Book Review: Not Monsters: Analyzing the Stories of Child Molesters

• Author: Robert M. Worley
• Published date: 01 December 2006
• Date: 01 December 2006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0734016806295611
• Subject Matter: Articles

time, though, I do realize that the life course perspective has only recently been applied to

experiences such as violent victimization and, as the authors state, this is an important “first

step” in the field.

Kristin Carbone-López

University of Miami, FL

Schultz, P. D. (2004). Not Monsters: Analyzing the Stories of Child Molesters. Lanham,

MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016806295611

This book provides readers with amazing insights into the minds of convicted child moles-

ters. The author, who admits that she herself was the victim of child sexual abuse, adminis-

tered face-to-face interviews with incarcerated sex offenders during a 5-year period. After

conducting these sessions and analyzing her data, Schultz contends that the media has perpet-

uated many falsehoods pertaining to offenders who sexually abuse children. She contends that

contrary to popular opinion, child molesters are not easily identifiable and may even appear at

times to be gregarious and likable. Schultz uses a case study approach, and although all of the

interviewees admitted to engaging in deplorable acts against children, the author manages to

portray these individuals as human beings. This work provides an important contribution to

the academic literature because it provides the reader with firsthand accounts from convicted

child molesters. Although this may be a rather dark subject matter for many scholars, it nev-

ertheless proves for fascinating reading; and it is, in fact, very well written.

In the opening of the book, Schultz frankly discusses the circumstances of her own vic-

timization. She candidly admits that her life spiraled out of control as a result of being the

victim of sexual abuse. By her own admission, Schultz states that she used excessive

amounts of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and hashish, to cope with her terrible ordeal.

She even writes about her personal experiences with a psychiatrist in an attempt to over-

come her victimization. Schultz refers to her abuser throughout the book as “The Man Who

Molested Me,” and she does an excellent job in describing the consequences of sexual

abuse. As one reads through the various case studies, this also makes for an interesting jux-

taposition with the abuser who molested Schultz during her childhood. Schultz, in fact,

asserts that by interviewing countless sex offenders, she was able to better understand the

man who molested her. Surprisingly, she contends that her abuser loved her and even states

that she had positive feelings toward him, despite his disgraceful behavior.

The data for this book were collected between 1995 and 2000 at a sex offender treatment

program within a state correctional institution. Although Schultz does not specify where

exactly the interviews took place, the reader is led to believe that they occurred in the north-

eastern part of the country. Schultz contends that she informed her respondents that she her-

self was a victim of sexual abuse. Though some scholars may find this to be objectionable

on methodological grounds, she argues that this actually encouraged the respondents to par-

ticipate. After a close reading of the book, it seems that Schultz’s approach was highly effec-

tive because she obtained an incredible amount of data. In fact, all of the respondents

revealed facts of a highly personal and sensitive nature.

Book Reviews 373