Assassination Generation

Video Games, Aggression, and the Psychology of Killing

By: Katie Miserany, Dave Grossman, Kristine Paulsen

Narrated by: Dave Grossman

The author of the 400,000-copy bestseller On Killing reveals how violent video games have ushered in a new era of mass homicide -- and what we must do about it.

Paducah, Kentucky, 1997: a 14-year-old boy shoots eight students in a prayer circle at his school.

Littleton, Colorado, 1999: two high school seniors kill a teacher, twelve other students, and then themselves.

Utoya, Norway, 2011: a political extremist shoots and kills sixty-nine participants in a youth summer camp.

Newtown, Connecticut, 2012: a troubled 20-year-old man kills 20 children and six adults at the elementary school he once attended.

What links these and other horrific acts of mass murder? A young person's obsession with video games that teach to kill.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who in his perennial bestseller On Killing revealed that most of us are not "natural born killers" - and who has spent decades training soldiers, police, and others who keep us secure to overcome the intrinsic human resistance to harming others and to use firearms responsibly when necessary - turns a laser focus on the threat posed to our society by violent video games.

Drawing on crime statistics, cutting-edge social research, and scientific studies of the teenage brain, Col. Grossman shows how video games that depict antisocial, misanthropic, casually savage behavior can warp the mind - with potentially deadly results. His book will become the focus of a new national conversation about video games and the epidemic of mass murders that they have unleashed.

Outstanding insight.

I’d expect nothing less from the Lieutenant Colonel. His insight is incredibly on the mark.

Very enlightening

Well researched and presented. Vital information for a safer future. It could save lives. This should be taught to every parent to be.

As usual, outstanding

I would expect nothing less from Lieutenant Colonel Grossman. As usual he has written a scholarly yet easy to understand book pointing out the dangers in our society as they are today. Once again a must read for anyone concerned about this terrible malady facing this generation.

Excellent book

The information in this book is so good, it is reference for any discussion you may have. I couldn’t listen to the names of the victims, made me too sad and angry. Every person and parent should listen to this book.

Scary but true and with a possible bright future

Very eye opening book that scares you but let’s you know what you can do and what others are doing to try and right the course.