The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer

The author really stands out among true crime authors because of the philosophical attitude he has toward his subject. Masters doesn't sympathize with Dahmer, but he preserves a reflective attitude when dealing with absolutely horrifying events. Unusual perspective in a genre bogged down with moralizing and sensationalism.

I've been reading lots of books about Dahmer and this was definitely the best. Brian Masters made a lot of research before writing it and that is visible in every line. He's also very respectfull in mentioning where he took every quote from. SOME OTHER BOOKS I read (i'm not mentioning wich they were in respect to the author) took a 'novel' path,wich is easy-reading, but keeps you a little suspicious about the accuracy of the information.You don't get that impression at all with Masters' book. A piece of advice: You should get a brief notion of Dahmer life-line before diving into the overwhelming storm of details in the book, the amount of information unknown for most people is quite impressive! I found every one of them precious.[:)] Some OTHER BOOKS I read took a long time disserting about subject apart from Dahmer's life (connected to it in some degree,though,of course),but they spent too much time on that,it got boring sometimes..In Brian Masters' you have discussion on ohter points related to Dahmer's life,but somehow he managed to choose only interesting psychological issues and he talks about them only long enough not to lose the reader's interest. His timing is perfect.How long he stays in each incident,how much 'poetry' he uses (he's not technical to the point of making the reading tiring,he's not 'novelist' to the point of losing the reader's credibility).. It's like eating a fine delicassy, where everything is perfectly dosed to a fine combination and nothing is too much or too less. COMMENTARY ON Jason Cullen's review (below mine) You should know that the way you put things in a text has great influence upon its meaning..The way you transcribed the 'masturbation' part of the book in your review was careless, trying to make it sound funny, but you forgot to mention this piece was one of the cases when missing the context really affects the whole idea of the author. You didn't even transcribed the FIRST sentence COMPLETELY,you started it in the middle.If you had posted the text without any intention of 'making up minds' into your opinion or trying to make fun of the author,if you had not omitted the first part of the sentence, and if besides that,one had had acess to the former sentence and the context, it wouldn't have seemed ridiculous at all. The chapter is about Fantasies, with special reference to the 'dark' ones. 'Most fantasies are so peculiar and unfulfillable that they are never admitted,and perish with their host in the grave.It is well for society that we do not know all the fantasies wich accompany,consciously or unconsciously,every erotic indulgence. (...)Sexual fantasy promotes marturbation and is generally satisfied by it. To that extent, masturbation is not merely forgivable, but blameless (...)' and there goes the part you transcribed. 'But because there is omnipotence in fantasy and restriction in reality, the two must be kept rigorously apart;(...)Reality poisons the spring of fantasy,whereas fantasy,when it erupt

An excellent book about a Mr. Dahmer, who had so much potential -- good looks, intelligence, good work ethic. The review below me seems rather strange. I have studied philosophy for years, and I cannot see the validity of your interpretation. You seem to be focusing on tangential issues of the book, such as Freud etc, instead of seeing the book as a whole. Brian Masters offers a very sound profile of all the facts involved in the Mr. Dahmer case. It is extremely well written, and is very humanistic in it's tone. Frankly, this, along with Lionel Dahmers book, is THE best Dahmer book....one that that is in stark contrast to many other books on Dahmer, which offer hearsay, rumours, and sometimes, plain nonsense. I believe Mr. Masters was very astute in the writing of this book, and agree with him on almost every point he makes with regards to Mr. Dahmer, the case, the courts, etc. The respect he shows towards Jeffrey is also admirable. He doesn't lower himself to gutter media, in which Dahmer is labelled, "a monster", a "devil" etc etc Such labels are hyperbolic and do nothing except creat more hate and pain -- something which the world has enough off already. In summary, and excellant and dignified book.

Brain masters seems to start where most author forget, before they killers were born and how the parents relationships develope. The author has done a lot of research into jeffry dalmers life before he turned the into lonley psycotic killer that america most feared. The fact that the author gives the eerie detailed account of what happened to the unfortunate individals who were at jeffrey dahmers mercy. when reading the book, Brian Masters takes into the victims familes and freinds and how he was able to keep the murders hidden from the police for so long. All in all this book is a must any for seriel killer reader