I am not a big true crime reader (this was my first crime book). I do however have an interest in learning what could possibly make a serial killer tick. That said, WOW!! this book gives significantly disturbing details of just how these killers think. I could not put the book down. It was disturbing, disgusting, scary but most of all compelling.

What makes the story so interesting is not just the study of the serial killers, but the naive and adolescent nature of the author. I kept sitting there thinking what is wrong with this guy. Why would anyone risk his sanity for the sake of his own curiosity.

My only complaint was that the book was written in a very unsophisticated way. It was clearly written by a college student and not a professional writer.

It is very hard for me to get into a book but this book truly drew me in and didn't let me go till the very last page. It was such an interesting book that had many twists and turns along the way. I absolutely enjoyed this book and have recommended it to many people. If you like true crime books then this one is for you.

Clear presentations of what the new group counselor needs to observe, watch for, and intervene on. With the experiential homework and the practical emphasis, it is very useful for those about to begin practica or internships. I would use it with text that reviews research and basic concepts of groups in general (e.g. Forsyth's GROUP DYNAMICS). Kottler doesn't cover such key concepts as group goals and norms.

This is the perfect book for the beginning group practitioner. Easy to follow and helpful for those in the mental health field.

This book offers the much needed assurance that as counselors, we are not alone in our work. Try as we might, we are falible as are all human beings. The recognition that even some of the biggest names in psychotherapy have had "bad" sessions, allows for others to feel more comfortable in their own work.

Blame is perhaps the most useless of all words in the human vocabulary, and it is the most useless of all emotions. If you get mad, know you are dealing with yourself and the person you are mad at has provided the excuse for you to get mad. And you get mad because you are afraid. If you are not afraid, there is no way you will get mad at someone. If you are not afraid, there is no way you can blame someone else for making you mad or uncomfortable. If you live without fear, if you love, there is no place for those emotions. There is no place for blame. When you feel good about yourself, everything around you is good. You love everything that is around you, because you love yourself. If you are truthful to yourself, you will save yourself a lot of emotional pain. You are never responsible for the actions of others, you are only responsible for you.

Jason atempts to have us believe that he was tramatized by his communications with John Wayne Gacy and other serial killers. First, duh the prisioners in this book were locked up for a reason! Second, who in their right mind would go and visit Gacy? It was a well known fact and broadcast on several news programs that Gacy did indeed get "special treatment" in prison and often had private visits. My personal opinion is that if all of this story went down as it was portrayed Mr. Moss needs some serious help. I myself remember the horror of watching the news in my suburban chicago home as body after body after body was brought out of that mans home. How can this author say that he started to believe him innocent! I think his motives were money...Money from the sale of this book and also from selling his murderabilia

IS anyone else creeped out by this book? It is an interesting book on serial killers, but far more disturbing in its references to the author. Manson, Gacy, Ramirez, Dahmer...all men are masters of manipulation. So good, in fact, that they were able to not only manipulate their victims into believing in their safety (or in Manson's case, to kill for him), they were manipulative enough to escape justice for years and years. Thus, I find myself a bit disturbed that Jason Moss feels he can outmanipulate the greatest manipulators of all time. That is truly scary. If he can manipulate these practiced murderers and kings of deception, think of what he could do to a regular Joe like me or like you. Read this book if you want to enter the mind of...a well-groomed, well-articulated, intelligent All-American boy on one side and an egomaniacally self-professed master manipulator on the other hand.

Also recommended: The Stranger Beside Me: by Ann Rule Zodiac: by Robert Graymith The Hillside Stranglers: by Darcy O' Brien Visit the Museum of Death in San Diego, CA for more serial killer letters and crime scene photos

One of the things I've always wanted to do was meet/interview a serial killer.. just to see what makes them tick. After reading this book, I definitely don't want to do that anymore.
The author, Jason Moss, begins corresponding with different imprisoned serial killers; Dahmer, Manson, Ramirez and Gacy... After corresponding with Gacy for awhile, he begins to accept phone calls from him. During his spring break from UNLV he gets on a plane to go see Gacy in prison. Slowly, Gacy breaks Moss down and almost turns him into the last victim.

This book is trivial in the extreme. Dr. Kottler takes the possibility of transformative travel (as explicated, for example, in Cousineau's Art of Pilgrimage or Sarah York's Pilgrim Heart) and makes it into self indulgence. Don't waste your money or your time.

I have been reading several books on meaningful travel and pilgrimage, most of which have had worthwhile, useful material. But this book is a tremendous disappointment. Kottler's idea of an example of transforming travel is a woman on a business trip blocking out some self-indulgent feel-good time so she can can "feel less guilty (about neglecting her children) because I am pursuing a career so ambitiously". Hey, any man or woman who thinks selling potato chips or filing legal briefs is more important that their children SHOULD feel guilty. And Kottler is so ignorant it's hard to believe he has a high school diploma, much less a Ph.D. For example, he tells a boring, pointless story about a terrible experience during a 14-hour drive in the Philippines. Then Kottler says he and his wife recover from the ordeal by traveling to Hong Kong and, "crossing the international dateline" they are able to spend the same day more pleasantly. Dr. Kottler, check your map: the international date line DOES NOT RUN between Manila and Hong Kong, and when you cross it traveling from east to west you arrive in the NEXT day not the prior one. Don't waste your money on this one. Maybe I should have been more sceptical of a book about creating transformative travel experience written by somebody who lives in Las Vegas!

Drawing on his long and thoughtful experience as a clinician, supervisor and teacher,Jeffrey Kottler has produced a helpful down-to-earth, and easily readable book of guidance for those who want more out of life through the adventure of travel. In this book, we find that psychoanalytic work emerges in its true light when we explore new areas and cultures as an individualized and collarborative search for routes toward a self-fulling life.

The least this book does is point out the reality that many who falsely pride themselves in the profession of psychotherapy would do better in other career fields: welding, sewing, fruit picking, VCR repair. Seriously, if you fancy yourself a therapist yet the thought of actually getting your hands dirty and dealing with depression repulses you then please snap out of your Hollywood illusions and accept a normal job with the rest of us... before you go and further ruin someone else's life.

This book has a lot of valuable information, but this book is not for everyone. The book serves to remind therapists that we are human, but focuses on all the possible negative aspects of a therapists life and practice. I feel this book turns people away from seeking therapy or going into the profession. The book is written with an over-whelming negativity and a hint of arrogance. If you are looking for something to normalize your negative experiences as a therapist, then this is possibly the best book out there for you. If you are romantically involved with a therapist that you are concerned about, then this may be a good thing to read to better understand what may be going on. If you are new to the field, then read the book on and off as needed (if you must). If you are not a therapist or involved with one, then this book has nothing for you. Therapy, like every field, is a mixed bag. This book fails to acknowledge the goodness in the lives of those being a therapist.