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Rating: 
Summary: Good Science, poor Social Science and no psychology
Review: Mr. Dozier shows a flair for taking a little science, which is good, and carrying it as far away from America's door steps as he can (which is bad). His recitation of some of the most recent discoveries in neuro-biology are impressive except they lack a mature psychologist perspective and it avoids the best laboratory of all for demonstrating the truth of his theories: the U.S. And here I do not mean just the likes of Timothy McVeigh and other U.S. nut cases. Were Mr. Dozier to have used just a little psychological insight, and even a smattering of political science he would have no doubt noticed that U.S. culture is and always has been a fine laboratory specimen of a culture of hate at work and at play everyday. Here we have as much hate as as any country still in existence. We have racism against blacks that is still disgraceful. We have sexism, homophobia, and anti-semitism, yet Mr. Dozier studiously avoided these in favor of discussing Islamic Jihads, Osama bin Laden and such. This approach is likely to sell books, but how intellectually honest an effort is it, really? We had hate long before Osama and the Jihads, or didn't we? Somehow, Mr. Dozier managed to seek far away examples in the Middle East, and elsewhere rather than right here at home. In skilfully omitting the U.S. among his examples he missed an important opportunity to use his fine research as a vehicle not just to sell books, but also to help heal this nation we all love so dearly. Nevertheless buy the book it is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Good Science, poor Social Science and no psychology
Review: Mr. Dozier shows a flair for taking a little science, which is good, and carrying it as far away from America's door steps as he can (which is bad). His recitation of some of the most recent discoveries in neuro-biology are impressive except they lack a mature psychologist perspective and it avoids the best laboratory of all for demonstrating the truth of his theories: the U.S. And here I do not mean just the likes of Timothy McVeigh and other U.S. nut cases. Were Mr. Dozier to have used just a little psychological insight, and even a smattering of political science he would have no doubt noticed that U.S. culture is and always has been a fine laboratory specimen of a culture of hate at work and at play everyday. Here we have as much hate as as any country still in existence. We have racism against blacks that is still disgraceful. We have sexism, homophobia, and anti-semitism, yet Mr. Dozier studiously avoided these in favor of discussing Islamic Jihads, Osama bin Laden and such. This approach is likely to sell books, but how intellectually honest an effort is it, really? We had hate long before Osama and the Jihads, or didn't we? Somehow, Mr. Dozier managed to seek far away examples in the Middle East, and elsewhere rather than right here at home. In skilfully omitting the U.S. among his examples he missed an important opportunity to use his fine research as a vehicle not just to sell books, but also to help heal this nation we all love so dearly. Nevertheless buy the book it is worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring! Great insight to the human mind
Review: This book is a great read. The author does a great job of uncovering the mechanism behind the human tendency to steoreotype about a person, a group of people and oneself. The book is extremely well written and well researched. The author describe hatred as a complex emotion created by an imbalance between different parts of the brain leading to, among other things, racism, sexism, and phobia. The book help answers lot of questions, I had, for example, how the brain process violence in the media or whether there is a connection between intolerance and lack of self-esteem, etc. The author provides biological, cultural and social conditions, that lead to hatred, dehumanizing of another person/group and eventually acts of violence (e.g. war, crime, etc). The examples include many types of violent acts, from honor killings to Timothy McVeigh and from serial homicide to depression induced suicide. Familiar headlines help the reader follow the rather unique and complex description of the human brain. The book also makes a convincing case of why raising gender rights will help to curb hatred in the world. Towards the end of the book, the author cites examples of society where hatred is uncommon and provides strategy to elimiate hatred. Important takeaway: Hate is extraordinarily difficult and dangerous to overcome but peace cannot be maintained without addressing the problem of hatred. I can't wait to read Dozier other book, Fear Itself.
Rating: 
Summary: Good topic, explores issues, but I do have a gripe
Review: This book tries to explain why people varying from Osama Bin Ladin to Dylan Klebold lack all empathy for their victims, and why they hate. It is also about why we hate. The author looks at neurobiology, psychology and history.
I do have somewhat of a gripe with some of his history though. He treats the Arab-Israel conflict as a sort of feud, and thats not what it is. A peace-loving country can be surrounded by neighbors who use violence to destroy it, and so it must use violence to defend itself. It doesn't take two to make war, it just takes one aggressor, and one country that refuses to be a victim. For instance, the US didn't invade Afghanistan because it hated Afghans, or Moslems. It invaded largely to defend itself, and after the invasion we learned just how extensive the Al Queda training camps were and how they saw our cities as their targets.
Talking about "cycles of violence" doesn't make sense in this type of context. Rush Dozier does not regard the US action against the Taliban as a feud or cycle of violence, which is good, but he does view the Israel situation that way, which is bad.
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