Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill : A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Gloria Degaetano (Author) "IN A FULL-PAGED AD in the June 13, 1999, Sunday New York Times, the National Funding Collaborative on Violence Prevention said this: "It should not..." (more)
Key Phrases: killing simulators, murder simulators, television violence study, United States, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

The goal of this book is to make people aware of what the prolific use of violence in television, movies, and video games is doing to our children. Teaching Our Kids to Kill calls to the table the makers of this violence to address the myriad scientific research on the subject--research that couldn't make it clearer how solid and deadly the link is between this kind of graphic imagery and the escalating incidences of youth violence--and understand and change what they are doing and the dangerous effects their products are having on our children.
Using this book, parents, educators, social service workers, youth advocates, and anyone interested in the welfare of our children will have a solid foundation for effective action. We give you the facts--what's behind the statistics, how to interpret the copious, empirical research that exists on the subject, and the many ways to make a difference in your own home, at school, in your community, in the courts, and in the larger world--so that we all can work together to help end this problem and create a safer environment in which to live. If by doing this we can prevent future Paducahs, Jonesboros, and Littletons, it will be well worth it.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Gloria DeGaetano -- Review

Review

The goal of this book is to make people aware of what the prolific use of violence in television, movies, and video games is doing to our children. Teaching Our Kids to Kill calls to the table the makers of this violence to address the myriad scientific research on the subject--research that couldn't make it clearer how solid and deadly the link is between this kind of graphic imagery and the escalating incidences of youth violence--and understand and change what they are doing and the dangerous effects their products are having on our children.
Using this book, parents, educators, social service workers, youth advocates, and anyone interested in the welfare of our children will have a solid foundation for effective action. We give you the facts--what's behind the statistics, how to interpret the copious, empirical research that exists on the subject, and the many ways to make a difference in your own home, at school, in your community, in the courts, and in the larger world--so that we all can work together to help end this problem and create a safer environment in which to live. If by doing this we can prevent future Paducahs, Jonesboros, and Littletons, it will be well worth it.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Gloria DeGaetano

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (October 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609606131
• ISBN-13: 978-0609606131
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #286,221 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, coherent book, May 9, 2000

By	Dan Curry (Wheaton, Illinois) - See all my reviews

As a former reporter, I'm probably conditioned to be skeptical of claims that media violence is a problem. I was skeptical until I heard Colonel Grossman, then read his book. There is no doubt in my mind that Grossman is substantially right in his assertions. I now work for Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, who, after consulting with Grossman, successfully urged at least two national chains, Sears and Montgomery Ward, to stop selling violent video games to youngsters. The immersion of our youngsters in violent imagery is a much bigger problem than our society acknowledges and promises to grow as an issue of public concern in the years to come.

27 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful and informative book, June 15, 2000

By	bruce (Modesto, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is direct and to the point demonstrating how our society is being taught to accept violence and killing. Those who would ignore root problems and chose to look at symtoms of the issues of violence and killing take the simplistic view of placing blame on firearms and not at the mindset of people who wield the firearms. More importantly is why people, especially young people, are so quick to turn to violent and often times lethal means to settle differences. There have always been firearms in the American society, so what has caused the increase use of these firearms in a sometimes casual and cavalier manner? The facts are clearly laid out in this book showing the change in mindset amongst our youth as they have been and are currently being programed to view lethal force as a viable option to settle differences they may encounter. In my youth during the early and mid 60's a serious encounter with someone you didn't like consisted of a fist fight at the local park after school. Following the fight, win or lose, both parties shook hands and their differences were settled. Now some kids see killing as a first option in response to even minor issues. What has caused this dramatic shift? As you read through this book and chose to identify the facts it is clear the entertainment industry, in its various forms, has played a major part in searing the concious of our children. Movies and television during the early years depicted killing but without the graphic detail of today. The killers were viewed as abnormal and evil whereas today they are touted as victims who are merely doing what is natural - therefore not necessarily wrong. Video and arcade games have gone from pinball to killing simulators where a child may become an expert marksman. I believe this book is must reading for parents and everyone who is concerned for the moral state of our society. Kudos for the authors having the courage to take on the big money industries.

26 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done !, June 6, 2000

By	Randell Waddell (Queensland, AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

As

a person interested in martial arts/proactive personal protection, the psychological and physiological responses to critical incidents and having had the opportunity to study the research of/work with several the best masters and combat instructors in the world;

one who has worked in pubs and has had to short circuit, defuse and quell many brawls;

a teacher who has worked with a large number of students considered to be "at risk ", who has had to separate feuding gangs and had to disarm flailing machetes, edged weapons and the likes;

one who has attempted to provide support for victims of crime and their families, as well as at other times for the perpetrators (and their families) of unfortunate crimes;

a father, partner, uncle and community conscious member

I ask you to seriously consider the thrusts of this book.

You may have been fortunate enough that violence has not yet personally touched you, your family or friend's lives. However, when it does, it is often totally unexpected and not pretty - lives are often changed forever.

From my limited experience, I would suggest it is far better to recognize a problem exists, identify key components, and do something proactive, rather than acting after the event, striving to re-establish some order back into fragmented lives.

I believe this book makes an immense contribution to doing this. I commend and thank the authors greatly for their efforts.