Read anything by Dave Grossman?

I happened upon two books by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a West Point Psychology professor and former Ranger, while browsing Amazon: 1) On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace 2) On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Has anyone on here read these?

One Amazon reviewer for the first book wrote: "If you are a soldier, a police officer, [or] a martial artist...you really ought to read this book." Well, I am a former soldier from a police family who is a martial artist. Needless to say, these books are very appealing to me. I would just like to know past reader's impressions of Grossman's work before I buy.

Greetings ghostexcorcist,

I don't think there are too many people on this forum who would fall into the category that would make such reading a necessary event; I am talkng about people like this (and I am not including you in this category):

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...erm=psychopath

Then again, people like the aformentioned can write their own books.


mickey

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mickey

... I am talkng about people like this (and I am not including you in this category):

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...erm=psychopath

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"...highly intelligent and skilled at manipulating others." Yep, that's us.

Been thinking about getting this book, as well, with some reservations. There has been a lot of sloppy research in the field. One can hope.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mickey

Greetings ghostexcorcist,

I don't think there are too many people on this forum who would fall into the category that would make such reading a necessary event; I am talkng about people like this (and I am not including you in this category):

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...erm=psychopath

Then again, people like the aformentioned can write their own books.


mickey

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I realize you stated that I don't fit into the category, but the implication is still there.

Have you ever served in the military and or been forced to make decisions that would cost somebody their life? I have on both counts. It is really hard to pull the trigger when you have someone in your cross-hairs. I'm the sort of person who removes turtles from the road, so killing goes against my natural instincts. I have only been forced to make such a decision in a military capacity, but a civilian martial artist could meet with the same dilemma of kill or be killed if attacked by someone on the street.

Wanting to know more about the psychology behind killing doesn't make one a psychopath. In fact, I think being well versed in it would probably keep someone more or less level-headed, meaning they wouldn't apply more aggression than is needed in a tense situation. Training for a specific scenario (e.g., hand vs. knife) will only take you so far. A person has no idea how they will react in a real life situation.

If anyone else wishes to post on the subject, please restrict future comments to the books and not far reaching assumptions about those who may read them.

ghostexorcist,

I do not know you to make such an implication. That is why I excluded you. I only left room for the possibility that there are a few here, dying to be unleashed. My post was intended to be light, not heavy. But to answer your question I have not read the book.

By the way, I consider it most unfortunate that you have had to have those experiences. Real warriors love peace. And they love it with a passion.

FYI, I avoid talking about my own training to people. Now days it is such a casual subject. There was a time when MA practitioners, especially the fanatics, were considered a little unstable. When it came to perceptions if we did not share the same padded room with bodybuilders, we had a room right next to them. I still brown bag my MA magazine purchases.

Who knows. Maybe, I am truly one of those people.

Peace,

mickey