Matt McAvoy Book Review

A tremendously knowledgeable book, though I admit, certainly not what I was expecting.  Rather than advice for the improvement of society and how we personally can all do our bit to enjoy and/or help to repair the worst social problems, it is actually a rather in-depth study rooted in classic undergraduate psychology; much of its findings and conclusions can be found in the famous work of giants like Bowlby and Freud.  Indeed, I would argue that Goldman’s nurture and development rhetoric, as a root cause of some of the worst human issues, indirectly references without paraphrasing the theory of the “affectionless psychopath”.  This is all incredibly admirable, as is Goldman’s excellent attention to detail, referencing and research, as well as not to mention his ability as a writer.  However, there is perhaps a touch too much of the Freudian style for my liking, and this book does rather focus on the role of intimate anatomy at times.

Additionally, I did feel that some of Goldman’s conclusions may have been a touch subjective, or that he chose to interpret the data a particular way, bearing in mind that this book’s very purpose and agenda is to promote empathy; by its nature, then, it seeks to further a more liberal cause.  There is, of course, nothing wrong with that, but those with more than an elementary knowledge of the subjects might take issue with some of its findings.  As a project and a body of work, however, it is out of the top drawer.  Goldman is clearly an academic and an expert in his subject matter.  This is a perfect book for those who share the author’s caring disposition and wish to explore the infant-stage development of apathy or inhumanity.  It is generally pretty holistic within this topic, covering a wide range of areas, but I feel the overall narrative is quite consistent throughout.  Whatever your thoughts on Goldman’s conclusions, if you are considering reading it after this review, then I highly recommend that you do – you will learn a great deal, rest assured.