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The History of Torture
'Morality is nothing more than an expression of expediency' a notorious torturer reportedly once replied to objections about his profession. From the primitive snake pit to sophisticated methods of brainwashing, literally thousands of techniques have been devised to distort both the body & the mind--& to satisfy the sadistic needs of those who command, perform & witness human torture. In The History of Torture, Daniel P. Mannix examines with honesty & thoroughness every aspect of the professional torturers, many of them history's most famous men & women; their theories & techniques; the role torture has played in history; & the refinements brought to the practice of torture by individual fanatics, religious groups, the military & entire cultures. The result is information on the infliction of pain for punishment or coercion from prehistory to modern times. This remarkable work discusses not only the history of torture but its moral implications as well. Everyone interested in the long & difficult course of human rights, personal & political freedom & in the history of crime & punishment will find the book fascinating & enlightening.
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1964
36 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Daniel P. Mannix
44 books60 followersDaniel Pratt Mannix IV was best known as an American author and journalist. His life was remarkably different from other writers of his generation. His career included times as a side show performer, magician, trainer of eagles and film maker.
The Grest Zadma was a stage name Mannix used as a magician. He also entertained as a sword swallower and fire eater in a traveling carnival sideshow. Magazine articles about these experiences, co-written with his wife, became very popular in 1944 and 1945.
As an author Mannix covered a wide variety of subject matter. His more than 25 books ranged from fictional animal stories for children, the natural history of animals, and adventurous accounts about hunting big game to sensational adult non-fiction topics such as a biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, sympathetic accounts of carnival performers and sideshow freaks, and works describing, among other things, the Hellfire Club, the Atlantic slave trade, the history of torture, and the Roman games. His output of essays and articles was extensive.
The Grest Zadma was a stage name Mannix used as a magician. He also entertained as a sword swallower and fire eater in a traveling carnival sideshow. Magazine articles about these experiences, co-written with his wife, became very popular in 1944 and 1945.
As an author Mannix covered a wide variety of subject matter. His more than 25 books ranged from fictional animal stories for children, the natural history of animals, and adventurous accounts about hunting big game to sensational adult non-fiction topics such as a biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, sympathetic accounts of carnival performers and sideshow freaks, and works describing, among other things, the Hellfire Club, the Atlantic slave trade, the history of torture, and the Roman games. His output of essays and articles was extensive.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 29, 2013
This book contains no contents, chapter titles, or even an index so I'll write a brief overview of what it covers here.
Chapters 1-3: Earliest documented cases of torture in the Ancient world - beginning with the case of the Maccabees and their torture at the hands of the Syrians and ending with the Roman games (presumably drawing on Mannix's other book "Those about to Die").
Chapters 4-5: Early Christian era/Middle Ages. The rise of the Inquisition, and witch-hunting. Special attention is paid to the famous Torquenada.
Chapters 6-7: Examples from the later Middle Ages. Pays special attention to Nuremburg and Franz Schmidt. Also looks at "fake" devices like the Iron Maiden, apparently created solely for the vivid imaginations of tourists.
Chapters 8-11: The trials, torture, and executions of animals (yep!). England from the Tudor period up to about the early 18th century. Tower of London, the Tyburn hill executions, and the life of Jack Ketch (a famous executioner). Matthew Hopkins (the inspiration for the 60s horror film "Witchfinder General") is in here too and apparently had a fittingly ironic death.
Chapter 12: Growing strength of the abolition movement in the 19th century. The end of legal torture for heretic/witch trials. Man traps on private land and flogging in the navy.
Chapter 13-15: Exile as a form of punishment in the 19th century (e.g. to America and Australia). Methods of torture in the east (i.e. China, India, Turkey), the Americas (e.g. native Americans and Aztecs) and Pre-Colonial Africa (i.e. Benin, Kano).
Chapter 16: America. Slavery, lynching, and the "third degree" in the Old West (19th century).
Chapter 17: Nazi death camp at Dachau (20th century).
Chapter 18: Electricity as a torture device. Example of Lombilla in a prison in Argentina (20th century).
Chapter 19: Independence wars (i.e. Colonial Kenya and Algeria) and brainwashing in communist states (i.e. China and Russia).
Chapter 20: Conclusion begins by repeating specific examples that illuminate whether torture is a "deterrent" to crime, and ends by discussing the present day (in the 1960s that is) challenges of criminal rehabilitation and juvenile delinquency.
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Review
I find rating non-fiction difficult. I can't seem to rate them anything other than 4 stars. I'm not exactly knowledgeable to spot any factual errors either so I'm not really qualified to write a review like this.
But anyway! If you want an overview of different cultures that have used torture throughout history (with a focus on Europe) with a sociological bent, then this is your book! Serious academics beware however; this book lacks references and bibliography. That said, Mannix clearly knows his subject, and has done a ton of research. A few passages have the air of sensationalism about them and the level of detail drops as we reach the 20th century, but I was very impressed at the range of examples.
Despite being written in the 60s - which ordinarily might as well be the stone age for a work of popular history - this book delivers the historic and geographical sweep that the ambitious title promises. The best thing, however, is the question it asks:
Does torture act as a deterrent to crime? One thing this book proves to you; our ancestors definitely thought so.
Chapters 1-3: Earliest documented cases of torture in the Ancient world - beginning with the case of the Maccabees and their torture at the hands of the Syrians and ending with the Roman games (presumably drawing on Mannix's other book "Those about to Die").
Chapters 4-5: Early Christian era/Middle Ages. The rise of the Inquisition, and witch-hunting. Special attention is paid to the famous Torquenada.
Chapters 6-7: Examples from the later Middle Ages. Pays special attention to Nuremburg and Franz Schmidt. Also looks at "fake" devices like the Iron Maiden, apparently created solely for the vivid imaginations of tourists.
Chapters 8-11: The trials, torture, and executions of animals (yep!). England from the Tudor period up to about the early 18th century. Tower of London, the Tyburn hill executions, and the life of Jack Ketch (a famous executioner). Matthew Hopkins (the inspiration for the 60s horror film "Witchfinder General") is in here too and apparently had a fittingly ironic death.
Chapter 12: Growing strength of the abolition movement in the 19th century. The end of legal torture for heretic/witch trials. Man traps on private land and flogging in the navy.
Chapter 13-15: Exile as a form of punishment in the 19th century (e.g. to America and Australia). Methods of torture in the east (i.e. China, India, Turkey), the Americas (e.g. native Americans and Aztecs) and Pre-Colonial Africa (i.e. Benin, Kano).
Chapter 16: America. Slavery, lynching, and the "third degree" in the Old West (19th century).
Chapter 17: Nazi death camp at Dachau (20th century).
Chapter 18: Electricity as a torture device. Example of Lombilla in a prison in Argentina (20th century).
Chapter 19: Independence wars (i.e. Colonial Kenya and Algeria) and brainwashing in communist states (i.e. China and Russia).
Chapter 20: Conclusion begins by repeating specific examples that illuminate whether torture is a "deterrent" to crime, and ends by discussing the present day (in the 1960s that is) challenges of criminal rehabilitation and juvenile delinquency.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Review
I find rating non-fiction difficult. I can't seem to rate them anything other than 4 stars. I'm not exactly knowledgeable to spot any factual errors either so I'm not really qualified to write a review like this.
But anyway! If you want an overview of different cultures that have used torture throughout history (with a focus on Europe) with a sociological bent, then this is your book! Serious academics beware however; this book lacks references and bibliography. That said, Mannix clearly knows his subject, and has done a ton of research. A few passages have the air of sensationalism about them and the level of detail drops as we reach the 20th century, but I was very impressed at the range of examples.
Despite being written in the 60s - which ordinarily might as well be the stone age for a work of popular history - this book delivers the historic and geographical sweep that the ambitious title promises. The best thing, however, is the question it asks:
Does torture act as a deterrent to crime? One thing this book proves to you; our ancestors definitely thought so.
September 15, 2020
recommended to me in college by a psychopath whose name I can no longer remember and an invaluable resource that I WISH HAD A FUCKING INDEX FFFFFFF still 5 stars tho
January 30, 2021
So many innovative ideas! I wish I'd read this book at the beginning of the school holidays not end. Nm there is always next year.
December 3, 2025
I found this hard to rate. When I chose this book, I was expecting more information on the technical aspects of the actual devices or tools used to torture across history. While the book DID explain each method clearly and what tools were used, the book was primarily rather lengthy stories about specific individuals subjected to the tortures. There were more names and places to keep up with than I expected or would have wanted and it became dry at times. Some chapters were more interesting than others, some could have been shorter. I felt fatigued when I hit about 90-95% and was ready for it to be over. I also wasn’t expecting the book to be tied up with almost an essay format about the arguments for and against corporal punishment. After that, it ended rather abruptly. Really interesting subject matter, and by far not the worst you could do for a non-fiction read. Riddled with (maybe not so) fun facts to share with people who won’t think you’re a freak for reading about torture. Also strange — on kindle there were no page numbers so I wasn’t able to track my reading the way I prefer.
December 31, 2018
It was the worst of times, it was the most painful of times.
Great book to read during Christmas for that holiday cheer. :)
The book goes through much of the human history of torture and executions with just enough detail to impress upon you the darkness of humanity. For often public torture and executions were treated as entertainment the same way we treat Idol or got talent.
It shows the importance of a mixture of psychology and medical knowledge in general to better break a human mind. How the Inquisition has given us techniques that have been so popular even today like the water-boarding.
My only complaint about this book is that i wish it would give reference its sources better.
A good book to read if you want a glance at how far humanity has come when it comes to the value of life. And i mean that seriously, for life in our day and age is vastly different than say just 50 to a 100 years ago. And this book does much to show that.
Great book to read during Christmas for that holiday cheer. :)
The book goes through much of the human history of torture and executions with just enough detail to impress upon you the darkness of humanity. For often public torture and executions were treated as entertainment the same way we treat Idol or got talent.
It shows the importance of a mixture of psychology and medical knowledge in general to better break a human mind. How the Inquisition has given us techniques that have been so popular even today like the water-boarding.
My only complaint about this book is that i wish it would give reference its sources better.
A good book to read if you want a glance at how far humanity has come when it comes to the value of life. And i mean that seriously, for life in our day and age is vastly different than say just 50 to a 100 years ago. And this book does much to show that.
February 3, 2021
Amazing, eye opening read. The author approached the topic with great care for discussing things/methods that were used on actual people. He presented the information in a way that wasn’t designed to entertain and did not likewise dilute the horrific nature of those experiences for the readers comfort.
February 15, 2018
A survey of the actors and techniques, this is a popular work, not an academic study - there are no reference notes and bibliography. Nonetheless it is an excellent survey of its subject, from ancient times through the Middle Ages and into Modern Times.
August 27, 2021
Lurid but informative. Daniel Mannix is consistent!
August 22, 2010
In view that torture is still used in the USA and the world throughout, I set out to try to understand this inhumane practice. I could only read a couple of pages a week. It was a very devastating topic to read about. It has lowered my estimation of the human race. We are nothing more than animals if we sit back and accept that the FBI, CIA, terrorists and governments (legal terrorists) continue this practice. If someone has earned his elimination fron society then get rid of him or her. Everybody should read about the history of torture. You do not even know in your wildest imagination some of the techniques used. I was first exposed to this idea in the Cuban Missile Crisis during the 60s in Miami. Rumors that Castro was torturing people by the removal of their fingernails. This was a horrible thought for a young child to eaven hear about. What a disgusting world we live in.
August 31, 2010
Maine Township High School South in Park Ridge, Illinois had a student bookstore which posted its most popular books by sales figures on a regular basis. For quite some time The History of Torture was #1. At first I thought it rather deplorable. Eventually, following the herd, I bought and read it myself. While I recall some of the peculiar means of torture described in the text (such as rolling the victim down a hill in a barrel studded with nails), I don't recall much reflection or commentary on the part of the author. This may merely reflect my poor memory--or the fundamentally sensationalistic nature of the text.
December 22, 2014
As with any academic publication a comment should be made on how useful and informative it is. the history of torture is in my opinion an interesting starting point for further research however (and perhaps this is altered in later versions of the book) the book lacks a decent coherent story. the chapters often feel like a collection of real horror stories with little analytic value, fun to read but does one learn something extraordinary? Not very much.
Still as I said it remains a good book to start further reading in to the subject and for that 3 stars
Still as I said it remains a good book to start further reading in to the subject and for that 3 stars
March 26, 2010
This book is a general survey on torture techniques used throughout the ages and is not meant to be a scholarly work on Crime and Punishment. I found it to be informative on the methods that men have used to inflict pain on their fellow man; some of it is quite graphic. It is not exhaustive by any means.
November 5, 2007
This book is poorly set up. Where's my index? How will I figure out where the part on the Inquisition is, or the part on water torture used during the Salem Witch Trials?!? Still, it is informative. I'll give it that.
August 19, 2008
Don't mistake my 2 stars for it not being a good, informative book, but it's not something that I think many would "enjoy". Makes your skin crawl to read.
July 15, 2009
This book will show you just how low man can sink. People spend all of their time to devise ways to harm other people.
October 11, 2010
Pretty gruesome, but extremely educational.
September 21, 2011
Torture has been used by many cultures throughout history. This work examines several different methods.
January 27, 2017
read during fall 1969
Read
May 25, 2012I lucked out and found the 1964 paperback of this in a box at a flea market.
May 1, 2017
Just remembered that I read this back in high school. Found it interesting at that time--a compelling look at institutionalized inhumanity through the ages. I did, however, discover an antihero upon whom I've reflected at various points in my life: the hopelessly incompetent executioner, Jack Ketch.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews