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Най-изчерпателният и интересен сборник в историята на криминалистиката!
С над седемдесетте си глави по всеки аспект на престъпленията и престъпниците този дебел сборник включва разнообразни теми като алиби, безглави трупове, двойки убийци, доминантност, жени убийци, жертви, измамници, изнудване, компютърни престъпления, конспиративни теории, луди месии, масови убийци, наемни убийци, перверзници, раздвоение на личността, родители убийци, саботаж, серийни убийци, сомнамбули убийци, убийства във влакове, удушвачи, улики и умишлен палеж.
Колин Уилсън, автор на “Криминална история на човечеството”, описва и анализира едни от най-известните престъпления в историята и техните извършители: убийците Мурс, Уйлям Хеъренс и сексуалните убийства в Чикаго, случая с бебето на Линдбърг, Кели Автомата, Джон Кристи и къщата на смъртта на Рилингтън Плейс № 10, Дюселдорфския садист и други ужаси от тъмната страна на човешката история.
Той също включва необикновени случаи от дълбините на престъпността: човека, който изпитвал сексуално удоволствие от дерайлиране на влакове, обущаря, който се разпнал на кръст, полицейския шпионин Видок, който основал френската тайна полиция, жената, която станала папа, и художника, който отровил дванайсет банкери, са само някои примери от страниците на тази увлекателна книга .
С над седемдесетте си глави по всеки аспект на престъпленията и престъпниците този дебел сборник включва разнообразни теми като алиби, безглави трупове, двойки убийци, доминантност, жени убийци, жертви, измамници, изнудване, компютърни престъпления, конспиративни теории, луди месии, масови убийци, наемни убийци, перверзници, раздвоение на личността, родители убийци, саботаж, серийни убийци, сомнамбули убийци, убийства във влакове, удушвачи, улики и умишлен палеж.
Колин Уилсън, автор на “Криминална история на човечеството”, описва и анализира едни от най-известните престъпления в историята и техните извършители: убийците Мурс, Уйлям Хеъренс и сексуалните убийства в Чикаго, случая с бебето на Линдбърг, Кели Автомата, Джон Кристи и къщата на смъртта на Рилингтън Плейс № 10, Дюселдорфския садист и други ужаси от тъмната страна на човешката история.
Той също включва необикновени случаи от дълбините на престъпността: човека, който изпитвал сексуално удоволствие от дерайлиране на влакове, обущаря, който се разпнал на кръст, полицейския шпионин Видок, който основал френската тайна полиция, жената, която станала папа, и художника, който отровил дванайсет банкери, са само някои примери от страниците на тази увлекателна книга .
704 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
12 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Colin Wilson
401 books1,291 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 14, 2014
Nothing like a big chunky book of true crime stories. A lot of these I had already read about but it was mixed with some new ones to me. Good book.
March 25, 2018
While the stories about various crimes are interesting, the writer proves himself to be a victim-blamer, homophobic and sexist. Also, a lot of details are incorrect and could have been easily checked. For example assassination years of US presidents (or candidates for the US precidency).
March 26, 2019
Interesting collection of true crime tidbits
June 21, 2013
Fun in it's way. Can open to any page and read the (not always accurate) details of crimes throughout history through Wilson's objective eyes.
November 13, 2017
I liked Colin Wilson's writing overall. He gave clear and succinct accounts of the different crimes, and I liked his use of categories. However, he needs to step away from the amateur psychology. He incorporated a lot of theories that have been out of favor with psychologists for quite some time, which was annoying but I stuck with the book. I finally got fed up with this book around the line "We recognize that a woman can be responsible for her own murder if she habitually wears low-cut dresses, behaves in a generally provocative manner, takes off her clothes without drawing the curtains, picks up strangers in bars, and it is surely conceivable that a woman's whole personality pattern could place her in a high-risk bracket where murder is concerned." Oh, so if I ever forget to close the curtains when I change my clothes in my own home, I deserve to be murdered? Good to know, Colin Wilson, good to know. This book is severely outdated at this point.
April 19, 2022
So let's start positive. This is a pretty cohesive and comprehensive list of true crime with a short synopsis of most cases.
But.
And this is a big but. This man needs to read more recent psychology and gender studies.
Or maybe have a chat with a woman? Like any sane woman.
How this man manages to reference Freud in the 90s with genuine belief is a joke. This needs a heavy edit from someone with a more academic and female perspective.
His chapter on Victims is more than offensive it endorses the current levels of violence and abuse leveled at women world wide.
So overall if you want a list of crime with a decent synopsis and you won't get angry due to insane statements like we can all empathise with the murder and rapist because we can see ourselves in them but we cannot understand the arsonist. Then go for this book.
Sorry last time I checked I am more excited to burn a house down than force myself on another human.
Otherwise stay the fuck away.
But.
And this is a big but. This man needs to read more recent psychology and gender studies.
Or maybe have a chat with a woman? Like any sane woman.
How this man manages to reference Freud in the 90s with genuine belief is a joke. This needs a heavy edit from someone with a more academic and female perspective.
His chapter on Victims is more than offensive it endorses the current levels of violence and abuse leveled at women world wide.
So overall if you want a list of crime with a decent synopsis and you won't get angry due to insane statements like we can all empathise with the murder and rapist because we can see ourselves in them but we cannot understand the arsonist. Then go for this book.
Sorry last time I checked I am more excited to burn a house down than force myself on another human.
Otherwise stay the fuck away.
October 4, 2017
Enjoyed the book but many mistakes source wise and factual errors. Did enjoy the interesting stories.
May 28, 2021
Great book. Very informative. Must read if you are into true crime!
January 2, 2024
"The Mammoth Book of True Crime" compiled by Colin Wilson offers a diverse selection of true crime stories spanning different eras and locations. As a compilation, the book covers a wide range of criminal cases, from infamous historical events to more recent and lesser-known incidents.
One of the strengths of this collection is the variety of cases presented, providing readers with a glimpse into the darker aspects of human nature and the complexities of criminal investigations. The book covers a spectrum of crimes, including murders, heists, and frauds, creating a mosaic of criminality that caters to a broad audience interested in true crime.
Wilson's curation of the stories demonstrates a commendable effort to include cases from various cultures and time periods. This global perspective adds depth to the collection, offering readers a broader understanding of the motives, methods, and consequences of criminal behavior.
However, the book's structure might be a bit disjointed for some readers. The transitions between stories can be abrupt, and the lack of a thematic organization may make it challenging for readers seeking a more cohesive narrative flow. Additionally, the brevity of some entries may leave readers craving more in-depth exploration of certain cases.
While Wilson provides brief introductions to each case, offering context and background information, some readers may find these introductions too concise, wishing for more comprehensive insights into the circumstances surrounding the crimes. Additionally, the lack of a unifying narrative or overarching analysis may leave some readers desiring a deeper exploration of the societal and psychological aspects of the crimes.
In conclusion, "The Mammoth Book of True Crime" is a suitable choice for readers interested in a varied compilation of true crime stories. While it may not offer the depth of analysis found in more specialized true crime books, it provides a snapshot of criminal history that can be engaging for those looking for a diverse array of cases to explore.
One of the strengths of this collection is the variety of cases presented, providing readers with a glimpse into the darker aspects of human nature and the complexities of criminal investigations. The book covers a spectrum of crimes, including murders, heists, and frauds, creating a mosaic of criminality that caters to a broad audience interested in true crime.
Wilson's curation of the stories demonstrates a commendable effort to include cases from various cultures and time periods. This global perspective adds depth to the collection, offering readers a broader understanding of the motives, methods, and consequences of criminal behavior.
However, the book's structure might be a bit disjointed for some readers. The transitions between stories can be abrupt, and the lack of a thematic organization may make it challenging for readers seeking a more cohesive narrative flow. Additionally, the brevity of some entries may leave readers craving more in-depth exploration of certain cases.
While Wilson provides brief introductions to each case, offering context and background information, some readers may find these introductions too concise, wishing for more comprehensive insights into the circumstances surrounding the crimes. Additionally, the lack of a unifying narrative or overarching analysis may leave some readers desiring a deeper exploration of the societal and psychological aspects of the crimes.
In conclusion, "The Mammoth Book of True Crime" is a suitable choice for readers interested in a varied compilation of true crime stories. While it may not offer the depth of analysis found in more specialized true crime books, it provides a snapshot of criminal history that can be engaging for those looking for a diverse array of cases to explore.
April 12, 2013
2 1/2 stars.
Wow, this took me forever to finish. That's what happens when you are in college and you decide to read a 600+ page book. There may not be a lot of evidence on here (yet), but I am a crazy avid reader of True Crime. I also like a lot of the Mammoth books (I have so far read Cover-Ups and next have to read Pirates and The Beatles). Naturally I saw nothing wrong with reading a Mammoth Book of True Crime. Of course, the timing was a bit off. I can't say why I picked this up versus something else.
I enjoyed this, but by the time I got to War Crimes just now (the very last chapter), I was completely burnt out on this book. Not a lot stands out to me, except maybe the chapter on Military Murders. I'm not sure why I can remember that above all the others. The best, of course, was undoubtedly the chapter on Serial Killers (it was also the longest in the book - go figure). I definitely prefer books that are about either specific serial killers or serial killers in general.
A common complaint here is that Colin Wilson wrote mostly of old cases from England. This is true. I guess you had to realize before you picked up the book that Wilson is from England. Certainly I would have liked to hear about more recent cases from the United States. Maybe that's why there's a Mammoth Book of Crime Part 2?
Wow, this took me forever to finish. That's what happens when you are in college and you decide to read a 600+ page book. There may not be a lot of evidence on here (yet), but I am a crazy avid reader of True Crime. I also like a lot of the Mammoth books (I have so far read Cover-Ups and next have to read Pirates and The Beatles). Naturally I saw nothing wrong with reading a Mammoth Book of True Crime. Of course, the timing was a bit off. I can't say why I picked this up versus something else.
I enjoyed this, but by the time I got to War Crimes just now (the very last chapter), I was completely burnt out on this book. Not a lot stands out to me, except maybe the chapter on Military Murders. I'm not sure why I can remember that above all the others. The best, of course, was undoubtedly the chapter on Serial Killers (it was also the longest in the book - go figure). I definitely prefer books that are about either specific serial killers or serial killers in general.
A common complaint here is that Colin Wilson wrote mostly of old cases from England. This is true. I guess you had to realize before you picked up the book that Wilson is from England. Certainly I would have liked to hear about more recent cases from the United States. Maybe that's why there's a Mammoth Book of Crime Part 2?
December 29, 2007
True Crime seen through the eyes of the demented (in a nice way) obsessive (always good) Colin Wilson, the author of "The Outsider."
This fascinating British writer specializes in the 'underground' when there was a real 'underground.' It would take a whole room to collect all of Wilson's books - but every libarary must have at least four or five of his books.
I am not a mega true crime fan, nevertheless this is a great page turner and bathtub reader - although the book is rather fat and heavy - so be careful of the bath water.
This fascinating British writer specializes in the 'underground' when there was a real 'underground.' It would take a whole room to collect all of Wilson's books - but every libarary must have at least four or five of his books.
I am not a mega true crime fan, nevertheless this is a great page turner and bathtub reader - although the book is rather fat and heavy - so be careful of the bath water.
March 19, 2012
Interesting where more stories were concerning crimes that happened in England and Europe rather than just in the United States. But because of this the Author kept going back constantly and referring to Jack The Ripper more and more often throughout the various chapters to do comparisons which ended up being quite tiring.
Could be used as a reference volume for anyone interested in true crime stories.
Could be used as a reference volume for anyone interested in true crime stories.
January 30, 2010
Not a bad book; very varied in terms of content yet I guess their was only so much crime I could take. I ended up feeling pretty bored by the end and so areas/subject matters failed to capture my interest entirely resulting in me skipping those chapters. I also felt certain key areas were missed out of the book also. BUT not a bad book by any means just not outstanding.
May 8, 2025
Wilson's maybe in the top 5 crime writers I really dig. Plus he knows his occult shit too (which usually ends up related to some aspects of crime)! But, ultimately, this kinda book is best for skimming while relaxing upon the porcelain throne. Good, solid list of true crime, but it's only the tip of the iceberg!
February 21, 2016
Sexist and homophobic author.
Men are gay because of overbearing mothers? Fuck genetics.
Women who are raped are at fault for accepting rides from men when stranded! Gee, they know men want sex so they must want it to happen!
Let's not even get into the mountains of misinformation.
Men are gay because of overbearing mothers? Fuck genetics.
Women who are raped are at fault for accepting rides from men when stranded! Gee, they know men want sex so they must want it to happen!
Let's not even get into the mountains of misinformation.
March 14, 2016
Can we say, Run on sentences Into long, rambling paragraphs? The cases were interesting although the writer puts a lot of his own viewpoints into it. Saying some women are more vulnerable to rape/murder is fine, but, not when he attributes it to clothing, etc.
February 11, 2008
pretty cool
April 19, 2010
Always handy to drag out as a great reference book !!
Want to read
March 14, 2011Was just reading one of the stories from this book on Wikipedia: Nannie Doss.
April 15, 2016
kinda of dated...
August 15, 2012
A very comprehensive book covering a wide variety of crimes. Very interesting.
January 27, 2013
This book is the reason I got into the law field. Colin's is the man!
July 2, 2014
Picked this up in a charity shop after work - a very tired purchase but fun to dip into on any page.
June 17, 2015
kinda of dated...
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews