Mass Murder in the United States: A History

by Grant Duwe

Is mass murder a historically new phenomenon that emerged in the 1960s? How has it changed over time? And what causes a person to commit multiple murders in a matter of hours or even minutes? This book explores these questions by examining 909 mass murders that took place in the United States between 1900 and 1999. By far the largest study on the topic to date, it begins with a look at the patterns and prevalence of mass murders by presenting rates from 1900-1999 and by describing the characteristics of mass killers. Placing the phenomenon within the broader social, political, and economic context of the twentieth century, the work examines the factors that have influenced trends in the prevalence of mass murder. It also discusses more than 100 case studies within three distinct periods of mass murder activity (1900-1939, 1940-1965, and 1966-1999) to illustrate more clearly the motives of mass murderers and the circumstances surrounding their crimes. The final chapters take a look at media coverage and the role it has played in the social construction of mass murder. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History

219 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Michael Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few experts on mass murder. Perhaps that's because - despite the 24 hour news media's urgent pronouncements to the contrary - it's rare. Author, Grant Duwe, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, is one the experts on this highly specialized and frequently misunderstood topic. He's written on the issue for years and has been widely quoted in the aftermath of last week's mass murder in Aurora, Colorado. Duwe's 2007 book, Mass Murder in the United States: A History, is a fine piece of scholarship that draws upon his detailed examination of all mass murders committed in the USA during the 20th century. Duwe makes a compelling case that mass murder is not new, that the rate of mass murder is not on the rise, and that the severity of each incident is not, on average, increasing. His discussion of moral panics and the role the media plays in the social construction of concern on this and other issues is very helpful to those of us interested in understanding why hysteria seems to drive public discourse. If you would have an opinion on this topic you owe it to yourself, your clients, and your community to read this book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched but occasionally dry

You want an exhaustive survey of mass murder in America in the twentieth century? This is your book. Of course, you'll have to wade through a lot of statistics and charts to get there. It was occasionally dry, and even the explication of the many cases forming the basis of this study became tedious to read. For me, the book's value came in dispelling the myths surrounding mass murder. Long story short: the media sensationalizes atypical types of cases because they generate more public interest, and therefore revenue. This disparity in coverage versus actual frequency of occurrence distorts the public's view of how common (or not) various aspects and types of mass murder are. Wouldn't exactly recommend this for casual reading, but it makes for great reference material.

[Laura Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Mass Murders are not a new phenomenon. The majority of mass murders are familicides and felony oriented mass murders yet the ones that get the most attention are the ones with higher body counts, those using guns where strangers are killed in public areas. AND the number of news stories per event has increased drastically since 1966. In addition, the author mentions that since the news media presents a skewed perspective on the types of mass murders committed, it affects the social response to such criminal acts. In the conclusion, the author suggests looking at mass murders during the pre 1900s as well as those perpetrated in other countries.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although it's a very scholarly and well researched work, Dr Duwe does propose some conclusions that do not follow from his analysis or that are common folklore.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very informative and well-researched book, with numerous examples utilized. It's sad that there are such a plethora of material in the US to work from, with more added every month, but Duwe crafts an intriguing narrative from his gruesome subject. Closer to an academic work, the author shies away from sensationalism, avoiding the 'blood and guts' writing that characterizes Anne Rule or voyeuristic pulp magazines.

The prose does not always flow as well as one might hope, as an overall air of choppiness dogs the writing. However, the book is perfectly readable by any measure, and holds the reader's attention well. Deep detail is not an option, as the author is covering several decades in 220 pages, leaving little room for much of anything beyond an overview. This is a broad history, not a tell-all biography of a killer. Cheap thrills should be sought elsewhere.

Overall I would recommend this to any true crime enthusiast or academic scholar, as the information is solid despite the occasionally-drab writing. If you're interested in mass murderers in modern history, this is a very good resource.

[Tracy Cheever · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and very fact based review of the history mass murder and the media coverage of murder in American History. Duwe does a remarkable job at presenting the facts about mass murder without coloring the information with any biases or personal viewpoints. He makes a strong case that Mass Murder is not a new phenomenon but can be seen throughout our history. He also shows how Media coverage of mass murder, in particular certain types of mass murder, can and have in many cases altered our views and understanding of the topic.