Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side

An original and scientifically rigorous exploration of the darkest recesses of the human mind.

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 misbehaviour. In grappling with thorny dilemmas--from "Would I kill baby Hitler?" to "Why do I want to murder my spouse?"--Dr. Shaw offers readers a better understanding of the world, ourselves and our Google search histories.

DR. JULIA SHAW is the author of the international bestselling popular science book The Memory Illusion and a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Law and Social Sciences at London South Bank University. Her academic work, teaching and role as an expert witness focus on different ways of understanding criminal behaviour. Dr. Shaw regularly works as an expert witness in various jurisdictions to advise on historical sexual abuse and murder cases. She has delivered training workshops for the police and military and given guest lectures at business conferences and universities around the world. Her work has been featured in such outlets as the Discovery Channel, the BBC, CNN, NPR, Der Spiegel, Russia Today, The Times of London and New York Magazine. A Canadian citizen, Dr. Shaw has a BA from Simon Fraser University and a PhD from the University of British Columbia.