A thought-provoking and engaging look at one of the oldest questions in morality and law--what is the point of punishment? With advances in the biological study of human nature, increased awareness of long-term historical progress in our attitudes toward retribution, and new concerns about incarceration practices, this an especially timely and important book.
-Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Enlightenment Now
This is a work of exceptional scholarship from an active trial judge who has combined his experiences on the bench with a remarkable review and analysis of how punishment decisions have evolved historically.
-Marcus Raichle, Professor of Neurology, Washington University, and winner of 2014 Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize
Judge Hoffman offers an insightful and surprising analysis of punishment and who decides on it, why, and how.
-Lionel Tiger, Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology Emeritus, Rutgers University, and author of Men in Groups, The Imperial Animal, Women in the Kibbutz, The Decline of Males, The Pursuit of Pleasure, and God's Brain
Using cases from Judge Hoffman's courtroom and the latest scientific findings, this riveting book provides a rich evolutionary explanation not only for good and evil, but also for our fascination with courts and criminals. The Punisher's Brain is a must-read for anyone interested in crime and punishment and why societies flourish or fail.
-Paul Zak, Professor of Economics, founding director of the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies at Claremont Graduate University, and author of The Moral Molecule, The Trust Factor, and Immersion
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