On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

I would highly recommend this book not only to active duty, veterans and law enforcement but to any citizen that contemplates the defensive use of deadly force. Citizens and law enforcement, to a somewhat greater degree than military, face significant barriers in the use of deadly force. The mental preparation to deal with the scenario is as critical as the physical skill set that we work to develop.

The bulk of the work is a study on what Lt. Col. Grossman terms “Killology” although he does devote a fair amount of time to the effects of violent video games, music and movies on today’s youth. Personally, I believe it is fairly obvious that the level of violence in current video games has an impact on the developing mind of a child. However I do question the impact on society as a whole given the 20 year trend of declining rates of violent crime.

Grossman is a good writer that tackles a serious subject in a fashion that blends his research with supporting anecdotes gleaned from many interviews with veterans. The book is written at a collegiate level but I found the subject to be riveting and the author presents the material deftly. It may not be a Brad Thor page turner but it kept me engaged until the end. Your mileage may vary.

Whether the 15 years of data on violent crime since the original book was published supports the youth violence link or not, the extensive study and historical analysis of men killing in combat makes this a must read.