Description
Book SynopsisIt is tempting to believe that dehumanization is an excess of rhetoric—that no one thinks his foe is truly monstrous. David Livingstone Smith argues otherwise, showing that when we dehumanize our enemies, we consider them both human and not. Dehumanization is a genuine psychological response to political manipulation, with harrowing consequences.
Trade ReviewNo one is doing better work on the psychology of dehumanization than David Livingstone Smith, and he brings to bear an impressive depth and breadth of knowledge in psychology, philosophy, history, and anthropology.
Making Monsters is a landmark achievement which will frame all future work on the psychology of dehumanization. -- Eric Schwitzgebel, author of
A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical MisadventuresA fascinating and rich book that combines philosophical and historical sophistication. Even—indeed especially—those who disagree markedly with Smith’s views about dehumanization, like me, will benefit from wrestling with his lucid, important arguments. -- Kate Manne, author of
Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts WomenMaking Monsters is a wonderful book in so many ways. It is thoughtful, scholarly, and accessible, comprehensive and compelling—a tremendous accomplishment that will enrich our understanding of some of the darker part of our human condition. -- Lori Gruen, author of
Entangled EmpathyMaking Monsters is a historically informed and theoretically rich exploration of how and why we dehumanize one another. Scientifically sophisticated and interdisciplinary in scope, Smith’s vivid use of examples transforms his book from a valuable scholarly treatise into an urgent and timely manifesto. -- Charlotte Witt, author of
The Metaphysics of GenderIf you’ve ever wondered “How could they?” David Livingstone Smith’s brilliant
Making Monsters will help you understand the callous brutality of race crimes and the psychology of dehumanization. With a steady hand, Smith leads us through a wide swath of the worst of human crimes and distills into his own insightful account the research explaining the social and psychological mechanisms that enable ordinary people to do monstrous deeds. This illuminating book is a major contribution to the urgent project of understanding the psychology of dehumanization in the hope of preventing future atrocities. -- Lynne Tirrell, University of Connecticut
Illuminating…It is cutting insights…along with thoughtful speculations on how dehumanization is nurtured—through racism, ideology, and the power of hierarchical structures—that makes this such an invaluable study, particularly at this time. -- Bill Marx * Arts Fuse *
In this book, David Livingstone Smith’s concern is how human beings can come to conceive of other human beings ‘as subhuman creatures’—a phenomenon that is not limited to a single culture or a specific, isolated historical period…A very worthwhile read. -- Linda Roland Danil * Human Rights Quarterly *
