses on different kinds of criminals which keeps the narrative crackling and fascinating. I learned a great deal from this book. Great to see Douglass writing another fantastic book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read...Quick and Informative
Review: Douglass gets back to business in this volume which is on par with Mindhunter (and far better than Journey into the Darkness). He maintains a tight focus on the Why? which leads us to the Who? in crime. He focuses on different kinds of criminals which keeps the narrative crackling and fascinating. I learned a great deal from this book. Great to see Douglass writing another fantastic book.
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