Evil Genes: Why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and My Sister Stole My Mother's Boyfriend | 
| Author: Barbara Oakley
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Category: Book
List Price: $18.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 11686
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 473
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2
ISBN: 1591026652
Dewey Decimal Number: 576
EAN: 9781591026655
ASIN: 1591026652
Publication Date: October 21, 2008
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Product Description
Have you ever met a person who left you wondering, 'How could someone be so twisted? So evil?' Prompted by clues in her sister's diary after her mysterious death, author Barbara Oakley takes the reader inside the head of the kinds of malevolent people you know, perhaps all too well, but could never understand. Starting with psychology as a frame of reference, Oakley uses cutting-edge images of the working brain to provide startling support for the idea that 'evil' people act the way they do mainly as the result of a dysfunction. In fact, some deceitful, manipulative, and even sadistic behaviour appears to be programmed genetically - suggesting that some people really are born to be bad. But there are unexpected fringe benefits to 'evil genes'. We may not like them - but we literally can't live without them.Oakley deftly ties together the big picture implications of revolutionary neuroscientific and genetic discoveries, showing the eerily similar behavioural tics of Mao, Stalin, Hitler, and Slobodan Milosevic. The dramatic recent scientific findings presented in "Evil Genes" shed light not only on dictators far afield, but on politics at home, as well as business, religion, and everyday life. In fact, history itself has been shaped by the strange confluence of genes and environment that science is just now beginning to understand.Oakley links the latest findings of molecular research to a wide array of seemingly unrelated historical and current phenomena, from the harems of the Ottomans and the chummy jokes of 'Uncle Joe' Stalin, to the remarkable memory of investor Warren Buffet. Throughout, she never loses sight of the personal cost of evil genes as she unravels the mystery surrounding her sister's enigmatic life - and death. "Evil Genes" is a tour-de-force of popular science writing that brilliantly melds scientific research with intriguing family history and puts both a human and scientific face to evil.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 So That's It! January 6, 2009
This book answers so many questions. I'll never look at manipulative people the same. It's all here. If you have someone in your life who keeps you off balance, making you feel confused and angry, wondering what you've done from one day to the next...you need to read this. You may find some explanations that fit your situation.
Her writing is clear and although there is some technical stuff...it's easy to get through. Some the best parts dish on people who we know must have something wrong with them...but until now couldn't describe it.
I only wish she had gone into the current political mess. Maybe next time!
Evil Genes January 6, 2009
I have not read a book for a long time , but this book is worth while reading, it is very easy to understand and is very hard to put down,
I haven't quiet finished reading but I am able to understand and accept why there are people that are just born evil.
I like to thank Barbara Oakely for putting the time and the effort into this book.
I have Friends that are wanting to read it, I am wondering if it is available in the German language.
Controversial yet helpful diagnosis and prognosis November 16, 2008
Evil Genes provides a solid presentation of some of the issues that presently attend the prospects or desirability of intentionally altering behavior genetically. As important, the author goes through the science and engineering that is becoming available to do just that. Finally, she fleshes out (esp. with her own sister's story) how the disturbed personality can function for virtually his/her entire life as "successfully sinister;" she gives us several signs for knowing a borderline when we encounter one... along with coping strategies.
It's a first-rate book with a first-class index and useful appendix material. I do find myself wishing for more explicit, extensive treatment of the whole area of psychological gene therapy.
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For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]
Brian Wright
Copyright 2008
a must read September 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a psychologist who works with narcissists, so I wasn't sure I'd learn much from this book. In fact, it put so much in perspective. This book is especially a must-read for understanding that tyranny will only be stopped in this world if we recognize evil folks. Successful tyrants such as Iran's leader are often very smart. They know how to con folks into thinking they are harmless--as Putin conned Bush and as Stalin conned Churchill into thinking they were lovely gentlemen.
Science Made Sensible September 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dr. Oakley does a great review of the research, enriching it with her personal anecdotes and relating it to well known villains. Recommended for those who wonder how "anyone could do that terrible thing!"
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