Inside the Mind of Casey Anthony: A Psychological Portrait

As a member of the mental health profession, I was interested in what Dr. Ablow has to say about what is going on in Casey Anthony's head. At first I was bothered by the fact that he does not make ONE conclusion about what precisely happened in the case (personally, I believe 99.9% she is guilty of Murder #1). However, looking at this piece from a therapist's perspective, not a legal viewpoint, I can see that it was prudent of Dr. Ablow to NOT go with any one explanation for the crime. He is not assessing the crime itself; he is assessing the person who was on trial for such a heinous act.

Given all of this, I think that Dr. Ablow is right on the money regarding what is wrong with Casey Anthony, and the genesis of it. I have thought for some time that her mother's lies and inability to let Casey be a separate person, was ultimately, though very indirectly, the 'cause' of this murder. I enjoyed seeing how Dr. Ablow went back in her family history, to generations 100 years ago on both sides, and explained how this type of tragedy can occur when NO ONE faces their inner demons along the way, generation after generation.....

I can understand why people who are not deeply versed in psychiatry might look askance at the viewpoint or the stance that this book takes. However, if you back off a bit, put the TRIAL aside in your mind for a little while, and just listen to this story of how a woman, influenced by numerous unsafe & dishonest people & events, wound up with a dead child ~ whom I can see, Dr. Ablow agrees, she killed ~ then I think you could enjoy this book and even learn quite a bit about the fragile workings of the human mind.

If you watched the trial, followed the story you"d know that this isn't an accurate description of events. He took Casey Anthony's attorney's opening statement and ran with it. I am very disappointed. I can't even finish it Wasted my credit on this book.

Dr. Keith Ablow's book about Casey Anthony gives one the inner emotional workings of the Anthony family. The trial was the "what" hapened and Dr. Ablow's book gives the reader/listener the "why" it happened. Highly recommended reading. The narration is excellent.

The author had some interesting analysis of the Anthony's family's dysfunction & Casey's behavior.

Dr. Ablow fixates on the fact that George Anthony was in the delivery room, leering at Casey and making odd remarks while she was prepped for delivery. Shaving is standard prep for many medical procedures including childbirth, which Dr. Ablow should know, since he went to medical school. I'm not sure why he makes such a big deal about it. He seems to think George Anthony was transfixed by the sight. But it sounds more like the author is the one obsessed. Casey is clearly a chronic liar, but Ablow never considers she might be lying about her dad & brother sexually abusing her as a way of justifying her actions. Ablow isn't a bad writer, but his ego keeps getting in the way. And his constant harping on prurient details ruined the book for me.

Avoid buying Dr. Ablow's books in the future.

It concerns me that Ablow started writing sexually explicit detective stories, then began to write about female murder victims, first Lacey Peterson and now Caylee. He seems more interested in sensationalizing the case than giving psychological analysis. In some ways, Ablow is as unreliable and troubled as Casey Anthony.

the public can see the mother cindy anthony was a control freak but the book explains the damage a mother with out clear boundaries can do and how a childs mind is formed by a sick parent from the damaged child point of view.

none

yes very good pace not boring at any point fit well and is told from many points of view at the same time all fit together easy to follow.

yes and listen again

good read, well written and helps bring closure to the horrible circumstance of a child death
but I am forever changed by what this book tells about Casey. We should not judge others

Possibly to some friends

My favorite character was Casey Anothony's mother

I am a psychotherapist, so this was very interesting to me. It was somewhat repetitive, but very insightful. It was a good look into the potential of the human mind.

I attended the Casey Anthony trial last year and I can tell you this book was great - I thought I knew most everything since I have been following the case since it began but this book was great! A MUST listen!

I was able to paint of foggy picture of inside Casey's head even though I was so lost. I loved LOVED how insane crazy she is made out to be. I read another book told by the prosecutor and it was a little different. I can normally put myself in someones head very well but with Casey I think the book was designed for you to completely run off the cliff at full speed.

Her dad was made out to be COMPLETELY different than what I have ever heard, and I was one of the people who tunes in to every interview while the case was happening. Rather it's true or not it makes the case way more interesting.

The narrator was easy to listen to and didn't distract me from the details of the book.

No. I would listen again though, for sure.

You have NO idea.

I am completely grounded by this book.

This is one of my favorite audio books ever. Whether or not you like it will probably depend on two things:
1. Did you watch the trial and do you have strong negative feelings about the verdict? (I didn't and I don't.)
2. Are you intrigued by phrases like - "deprived of emotional oxygen". (I am.)

I think what I like most about this book is how organic it feels. It doesn't at all read like a paint-by-numbers, cash in on the trial rush job, but like a passionate, uncensored, genunine opinion. What someone really thinks. Hot!
And there's new information here as well-- my favorite being the timeline of Casey's ricocheting false selves: All the boys she claimed to love or want to love in 32 days.
The weak daddy and controlling mommy are less interesting, but necessary, I suppose. For me they're just the wormy soil underneath their daughter's wild, poisonous bloom.

This book makes wild assumptions in Casey Anthony's favour, without really knowing what went on in that family. He was going on what was available on the public record.
He is very harsh on the family, it has never been proven in a court of law that George or his son ever abused Casey, and if that was the case why on earth would she allow her daughter to be placed in this home.
Not all individuals have perfect childhoods and they don't go on to kill their children.