Human Killing Machines: Systematic Indoctrination in Iran, Nazi Germany, Al Qaeda, and Abu Ghraib
This book is a must read. It should be required reading for all police officers. Hopefully, by understanding the process of systematic indoctrination, as so aptly described by Adam Lankford, those entrusted with the power of the state will mightily resist any pull towards acts of unredeemable violence. (Drew Diamond, Chief of Police (Ret.), Tulsa, OK)Adam Lankford's well-written and provocative new book . . . delivers a behavioral model that goes a long way toward explaining otherwise inexplicably inhuman actions by 'normal' human beings. The reader need not agree with every one of Lankford's observations to recognize his insightfulness and the utility of his work for both scholars and practitioners.Human Killing Machinesis 'must-reading' for soldiers, diplomats, and political leaders of democratic countries as well as academics in the social sciences, international relations, and criminal justice. (John T. Fishel, Ph.D., College of International Studie, The University of Oklahoma,  author and editor ofThe Savage Wars of Peaceand co-author ofUncomfortable Wars Revisited)Human Killing Machinesis a work of diligent scholarship marked by skillful exposition and compelling prose. This book deals with issues that matter to our way of life and sheds light on how we might better understand and ameliorate the potential for violence, including catastrophic violence, that dogs the modern world. (Robert Johnson, American University)Lankford'sHuman Killing Machinesis a splendid interdisciplinary effort sure to interest casual readers, sociologists, political scientists, criminal justice scholars, and Homeland Security experts alike. . . . Lankford persuasively reminds us that legal, moral and ethical behavior will not always be the norm across each culture or in each setting. The 'psychology of evil' and indoctrinated violence will continue to present daunting challenges to those that preserve, protect, and promote discipline, law, order and well-being. (Homeland Security Review)