Dangerous Minds, Taj Nathan
Dangerous Minds, Taj Nathan
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Dangerous Minds
A Forensic Psychiatrist's Quest to Understand Violence

Author: Taj Nathan

Narrator: Rich Keeble

Unabridged: 9 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: John Murray

Published: 06/24/2021


Synopsis

A forensic psychiatrist uses case studies to explore what drives people to commit violence.

What drives someone to commit murder?

What makes some people lash out on those that they love?

Can we predict whether a child will grow into a violent adult, and what can we do to prevent it?

These are just some of the questions that forensic psychiatrist Dr Taj Nathan interrogates every day in his work with violent offenders. Stories about violent or deviant behaviour are the subject of sensational headlines or inflated dramatic portrayals, but infinitely more complex and intriguing are the real people behind labels like 'psychopath', 'sex offender' or 'serial killer'.

Taking us from secure hospital wards to high-security prisons to courtrooms, Dangerous Minds offers compelling and deeply compassionate accounts of ten people whose lives have been shaped by violence. From the impact of traumatic events in childhood to the evolutionary and cultural influences on the emergence of the social mind, this book is an insider's account of the origins of violence that asks its readers to re-evaluate all that they think they know about the people society deems most dangerous.

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

About Taj Nathan

Taj Nathan is a medical doctor who has worked for over two decades as a forensic psychiatrist. In his clinical practice, he continues to assess and treat the perpetrators and victims of violence who reside in secure hospitals, prisons and the community. Alongside his clinical work, he has carried out extensive research in many areas of forensic psychiatry (including aggression and its causes), and he has led the development of innovative services for offenders with psychiatric difficulties. Drawing on both his clinical and academic expertise, he is frequently asked to provide expert evidence in criminal and family law courts. Having authored numerous scientific papers and academic book chapters, he turned to writing for a wider audience and in 2018 he won the John Murray and Spectator Essay Prize for a piece on the origins of violence. This is his first book.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Clive on April 24, 2023

Very well written account of an understanding and critique of not only interesting case studies, but to illustrate points, intriguing parts of criminal history (legal and clinical) are ideally placed throughout. Though I work in mental health, there is plenty more for me to understand and learn, hig......more

Goodreads review by Ali on August 03, 2024

"Dangerous Minds" by Taj Nathan is a compelling exploration of the complexities of human psychology, societal norms, and the thin line that separates brilliance from madness. Nathan, a skilled storyteller, dives deep into the lives of individuals who challenge societal expectations and norms, highli......more

Goodreads review by Jenny on August 21, 2021

Taj Nathan is a forensic psychiatrist who works as both a “treating” psychiatrist and as an expert witness in court cases where a psychiatric evaluation is required. Over the course of his career he has worked hard to develop an understanding of the minds of his patients who display violent and dang......more

Goodreads review by Catherine on April 12, 2025

An excellent audiobook, I loved how the author links his cases to more notorious ones, and also explains the history of legislation surrounding psychiatry and criminal law. It’s written in a way that the average Joe can pick the book up and read it without any previous knowledge of psychiatry, but i......more

Goodreads review by abbie on July 26, 2024

Forensic psychology is my favourite book genre and I don’t see that ever changing. Big love to Dr Taj Nathan for providing me with a glimpse into his insightful mind and allowing me to accompany him on his endeavour to understand violence. Through reading this book, you come to understand that viole......more


Quotes

'Exceptional' The Times

'An eye-opening journey into dangerous minds [that] explores what drives people to commit reprehensible acts . . . Thoughtful and engrossing' The Times