Rating: 
Summary: Successfully bridges fields of psychiatry and criminology.
Review: "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream" has successfully bridged the fields of psychiatry and criminology. The age-old question of 'mad or bad' has been brilliantly explained by current examples of psychopaths in crime, workplace violence, stalkers, spies, cults, and serial killers. This book provides answers previously unavailable to those who are trying to unravel the puzzle of a violent society. Robert K. Ressler, M.A./Author of "Whoever Fights Monsters" and "Justice is Served"/Federal Bureau of Investigation, Retired/Director of Forensic Behavioral Services
Rating:
Summary: Successfully bridges fields of psychiatry and criminology.
Review: "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream" has successfully bridged the fields of psychiatry and criminology. The age-old question of 'mad or bad' has been brilliantly explained by current examples of psychopaths in crime, workplace violence, stalkers, spies, cults, and serial killers. This book provides answers previously unavailable to those who are trying to unravel the puzzle of a violent society. Robert K. Ressler, M.A./Author of "Whoever Fights Monsters" and "Justice is Served"/Federal Bureau of Investigation, Retired/Director of Forensic Behavioral Services
Rating:
Summary: Creative book by one of psychiatry's gifted writer's
Review: "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream" is a timely, fundamental contribution to our growing understanding of character and behavior, and to the perennial question of why there is good and evil. In the tradition of Freud's "Interpretation of Dreams," Simon gazes into the abyss of the psyche with both courage and wisdom. The ensuing reflections will not only be 'must reading' for forensic psychiatrists, but illuminating for any clinician or, for that matter, anyone seriously asking the question 'Why?' when confronted with the horror of 'mad and bad.' Harold J. Bursztajn, M.D./Co-Director, Program in Psychiatry and the Law/Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry/Harvard Medical School
Rating: 
Summary: Pass on this one
Review: ...[T]his book has four or five chapters of differing criminal
behaviors (the serial murderer, the sexual deviant) told in
sensational stories with little serious discussion of the the
psychological basis or reasoning of why bad men do what good men
dream. In fact, the question of why bad men DO what good men dream is
never seriously examined. In fact, there is little, if any,
illuination of the causes or understanding of psychopathic behavior.
If this is a topic that interests you, you're much better off with
Charles Patrick Ewing's work or Henry Steadman.
Rating:
Summary: the struggle between good and evil
Review: Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream is a fascinating and well researched account of mankind's capacity for evil. Written by a forensic psychiatrist with years of clinical experience examining the human mind, the book not only provides the theoretical underpinnings of the subject, it provides the seasoned observer's inside account of what makes us "tick". In the humanist's tradition, it recognizes that dark thoughts are latent in all of us. Dr. Simon has produced a highly educational and riveting read without ever lapsing into the usual pomposity or sensationalism often found in writings on this topic. Readers will enjoy the many thought provoking discussions not only about why we do the things we do, but about what separates "good" people from "bad".
Rating:
Summary: the struggle between good and evil
Review: Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream is a fascinating and well researched account of mankind's capacity for evil. Written by a forensic psychiatrist with years of clinical experience examining the human mind, the book not only provides the theoretical underpinnings of the subject, it provides the seasoned observer's inside account of what makes us "tick". In the humanist's tradition, it recognizes that dark thoughts are latent in all of us. Dr. Simon has produced a highly educational and riveting read without ever lapsing into the usual pomposity or sensationalism often found in writings on this topic. Readers will enjoy the many thought provoking discussions not only about why we do the things we do, but about what separates "good" people from "bad".
Rating:
Summary: Bad men do what good men dream
Review: Dr. Robert I Simon's book Bad Med Do What Good Men Dream is an erudite and readable treatment of one of the knottiest questions in the history of humanity: what separates good men from bad men? Dr. Simon has applied his vast experience in clinical and forensic psychiatry to illuminate the similarities and differences between those who demonstrate remarkable psychopathology and "normal" people. He has explored the spectrum of violent and horrifying behavior, from killer cults to serial murderers to workplace violence, and provided a thoughtful discussion of the difficulties of identifying the good and evil inside us and around us. As a forensic psychiatrist, I found this book enlightening, thought provoking and well written. I highly recommend it to any professional or lay student of human nature.
Rating:
Summary: Bad men do what good men dream
Review: Dr. Robert I Simon's book Bad Med Do What Good Men Dream is an erudite and readable treatment of one of the knottiest questions in the history of humanity: what separates good men from bad men? Dr. Simon has applied his vast experience in clinical and forensic psychiatry to illuminate the similarities and differences between those who demonstrate remarkable psychopathology and "normal" people. He has explored the spectrum of violent and horrifying behavior, from killer cults to serial murderers to workplace violence, and provided a thoughtful discussion of the difficulties of identifying the good and evil inside us and around us. As a forensic psychiatrist, I found this book enlightening, thought provoking and well written. I highly recommend it to any professional or lay student of human nature.
Rating:
Summary: A triumph of Dr. Simon's narrative power.
Review: It is a triumph of Dr. Simon's narrative power that in following his frightening, repellent, confusing, or deadly subjects into the very heart of darkness they retain a human face. Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D./Professor of Psychiatry/Harvard Medical School
Rating: 
Summary: The Strange Case(s) of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: The artist Paul Gauguin once said that "life being what it is, one dreams of revenge." In "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream," Dr. Robert Simon explains that all people have "bad dreams"--thoughts of suicide, or revenge, or crime--but only a very few cross the line from bad dream to bad action.This book explores the nebulous borderline between what people think and what they do. The topics covered include serial killing, workplace violence, multiple personality disorder, killer cults, suicide, sexual misconduct by professional caregivers, rape, stalking and pyschopathic behavior. In each area, Dr. Simon's analysis shows just how complex and surprising the human mind can be. Even apparently straightforward questions, such as whether a given criminal is likely to be dangerous in the future, or whether a "suicide" is actually an accident, turn out to be very hard to answer. At times, Dr. Simon's style is a bit academic, but on the whole he writes clearly and does a good job of covering a wide range of complex issues.
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