The author of the book is a forensic psychiatrist who worked in the British prison system for many years. Ten stories from his practice are ten destinies of people who found themselves in circumstances that led to crimes. Talking about his heroes, the author poses questions much broader than what his professional duties require. What drives a person to commit a crime? Can this be prevented? Is it possible to change the psychology of the offender? If I simply present the names of the symptoms and apply the appropriate diagnostic label, it will do little to help the family court decide on the safety of the child. During the examination, I need to assess the subjective experience of a particular person: his thoughts, sensations, emotions, beliefs, impulses, perceptions, in order not only to try to explain why he behaved this way, but also to identify the circumstances that would increase the likelihood that he would behave this way again, and, most importantly, to understand in what situations the likelihood of such behavior would decrease. Thoughtful and fascinating research allows the reader not only to penetrate the hospital wards, high security prisons, courtrooms. Deeply sympathizing with his charges, Nathan offers a different look at people hidden behind the labels “psychopath”, “serial killer”, “sex offender”. The psyche is not formed on its own. Mental processes are influenced by human reactions at the individual, institutional and social levels. How his aggressiveness will manifest depends on this. Whatever the origins of a person's tendency to violence, his interactions with others are constantly changing. “We must show genuine interest in the person.” This, according to the author, is the responsibility of society and the people around us. The human psyche is extremely adaptive, and adapts to the greatest extent at an early age. During this period, the child benefits from communication with those who care for him, and in this communication he gains the ability to understand himself and others. Our adaptability also has a downside. At this stage, children are especially vulnerable to neglect or abuse. For whom The book is addressed to a wide range of readers interested in problems of psychology, in particular the formation of human consciousness. It will be especially useful for professionals - psychiatrists, forensic psychiatric experts. In addition, the book will be of interest to those who like to read about how the judicial correctional system works in other countries, particularly in the UK. It is a common belief, including among psychiatrists, that criminals who commit violence as a result of symptoms of schizophrenia bear less moral responsibility for their actions, than criminals with personality disorders. It is generally believed that schizophrenia is a condition that affects an innocent patient... A criminal diagnosed with a personality disorder is usually fully aware of his actions. The rapist may even mentally rehearse the crime before committing it.