National Network for Equitable Library Service

What is it about evil that we find so compelling? From our obsession with serial killers to violence in pop culture, we seem inescapably drawn to the stories of monstrous acts and the aberrant people who commit them. But evil, Dr. Julia Shaw argues, is all relative, rooted in our unique cultures. What one may consider normal, like sex before marriage, eating meat, or being a banker, others may find abhorrent. And if evil is only in the eye of the beholder, can it be said to exist at all? In Evil, Dr. Shaw uses case studies from academia, examples from popular culture, and anecdotes from everyday life to break down complex information and concepts, such as the neuroscience of evil, the psychology of bloodlust, and workplace misbehavior. In grappling with thorny dilemmas - from "Would I kill baby Hitler?" to "Why do I want to murder my spouse?" - Dr. Shaw offers listeners a better understanding of the world, ourselves, and our Google search histories.