Customer Reviews

To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book for the same reason I watched all of the 'Predator' shows: To see creatures who live under the rocks among us and watch their reactions when they are exposed to the light. Each creep who slanks through the door at the 'Predator' house is caught in the glow; they are forced into lying. Chris Hansen does a marvelous job of letting them get caaught in their own web then with those magic words "I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC and we're..." we watch them melt in their own goo. It's voyeuristic on our part but also in the confusing world of greys we are presented with a clear vision of black and white and the bad guys in black hats are caught. So I assummed the book would be more of the same stories, each with a little twist (this one is a rabbi; this one a periodontist, this one a...etc.)

But to expect that is to forget that even though he is a good entertainer and story teller, Chris Hansen is in his heart a journalist. He wants to tell a good story, but instead of simply telling the same one over and over (which he could easily have done and walked away with a healthy pocket of change) Hansen wants to tell the whole story. In this book he looks at the epidemic of child sexual abuse via computer from all sides. Rather than simply rehash what we have seen on the television he uses the book to explore the depths of this silent and terrifying epidemic in ways that television doesn't allow. The reader who expects to be 'entertained' by watching the predators walk into the trap and get snapped up over and over may be dissappointed. Chris Hansen's book will require thought and effort by the reader. Instead of merely sitting back and being spoon-fed stories the book digs into this horrible epidemic and examines it from many angles. It is required reading for any household with a computer and children under the age of eighteen.

I was leery of this book from the beginning. I am not a fan of the show and I have a very big problem with a group like [...] Justice doing vigilante type work. I was, therefore, rather pleasantly surprised by the book.

The information in the book was better than I had thought it would be. Although there is a lot of hype for both [...] Justice and for the show "To Catch A Predator", there is also a good deal of factual information which will be useful to parents and other adults who have to confront this issue. I was very pleased to see that the book presented both sides of the problem and that it was not a diatribe dedicated to merely locking up the individuals who have been caught. In fact, I think one of the best arguments made by the book is that many of the 1 strike laws that are currently sweeping the nation are actually detrimental to law enforcement.

The book did have stories which I think were more "filler" than necessary information, and I wish the book had gone into more detail about some of the subjects. The author was very forthcoming about the lack of statistics on this issue, and detailed how that was causing fear than may be unjustified.

The only area where I thought the book was lacking was in the area of various laws around the nation regarding the legal age of sexual consent. From reading the book, it would be hard to figure out what is legal where. In California, for instance, the age is 18, while the age of consent for females in South Carolina is 14. In addition, there are numerous other laws involved. A simple chart in the back would have been a great addition so that parents would know at what age children can do what in each state.

Overall, I think the book has some good information and is worth reading. The disclaimer is, however, that there is some pretty graphic sexual information present and it can be tough to read.

I've written several books on the subject and am generally considered a leading expert on cybersafety, especially when it comes ot kids online. When Chris first approached me asking what I thought about kids on (...)and cyberbullying, I was surprised. I had heard he was writing a book, but thought it would just be more of the kind of thing he was doing on Dateline.

It turns out it is much more. And, it's a fast and good read. Easy, not techy. Compelling. Passionate. Inspiring. Touching. Empowering.

It shares real stories. (Which we have learned is the best way to convey the safety messages in a compelling way.) It uses common sense. It brings together expertise from many of us in the field.

I told Chris that I won't be writing another book for parents about overall cybersafety. He did too good a job in this for me to need to write any more.

So, don't buy my book. Buy his.

It's more than a guide on cybersafety, more than a book adaptation of the Dateline To Catch a Predator series. It's a primer on living with kids in this new world where everyone is wired and wireless 24/7.

Thanks Chris.

and thanks to all of those incredible people who helped tell the story of kids online, by sharing their own personal stories, and pain, and sacrifices and passion.

(...)

An inside look at the MSNBC series of the same name, this is a "can't put it down" book that opens your eyes to the online world of the sexual predator / child molester. If you have young children or grandchildren who use the internet, this is a "must read" for you.

Like most of the other reviewers of this book, I first became a fan of Chris Hansen's work through the show.

The show was educational, showing just how many sexual predators trolled the internet, and made for good entertainment, as Chris interviews each of the predators who show up at the house and are afterwards arrested.

The book goes into much greater detail. it explains how each investigation was put together and the amount of labor that was involved.

The psychology of a sexual predator is also explained in great detail. It introduces new ways to treat the men as well as techniques parents can use to help protect their children from such men.

Also talked about are the various advocate groups that exist to combat the problem.

To Catch A Predator is a great book, well written, and plenty of detail. Not only is this book a good read, but a pleasure to read. Any who appreciate Chris Hansen's work should definitely order their copy.

I think every parent should read this book even though it will scare them as it did me. You cannot do anything about a threat if you do not know about it. I am so greatful for the "To Catch A Preditor" series on Dateline and Chris Hansens extra insights in the book.

As the father of three sons, I had to decide on this issue: do I prevent my sons from using the internet or do I teach them to use it safely. Just to allow them to use the net without teaching them safe practices is about as smart as giving them a handgun and a pocket full of bullets.

Since the internet has become such an important part of business and communication, I feel to keep them from using it at all is to handicap them.

In this book, Hansen outlines a simple plan for using the internet safely. If you don't do anything else with the book, I'd recommend reading the 20 step plan for parents and children outlined starting on page 231.

I own the software recommended in the last chapter and have foud that to be helpful as well.

Charles Runels, MD

In this revealing and no-holds-barred book based upon his dateline expose, Chris Hanson takes us back into the dark underworld of the sexual predator, more specifically those that lurk online looking for opportunities to steal the innocence of our children. For readers who have seen the series on dateline, some of the information may be a bit repetitive; for those that have not, the book will be especially intriguing. Hanson does an excellent job of driving home the importance of not "inviting" strangers into your home via the internet; of impressing upon parents the need to know exactly what your children are doing online, and with whom. Just as parents know who their children's friends are offline, they should be just as informed with regard to their online activities.

Chock full of information on how to keep your children safe from cyber predators; disturbing case studies on victims, and the perpetrators themselves. Most interesting perhaps is the impact upon the families and friends of the perpetrators....interesting, compelling and disturbing reading.

DYB

If you are a fan of To Catch A Predator, you'll love this book! There is a lot of information in the book not included in the series. Read about the infamous Rabbi David Kaye! Safety information for protecting kids on the internet is vital for every parent to know. Fascinating read!

Based on the popular "To Catch a Predator" series, Chris Hanson wrote this book. This is an informative book that all parents should read. About 30% of it is about the TV program and the rest is written like a guidebook. Chris Hanson includes other stories from families and experts, as well. I have watched "To Catch a Predator" from the beginning and really enjoy it. It's great to watch these weasels (my apologies to all weasels) get arrested and I know that this show is doing a lot of good. There is also a spin-off of sorts that started on MSNBC recently called "Predator Raw" which includes extra clips from passed shows. Like the series, the book is very well put-together and is incredibly educational. I cannot recommend it enough.