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Gives a human face to violence

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This book is fantastic. Technically accurate, but at the same time a good read. Had this book existed in the late 70s, when I was a sociology undergrad, I am certain it would have changed my career trajectory. A combination of a fascinating biography of criminologist Lonnie Athens, an excellent primer on some pretty advanced sociological and research topics, and a highly accessible summary of Dr. Athens' remarkable research, this book is a "must read" for anyone who wants to really understand the context of violent and homicidal behavior. Athens goes beyond the sterile statistical research that seemed to define sociology in the 70s (and to the present in some venues), and gives a human face to those we fear the most. Rhodes takes that research and its findings, and "brings it home."

An Almost Excellent Biography of An Unsung Hero!

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Lonnie Athens is not as familiar as some criminologists. His own experiences as an abused child in an abusive environment such as Richmond, Virginia, Washington D.C., and even Florida where he spent his formative years before going to Virginia Polytechnic Institute where the most deadly form of violence took place by one of it's own students before going to the University of Wisconsin to further his study of criminal science and finally at the University of California in Berkeley. To interview inmates, it wasn't easy because of the bureaucracy. They are after all in correctional facilities and I would think Lonnie's interest in studying them would be useful in understanding the science of crime. The book begins strong but slows along the way with too much information. I agree Lonnie's studies are invaluable because he is trying to to do what so many criminologists fail to see as the origin of a criminal's psyche. Where did they go wrong in life to become murderers and violent criminals? Not all of his subjects have murdered but have raped and assaulted others and even studies women. Unfortunately, Lonnie is seen as an enemy by the corrections officers rather than an ally for whatever reason. Lonnie doesn't pass judgment on these criminals that society has taken and thrown away in concrete jungles where they are never really corrected. Lonnie's own history with violence including his violent, abusive father who abused and battered his wife and children helps him understand as well as other experiences of violence. The environmental surroundings can have an impact but who of us hasn't been in a violent environment whether it's our home or school. Lonnie is very understanding to a degree because he wants to know why and not just what happened. A rapist details how he heard his mother crying for her husband to stop having sex with her because of the pain. Sex is a common theme among the violence and often intertwines with one another in the criminal psyche. Many of the violent criminals need to be studied rather than locked up forever. By locking them up and throwing away the key, we are already treating them like the discarded garbage that many of them feel in the first place to cause such crimes against another human being. Everything including actions and words can affect a child's psychological well-being. We may never understand how people become human monsters fully but we must try in order for prevention.

Why They Kill: The Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist

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Rhodes demonstrates the ability to break down and make alive Criminologist Lonnie Athens' theory of violentization. His use of well known violent indviduals and how they fall into this refinement of social learnig theory make a clear and strong argument to think about the theorist stages that lead to violent behavior. If you seek to know more about possible methods to promote a less volent world prehaps facing this tale will be productive.

First half fails, second half outstanding

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The author's overall message is an astounding exploration of the criminal mind and how they become violent, and end up killing. The reviews and synopsis of the book are great... However, the first half of the book, about 170 pages, drag the reader along Lonnie Athens' (a criminologist) life. It tells of his schooling and how he made his studies. These 170 pages could have been boiled down to about 25. However, the second half of the book, where it takes an in depth look as some of Athens' findings about violentization are outstanding. I was dissapointed at first, but was engulfed by his message in the second half of the book. The book however explores what a college studnet would learn in any criminology or sociology 101 class. That in fact, violentization is what causes people to act the way they do. The author and Athens's just come at the fact in a slightly different manner and deter from the common conceptions of poverty, race, social class, etc and boil it down to simply being exposed to a violent upbringing. Worthwhile to read, but its not a medical breakthrough.

Brilliant but such a huge question unanswered!

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It is not clear why the state of completed violentization is consolidated to the degree of no return?! The author(s) claim that a cataclysmic experiences or long-term significant events lead to fragmentization. That should apply also to violent criminals otherwise the theory of transition through fragmentation is NOT a theory... I was very disappointed in the end of the book, almost like a European movie... it ends without a finish... and it would not matter much if it wasn't for the grave implications of acting on the idea that violent criminals are irreversibly violentized and that another "cataclysmic experience" "or significant series of events" would not open an opportunity for a transformation leading away from violence.

In other words... what is missing is the other half of the theory, the de-violentization theory. Are there ANY violent criminals who have managed to return to non-violence? Why are statistics being treated so harshly throughout the book yet they come handy in dealing with this important question?

Even if there were only a few, then what was the process of their de-violentization? Could it have been another "cataclysmic experience" or some other sequence of significant events? Was it some process of transformation, which would challenge the violent phantom community and violent "generalized other" and replaced them with their non-violent equivalents?

My question is... "Why is de-violentization impossible?" What is the evidence that such process DOES NOT exist? For if it didn't, all that we learn from this theory through the examples of veterans and so on, are irrelevant to building programs of rehabilitation and healing. If during their service veterans completed violentization, according to the conclusion of this book, they should all join the violent criminals in the brig! But for this to happen we must first prove that there is NOT ONE case available of a person who has completed violentization and who has managed to return to non-violence.

If the "tranformation through fragmentation" theory works one way, it should also work the opposite... otherwise the theory is not worthy of consideration for explaining the violentization process, and therefore this is not a theory to be taken seriously in providing clues on neither our correction nor our veteran rehabilitation programs.

The book in general is wonderfully written and there is nothing wrong with generating questions on a hot subject such as violence.