SuperHeroBooks - Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (Library of Contemporary Thought)
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List Price: $13.00
Our Price: $3.85
Your Save: $ 9.15 ( 70% )
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Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.858200835
EAN: 9780345429391
ISBN: 0345429397
Label: Ballantine Books
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 144
Publication Date: 1999-05-18
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: 1999-05-18
Studio: Ballantine Books
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Superb Introduction to Students Displaying Psychopathic Tendencies.
Comment: Jonathan Kellerman's "Savage Spawn; Reflections on Violent Children" will now become the text I initially refer to Teaching colleagues, Administration, and Support Personal including Guidance Officers, Behavioural Advisers, and Speech Language Pathologists etc, when I wish to highlight concerns about some of the "Kids at Risk" I work with.
Although I may not concur with his thoughts on the effect of violent media upon our young, I love the straight-forward "no nonsense" approach he brings to the discussion and presentation of research on kids with Psychopathic tendencies. The citations in his Bibliography will be particularly helpful for further exploration, and his inclusion of the work of people such as Yochelson and Samenow, also heartened me.
I would love to read / see / hear where his headspace is nowadays.
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Summary: No excuses
Comment: This is a short, easy to read book. The author, a child psychologist and best-selling mystery author, pulls no punches in his opinion: Violent juvenile offenders need to be locked up for the better part of forever. If you want a book that details hideous crimes, skip this. Kellerman is not interested in glorifying gruesomeness. The book is exactly what the title says: Reflections on violent children.
I read it because I love Kellerman's fiction work, and because I trust his point of view both as a psychologist and as a man with a fine moral compass.
As to the causes of violence in children and teens, he does a good job of detailing the most recent and accurate thought in the nature vs. nurture debate. And he is not without compassion, but he takes into account the protection of society first, then the welfare of youthful offenders.
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Summary: If You're Interested...
Comment: I haven't read Kellerman's book -- just all the reviews, in an attempt to decide whether to take the time to do so. Thus the forced, relatively neutral score -- no room for deviation from the norm here!
I would add to the comments on psychopathy, sociopathy, and mental illness as mediating factors by recommending some enlightening and very accessible reading. Re: sorting out the psychopaths from others, Robert Hare, an internationally-renowned psychological researcher, has also written a book that anyone can read and understand: Without Conscience, the Psychopaths Among Us. It's his form of public service, I think. Over the years, Bob has described the vital distinctions between garden-variety sociopaths, people who wind up in jail or prison for various reasons, and the true psychopath -- who may not always live a 'marginal' life, engage in egregious violence, or end up in prison. His book makes clear how the psychopath is different from most people, although s/he sometimes tries to mimic the appearance of being like others, as camouflage. From murderers to white-collar criminals -- unless recognized, these people have the power to affect the lives of many others quite painfully.
...A quite different type from Andrew Vachss's Robin Hood-esque Burke, an ex-con whose deepest humane motivation springs from the drive to prevent or rescue child or adult victims from abuse. Saving himself, over and over again, in a way -- although he was never 'saved' like this himself.
In any event -- pick up Bob Hare's book. It will 'wise you up' quickly re: a whole different level of existence. And explore the world of Burke, as well -- Vachss's man who knows very clearly (via the 'street research' of his experiences) the difference between a 'criminal' and a psychopath. You'll get a sense of what J.K. may be exercised about --
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Summary: Interesting Read.
Comment: I was living in Jonesboro, Arkansas when Andrew Golden & Mitchell Johnson opened fire at their middle school. It was like, this sort of thing isn't supposed to happen in MY town. And they were only 11 and 13 years old! This little book was written shortly after the shooting as a sort of venting mechanism and I was curious to read Dr. Kellerman's take on it all.
He's very blunt about the fact that some people are just evil (or psychopathic) and this evil (or psychopathy) can manifest itself as early as two years old. There's no way to cure this, but if it is caught early enough, it can be controlled and that's where the system is failing. It's very straight forward, but like I said, very ventful too. He explains why the system doesn't work and has lots of ideal ideas of how to fix it, but he admits the world is not an ideal place and over all, we do the best we can.
I'm a fan of Dr. Kellerman's novels and I did notice the germ of some characters in the case examples he cites here. Pretty scary stuff.
So, no, this little volume doesn't provide any earth shattering cure-alls, but it is refreshing to hear a professional admit that there are no simple answers. I found it very interesting.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Did some of you actually READ the book?
Comment: From the flavor of some of the past reviews, I wonder if the reviewers bothered to read the whole book...and read it carefully. It appears that a couple might have just skimmed through and this is no way to give any piece of literature a worthwhile critique.
Yes, Kellerman is a bit sensationalistic in his wording but do you think Average Joe would read the book if it read like a research paper?
No, certain of Kellerman's Utopian suggestions are not feasible. He says so. I guess certain readers missed this.
No, Kellerman's book does not offer a wealth of solutions towards treating violent youth. Read the back cover. This publication was not intended to offer treatments. It is clear that the purpose of the book was to present both sides of the "nature vs. nurture" argument and then to show how both play a role in creating the "savage spawn". Kellerman's point is that the issue is not cut and dried and the solutions are not simple because the resources to help these kids, simply isn't available.
He does toss in some supposed remedies at the end but these are the type of commentary one often hears from laypeople who think that we can just apply "quick fixes" and voila no more violent children. He wants readers to know that these options are not viable. He clearly states, "This comprehensive approach remains, sadly, an ideal". He does state, rather emphatically, however, that behavior modification is the key and closes with this reminder.
I disagree that it was sensationalistic to comment on the "young guns" of the West and show how we as a society tend to glorify violence. We do. Pointing out that many of these famous gunslingers of the past were children when they began their killing spree was not to sensationalize. Kellerman clearly points out that we are mistaken in assuming that it is a "new thing" for youngsters to go on murderous rampages, and that we need only to look into our history to see this.
As an educator and counselor of young offenders, I found the this book interesting and enlightening. If one goes beyond the basic scope of the book and checks Kellerman's references, one will find that much research exists to support what he says.
I agree with his statement, "Boys will be boys but violent boys will be dangerous." It's a wake up call to America that as he states, "..if we catch antisocial kids early enough..they will be amenable to treatment". We need to stop ignoring the behavior and making excuses for it.
So...all in all, is the book worth a 5? Yes...if one realizes that Kellerman accomplished his objective of showing both sides of a nature/nurture argument. I do believe, however, that he leaves the readers a bit cold by not offering us at least some parting references to publications or institutions that offer more information as to treatment options.
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Editorial Reviews:
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"Ethically and morally, kids are works in progress. Throw in psychopathy and you've got a soul that will never be complete."
In this powerful, disturbing book, bestselling author and noted child psychologist Jonathan Kellerman shines a penetrating light on antisocial youth--kids who kill without remorse--asserting that "psychopathic tendencies begin very early in life, as young as three, and they endure." Criticizing our quick impulse to blame violent movies or a "morally bankrupt" society, Kellerman convinces us that it is the kids themselves who need to be examined. Carefully.
How do children become cold-blooded killers? Kellerman warns that today's aggressive bully is tomorrow's Mafia don, cult leader, or genocidal dictator. Violently psychopathic youths possess an overriding need for power, control, and stimulation, and all display a complete lack of regard for the humanity of others. He examines the origins of psychopathy and the ever-shifting debate between nurture and nature, offering some controversial solutions to dealing with homicidal tendencies in children.
As timely as today's headlines, more gripping than fiction, Savage Spawn is a provocative look at the links between society and biology, children and violence. Kellerman's sobering message will remain with you long after the last page is turned.
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