On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society Audiobook

" Fascinating topic and interesting hypothesis. The second half of the book became somewhat repetitive. At times it felt more like listening to a college professor's lecture than reading a scholarly book. I happened to like my college lecturers for the most part so that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I would like to see a more up to date version dealing with the wars occurring today. "

" A very interesting book for those trained for combat, self defense, police work. It investigates the psychological effect on the person who is training to kill whether for combat or self defense, It also covers the affects of violence in video games on those who play them. Very good read. "

" If a person were to read one book researching a overview of the act of killing in wartime-broadly studying the directed engagement or resistance thereof-this should be the text to consult. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman presents a eye opening case around the training of soldiers in combat, and reveals statistics regarding the minimal hand to hand or up close fatalities, whereof distance or altered optics remains a required aspect to depersonalize the act of taking another life. There is added reflection upon the growing gun violence in civilian shootings in revised editions, however this builds upon the militarized training that is incorporated in for instance video games where combat situations are simulated. "

" Every one in the world needs to read this book. "

" A review on how easy it is to train our soldiers today because of all the postitive reinforcement associated with movies and video games. Eating popcorn while watching someone get beat to death - shoot 10 people advance to the next game level. The last few chapters focus on PTSD and blames the rise in occurance on how we bring our soldiers home from war. "

" I very good book for any one wanting to understand modern soldiers and the modern mindset in regards to killing. "

" Everyone should read this book. "

" Extremely insightful. Dispels a lot of what we think we know about the act of intentionally killing someone. "

" An excellent review on the problems in getting people to kill and the efforts taken to overcome that problem. Has been a major factor in every war we have been in since the Revolution. "

" A great psychological study. I write action adventure stories and this helped me gain a deeper understanding of my characters. "

" Excellent book. Easy to read, for anyone, and the ideas in it are both frightening and important. A must-read for anyone who works in a field where they might actually have to kill someone one day. Military, Police, Sushi chefs, etc. "

" Some fascinating facts, such as 50,000 bullets fired person person kill by an infantry man, compared to just over 1 bullet fired per person killed in Vietnam. So an interesting thesis with some provocative tidbits, but not particularly well written. "

" Disturbing in some respects, but more insightful in looking at what it means to kill in the modern day. "

" It is hard to read, but, if war and the plight and responsibility of our soldiers is important to you, this will give you insight. "

" Great book for anyone associated with military or law enforcement, or thinking of joining either. "

" Should be required reading for all law enforcement and military training programs. Fantastic. "

" This is a very enlightening book about the reactions of people to war. "

" The real origins of combat post traumatic stress disorder. How behaviorist psychology helped overcome human resistance to kill in basic infant training and the enormous human "

" A good book for anyone trying to understand the cost of conflict. "

" I spent 23 years in the army doing my part for the flag and I still dont know what to think. "

" It took me months to read this because I had to force myself to read it. I hate our military, the things they do to soldiers. Damn. "

" Worth reading. It is both generally thought provoking and provides a few gems that I haven't seen anywhere else. "

" It all makes sense up until he starts talking about stabbing being a Freudian thing. I buuy everything up until that. "

" Such an enlightening and humbling book. Everyone should read this. "

" A more accessible volume than On Combat, covering much of the same territory. It is meant for the general public, and it garnered more success and a great deal of attention when it was released. "

" Worth reading. It is both generally thought provoking and provides a few gems that I haven't seen anywhere else. "

" Fascinating and important. I wish the prose style was a little more elegant and I wish the author repeated himself less, but a very important work nonetheless<br/> "

" A must read for soldiers and psychologists. Introduced me to the fallacy of the flight/fight reaction and the correlation of psychological impact and distance between killer and killed. "

" It all makes sense up until he starts talking about stabbing being a Freudian thing. I buuy everything up until that. "

" This is one of the most important books to read in regards to the information necessary in shaping one's opinion toward war and its participants. Its importance is immense for the whole spectrum of opinions towards war, from those who embrace it to those who vehemently reject it. "

" Some fascinating facts, such as 50,000 bullets fired person person kill by an infantry man, compared to just over 1 bullet fired per person killed in Vietnam. So an interesting thesis with some provocative tidbits, but not particularly well written. "

" If you've ever wondered what it takes to kill another human being, and how people cope with doing so, this book will open your eyes. Not for the faint of heart. A must-read for those interested in the military. "