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Summary: Parents....pay attention!
Review: As a Legislative Assistant in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives, a legislative all-to-arms to stop children from killing has surpassed local and state government reaching our nations's Capitol! This book is a frightening insight into our children's minds and delves into the causes of their surrendering of caring emotions to media violence. Ms. DeGaetano's years of research into studying children's brains exposed to media violence is compelling evidence of cause and effect. Lt. Grossman's comparison of teaching soldiers how to kill and children playing the same kind of violent games is a fact that parents should not ignore. This book tells it like its, and will continue to be, unless parents do something now in resolving this issue. Fortunately, this book gives a start to this resolution.
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Summary: Compelling. Visionary. Gutsy. Gut-Wrenching. "Must Read"
Review: I don't have children AND this topic is of huge importance to me. What I do have is a five-year-old nephew and other children in my life and this book gives me a huge perspective on today's culture, media influences and how I can proactively support and guide the little humans around me as they grow up in our obsessed media culture. This book is a road map for people committed to mentoring and growing children away from the tube and other video influences and also provides a deeply important historical reference so we know where we've been and why we don't want to go there any more. Buy this book - it's gutsy and full and especially great for aunts and uncles, too.
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Summary: A must for all parents of young children
Review: Very well researched and written. It really opens your eyes on the link between exposing our child to violent TV programs/video games and the violent behavior growing among our youth. Particularly chilling is the chapter on video games and their evolution into training kids to an advance level to fire a handgun and the desensitive nature this has on young people toward violence.
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Summary: Must reading for anyone interested in stemming violence.
Review: Why are children killing each other? This book addresses this issue from the perspective of someone who was involved in learning to kill and teaching others to kill...we are literally allowing our children to "play" with killing simulations. Violent video/computer games are virtually the same technology as that used by the military to train soldiers to kill.This book is an outstanding follow-up to Grossman's outstanding "On Killing" and puts a LOT of resources at the fingertips of parents, teachers, and concerned policymakers. As one who does a LOT of reading and research in this area, I can highly recommend this book as not only informative, but well-written and easy to comprehend. The exhaustive list of resources at the end is invaluable.
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Summary: Finally, it's all in one place!
Review: Hi! I wrote this book because I wanted to put all the information in one place for parents, teachers and anyone who wants to make a difference in the life of a child. So here it is for the first time: the scientific evidence against media violence; the harmful effects of introducing and maintaining violent entertainment as mainstay of a child's amusement; and the practical solutions, do-able in busy lives. Do you have a spouse who needs an understanding of your campaign to get the kids away media violence? You'll find what you need here. Do you want an effective summary of all the vital research to convince your church this is the MOST critical issue of our times? It's all here for you. Would you like proactive ideas that you can use with the parents of your students because you are seeing so many behavior problems in your classroom? You'll find them in this book. Have you been feeling isolated and frustrated in your war agaist media violence? Open our book to find empathy and lots of resources for support and out-reach. Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill is the product of 12 years of research on my part, along with listening to what thousands of parents and teachers said they wanted to confront violent entertainment effectively. I know it will help you make a positive difference in the life of a child you love!
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Summary: Want to know what drives so much violence in our culture?
Review: This book is a MUST read for anyone trying to understand the level of violence in the USA today. Not just the mass killings in schools and businesses, but the level of violent crime, bullying in schools, road rage, etc. It lays out the facts, in a compelling and readable way, of the overwhelming research of the last fifty years. And it doesn't just describe the problem. It gives lots of ideas that parents, teachers, clergy, and concerned citizens can USE that will WORK to make a difference. I have heard Gloria DeGaetano speak on a number of occasions. She is passionate, articulate, and very knowledgeable. Her book will move you in the same way her lectures do. The information in this book is what she has been teaching for the last decade, but it is all there in one place where you can refer to it, digest it, get angry again about it, and do something about it! She is truly a pioneer in her field. I am thankful someone had the wisdom and courage to publish this book. I would especially encourage members of the clergy and PTA leaders to use this book with their congregations and their organizations. If only a quarter of the churches and PTA and social organizations in America followed the suggestion on pages 115-116, what an impact it could have on our culture! Where could we be if Americans really woke up and collectively and effectively made their real desires heard? As DeGaetano and Grossman make clear, the media influence on violence is not the only source of the violence in America. But it is a BIG PART of the cause, and one we can do something about, if we choose to. Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill is a first and necessary step. And this book really lays it out: Here's what's happening to us, and here's what to do about it!!
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Summary: Lies
Review: All Lies... I've played games all my life... I played Mortal Combat at 10 and have played many other games the are called "to Violent"... and i'm one of the most peaceful people that you would ever meet... This book is just a bunch of lies...
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Summary: Overwhelming
Review: Lt. Col. Grossman puts a subject matter out into society that I feel is overlooked. His research, evidence, references, and writings makes for a good debate. He explains that not all kids who view media violence (TV, Video games) will grow up to be "killers." He explains that it is a contributing factor along with other things within the child (self esteem, bullying, socialization). I have done numerous hours of study on this particular topic. I have seen it first hand through my employment of 13 years, so I was able to relate. I do agree that media violence plays a part in youth violence with contributing factors. Lt Col Grossman states his reasoning which is backed by research and statistics. He makes point that this topic has been studied or investigated by congress, media organizations, and parent organizations to name a few, since 1952. He describes the desensitization in detail. I think that a lot of the "nay-sayers" on this topic owe it to themselves to read further writings on this topic. If you are a parent you owe it to yourself and your kids to keep an open mind. I myself agree with Lt. Col. Grossman.
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Summary: A must-read for parents.
Review: If you are purchasing the new versions of "HALO" and "Grand Theft Auto" - purchse this book along with them. Grossman is hardly a stranger to violence as a former US Army RANGER, but the use of necessary force in the military or law enforcement is a world away from the behavior that we are training our children for via the world of video games and other forms of "entertainment". Children and others hate (and I mean HATE) this book. Parents and educators usually find it compelling. Regardless, it is a book which not only offers complicated questions, but compelling answers as well.
Truly, a great book.
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Summary: The straight story
Review: When I was in high school more than 20 years ago, two of my classmates were shot to death during a fight outside a local movie theatre. That event made headlines both locally and nationally. Now days such instances are so common that many are not even reported at all. Our newest generation seems so sensitized to violence that it is hardly newsworthy, yet television shows, music videos, movies, and video games pump out disturbing images and glorify brutality on a daily basis. As a parent this concerns me greatly. As a martial artist and self-defense instructor it frankly pisses me off. I've worked with students as young as 8 who have an alarmingly cavalier attitude about human life. Grossman's work is compelling, well written, and factual. I've seen what he talks about first hand. It is an important wake-up call. If parents get more involved in their children's lives, as the author argues, they can help put a stop to this disturbing trend. The tools he provides will help you do something about it today-in your own home, school, and community at large.
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