Drew Ross explores the many contradictions and misconceptions that prevail when juries and judges evaluate insanity pleas and issues of blame. From 1990-1997, Ross served as a forensic psychiatrist for the criminal justice system. His job was to judge the "sanity" of people charged with murder. The law requires black and white answers: Did someone kill because of a psychosis? Should he or she be confined to a prison or to a mental hospital? What makes a person into a killer? In session after session, Ross was drawn into the killers' - and their victims' - nightmares. Unfortunately his training had taught him that the human mind is more complex than the law would allow, and little by little, he began to find his role unbearable. Looking into the Eyes of a Killer details one man's journey into the darkness of the human psyche and the evils of a system. Examining the record and searching his own soul, Ross looks at the degree to which murder is aberrant and chillingly reveals how killers are not always so different from the rest of us. Never falling prey to easy solutions, he makes a compelling argument for new guidelines for dealing with violent criminals, and shows how our failure to "reform" them springs from our unwillingness to confront ourselves.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Looking into the Eyes of a Killer is written in an unassuming style--short sentences making deceptively plain statements. At first it seems almost dry. But as forensic psychiatrist Drew Ross paints one picture after another of the violent patients he has interviewed and come to understand (as well as anyone can), the book gains momentum. He writes about potentially sensational matters, such as the depth of a murderer's thirst for blood or the crazy system of justice and punishment in the United States, in an evenhanded way that is all the more powerful for being unadorned. He presents startling cases, such as a very intelligent paranoid woman who hisses like a snake at those who disagree with her, in a matter-of-fact tone that sends chills up the spine. He avoids medical and psychiatric jargon. By the time Ross has taken us through 24 short personal essays, each presenting a riddle or an insight about the nature of the murderous mind, he has achieved something rare indeed: the wisdom of perfectly posed questions. This is a rich, provocative book--sure to be a classic on the topic of violence. --Fiona Webster
From Publishers Weekly
Drawing on many cases and years of experience, Ross, a former prison psychiatrist, reveals in his nonfiction debut that truth is more haunting than fiction. Ross describes the well-nigh impossible task of defining insanity in legal terms that emphasize clear-cut external motivation over the layered and often mysterious roots of murder. Although marred by an awkward writing style and by overly intrusive appearances by the author, the cases presented here (details changed to protect confidentiality) illustrate the ancient conundrum about whether man is inherently good or evil. In the instance of one paranoid young woman who murdered under the panicky delusion that she was defending her home, mental illness seems to have tragically scrambled an innocent soul. In another instance, a retarded man who wore a perpetual smile seemed to harbor a cold core of evil. Ross's attempt to integrate the struggle of his own life among murderers (everyday cruelty and aggression take on an ominous charge; he is in the unwanted role of healer) feels a bit melodramatic and forced. Still, he compellingly makes the case that no one who commits murder can really be sane.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important book about the dark underbelly of humanity,
This review is from: Looking Into The Eyes Of A Killer (Hardcover)
I am not the most objective reviewer (Dr. Ross is my close friend and colleague) - but nevertheless I must add my praise. Drew's book is balanced, nuanced, and moving. It goes far beyond the cheap titillation of most mainstream media presentations of the topic. I hope that this important work elevates the level of public debate regarding society's wrestling match with crime and punishment.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting ideas underdeveloped,
By
This review is from: Looking Into The Eyes Of A Killer (Hardcover)
The problem with this book isn't that there's too much, it's that there's too little, especially on the author's fascinating crisis of conscience at the end. Some very good thoughts on murder & murderers throughout. I wanted some of these developed more, & I wanted a better understanding of how Drew Ross, M.D. reached certain conclusions, especially his conclusion that punishment is a crime. It's an excellent (maybe even brave) topic, but I don't get a sense of how Ross got there--he just comes out and says it. The book is accessible to laypeople as well as professionals. It's a quick read. Some of the patient profiles are quite well done, but again I would've liked more rather than less. The book is a very good introductory survey of many of the issues raised dealing with murderers. It's sometimes brave--commendable in insisting on not demonizing murderers & on facing the killer within all of us. Ross is commendably honest about himself. His book also is interesting for its insights into the path taken by a psychiatrist dealing with criminals--for its examination of the realizations Ross came to as he dealt with his subjects, for its mapping of his own psychic journey. Again, he's open & honest about this. He's not afraid to show his limitations, not arrogant despite his education. His ultimate conclusion is startling, best not spoiled by being revealed in a review ... & I wish he'd written at greater length about it, with more explanation of how he got there. Bottom line, not enough development of very good ideas, not enough specifics, not enough of the route to his ideas ... but a very good survey of the issues & a worthwhile read that ought to interest both criminal justice professionals & true crime enthusiasts.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Looking Into the Eyes of a Killer,
By
This review is from: Looking Into The Eyes Of A Killer (Hardcover)
This book impacted the way I view the human race. While reading this book, I was able to appreciate that Dr. Ross has the ability to look into the eyes of a killer, pass the beast within and see the masqueraded man or woman. As he traveled deep into their dark side, he was faced with his own, the one of society, Psychiatry and the Law. I was faced with mine. Before I picked up this book, I had hoped to find condemnation towards society's condemned; instead I found redemption for all human kind. By my own personal observations, Dr. Ross has an extremely insightful understanding of the human psyche and a nice ability to convey his observations and experiences to his readers. I highly recommend this book to all concerned professionals and or layperson.
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