From one of the guys at the FBI Behavioral Science Unit comes the results of a massive study the FBI did on sexual offenders. It does offer a lot of research data which can always be dry, but it also offers myriad of examples to personalize the data and make it more informative for everyone. I found it very enlightening since there are very few studies that have been able to do this kind of comparative research on a problem that is so prevalent.

This book is a well-organized collection of information. I have no background in law enforcement, criminal justice or even psychology. Yet, I understood it well. Anyone interested in taking the time to understand in some depth how these criminals think and act would learn a great deal. It really illustrates the development of criminal profiling techniques. The book is broken into sections, each of which is broken into chapters. It is written by a group of people, including: Robert Ressler (FBI), John Douglas (FBI), Anne Burgess (nurse/researcher), a medical examiner.

As a crime writer (First Kill, The Girl By The Lake), I collect hundreds of books on crime. This one ranks amongts the best in my collection. Although a little dated (1988), it's a classic and provides a very solid foundation into profiling and deviant sexual behaviour and murder. There is a incredibly useful chapter (if you're a crime writer or a detective)that takes you right into the mind of a crime-scene analyst and what steps are covered to figure out who the pedetrator is. A must for any student of abnormal psychology, people involved with violent crimes and crime writers alike. Highly commended.

Very informative, well written book. So much better than Douglas's Mindhunter. This book sticks to the subject matter unlike Douglas who is too busy patting himself on the back. Not only does Ressler give us a look into the minds of serial killers but he also takes us through the history of serial murder and the development of profiling and VICAP as well as taking us through the progression of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. This is a very educational and worthwhile read.

I am a big fan of true crime books, and this one doesn't disappoint. Very interesting look inside the minds of serial killers, and some of the reasons behind their actions. I will say that Robert Ressler comes off as very arrogant and spends way too much time talking about himself and his early life before joining the FBI - I ended up skipping past some of it because that's not why I was reading the book. But on the whole a good read that will keep you hooked.

In Robert Ressler's Whoever Fights Monsters, he explores his work profiling serial killers in greater detail. The book is excellent, but like his colleague John Douglas, who wrote Mindhunter with Mark Olshaker (along with 5 other books), Ressler is a bit full of himself. However, this does not mar the book greatly, as Ressler and Shactman provide an excellent and informative read. This book gave me far more knowledge on serial killers and VICAP than Mindhunter (which is still a fine book). I would recommend this to anyone interested in true crime.

Another great book by the author of Whoever Fights Monsters. This time, Ressler tells of his life before he started hunting serial killers, and of his almost obsession-like need to have justice served against a judge who hired someone to kill his wife. Ressler's style is always engrossing, and the adventures he has in his life are amazing.

After reading Mr. Ressler' first book, "Whoever Fights Monsters," I was hoping that his second book would go into even greater detail in explaining how the many elements of murder investigation yield a criminal profile of the killer. Sadly, this book goes the other way. It downright skims over some of the most intriguing cases of our time. The result is maddening. I was left hanging time after time after time. I was also hoping that Mr. Ressler would turn down the ego a notch or two with his second book. No such luck. "I Have Lived in the Monster" is even more ego-ridden than "Whoever Fights Monsters." If you don't believe me, just check out the photo section. I am still looking for that special book that goes into great depth on just one case to show true-crime buffs just how criminal profiling really works. That was a HINT, Mr. Ressler!

Though I found the material fascinating (especially the chilling interview with Jeffrey Dahmer), I agree with the reviewers who note the egoism. Of course Ressler should be proud, but perhaps he should let others tout his accomplishments rather than doing it himself. It detracts from the cases he describes. It reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live skit when our hero bursts in with, "Here I come to save the day..." Despite the egomanical strain, there is lots of good information on behavior profiling here. The author could show a bit more empathy for the victims. He'll recount the most horrid crime as if it were the recipe for apple pie. I'm thankful for his dedication to crime and for his insights into profiles of the serial killer. I suspect his first book is more in depth than this one.

This book may not be truly deserving of five-star status, but I am rating it as such because I think Ressler deserves more credit than other reviewers on this page seem to want to give him. This may not be the deep psychological analysis that more scholarly readers desire, but that is precisely why it appeals to lay persons like myself. The book is more than just graphic descriptions of gruesome murders. In fact, the entire content of the Gacy interviews centers on his denial of any involvement in the killings. Just goes to show that the author does explore psychological characteristics of serial killers beyond their grotesque crimes. In contrast, I found the book to be a well-rounded discussion of crime and society, with just a splattering of serial killer interviews. Furthermore, consider the events surrounding the last victim of Jeffrey Dahmer - the young man actually escaped. However, Dahmer was able to convince police the young man was his boyfriend and they then escorted him back to Dahmer's apartment where he was further tortured and killed. This is just one example of why Ressler is a man who is dedicating his life to the very valid and noble cause of educating law enforcement as well as the general public concerning profiles of serial killers. It is simply foolish to assert that Ressler is just tooting his own horn. I say it's worth reading, for those of you who take an interest in true crime and criminal psychology.

I thought Whoever Fights Monsters was terrible. Amateurishly written, no depth in discussing the subject, and a self aggrandizing attitude on Mr. Ressler's part. I Have Lived In The Monster is all of that...times 100! Worse yet, throughout this book Ressler came across to me as an apologist for these serial killers. A recurring theme is that it's not their fault that they are the way they are, someone made them that way, executing them would be wrong, we need to show them compassion, study them, and figure out how to make their minds right. Ressler's ego trip is far more potent in this book. He aggrandizes himself in barely 200 pages as opposed to his previous outing which took 300 or so. This was written in a very slipshod, sloppy way. I got the impression that maybe he'd just bought a house, boat, etc. and needed a quick influx of cash. I hope it was worth it, because I have an even lower opinion of him than before and I will not buy another one of his books.

Yes, he does have an ego the size of Texas and sometimes the constant references to his own superiority draws your attention from the stories he's telling, but even so the book is interesting and well worth buying. The interviews with Gacey and Dahlmer are both chilling and interesting. They bring these men beyond being monsters and nightmares and turns them into reality. For anyone interested in reading a book that doesn't thrive on blood but rather explores and explains the mind of some serial killers, this book is a must

I learned a lot that I had not known about the Gacy and Dahmer cases. This book is well written with self-contained chapters on some of the worst cases of serial murder. If the author is self-aggrandizing I did not pick it up. He has justifiable reasons to be proud of his work. Many killers will kill no more because of his and others work. It must take an incredible amount of character and emotional strength to work these cases without going crazy or falling into a suicidal depression. My only criticism is that I am completely uninterested in any professional rivalry between Douglas, Ressler or any others. Both have done good work.

Four stars with a fifth added to raise the review average which, IMHO, is too low for this book.