Credit: Prometheus Books
Sex sells, or so advertisers tell us. Apparently everyone is interested in what a beautiful, scantily clad woman has to say. But there is something else that humans are just as eager to see, hear, read about and spend money on - blood.
From horror films and gory sporting matches to gritty news reports, it would appear everyone has experienced a sick fascination with violence, evil and guts.
In The Lust for Blood, Jeffrey A. Kottler, a curious psychologist and counselling professor, delves into why everyday people are so attracted to violence. Is it a result of evolution? Or are we just all so scared of our own mortality that we can't help but fixate on death? And does watching blood and guts in the media make us more violent?
According to Kottler, deep down we all have an evolved instinct for violence and aggression, but our morality and sense of right and wrong holds us back. And so we turn to sport, media and the crimes of others to feed our urges.
However, Kottler isn't satisfied with a simple analysis of society's infatuation with blood. To try to find a conclusive answer to a topic that has been well-covered but never quite resolved, Kottler interviewed a wide range of people - from serial killers on death row and hit men, to emergency room personnel and psychologists.
He also examines our history with violence, from the bloodbaths in the Colosseum to more recent serial killers, and combines this with the latest scientific research. Weaved together by his skillful and engaging writing (and a good dose of pop culture), the information is easy to digest and fascinating.
While, scientifically, the book is a little lacking in hard evidence - Kottler admits that there is little consistency in the literature - it's a well-researched and interesting reflection on humanity and our attempts to separate ourselves from our animal origins. Anyone who has found themselves staring too long at a car crash (go on, raise your hand, mine's up), found themselves horrified yet enthralled with the stories of serial killers (me again) or is a bit of a horror film lover (only occasionally) will find this book as interesting as a no-holds-barred boxing match - well worth a read.
