Book Review: Tunnell, K. D. (2006). Living off Crime (2nd ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. 125 pp

AuthorMatt DeLisi
Published date01 September 2007
Date01 September 2007
DOI10.1177/0734016807304838
Subject MatterArticles
/tmp/tmp-17kbfHKX8un74q/input Book Reviews
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cautious, scientific approach championed in this section with the presentation of informa-
tion in part I of the text. In isolation, however, part II is highly readable and informative.
The final section, “Investigating and Prosecuting Evil,” provides an overview of the
forensic approaches to crime solving and sex offender treatment. Chapter 10 provides an
excellent overview of the process of law and is a great resource for orienting readers to the
legal process. The final chapter discusses the controversial topic of sex offender treatment
and provides an introduction to some of the issues and therapeutic approaches.
Overall, the authors have delivered an introductory textbook that is likely to appeal to
undergraduate students and laypersons interested in violent behavior. The multidisciplinary
approach is unique and valuable. My biggest concern with the text is that naïve readers
might uncritically accept the information presented in part I, thereby perpetuating the
unscientific approach to understanding violence. In addition, as a psychologist and instruc-
tor, I found aspects of the text disappointing. Beginning with the title Evil Minds, emo-
tionally charged and biased language appears throughout. Offenders are referred to as
“monsters” and the book makes frequent use of dehumanizing metaphors such as “hunting
monsters.” I was particularly disappointed in the choice of title for the chapter covering
mental illness: “Twisted Minds: The contribution of mental disorders.”
In conclusion, Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators repre-
sents a novel approach to understanding violent behavior. It is written at a level accessible
to undergraduate students and laypersons interested in this field. Those choosing to adopt
the book for classroom use will be assisted by the many teaching tools included in the chap-
ters, such as the case studies, discussion questions, and glossary of terms. Although it has
what are considered...

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