I read a book last year that was the most challenging book I’ve read. Not because it was hard to follow; it was because it documents evil people and some of their acts. I even skipped chapters.
Since my kids were born, I’ve been preparing to protect them as best as possible and equip them to defend themselves. Part of that is knowledge—knowing your enemy.
This book told me all I needed to know and more than I wanted to know about this particular subset of humanity.
Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, And Other Sex Offenders by Anna Salter
“What motivates sexual abusers? Why are so few caught? Drawing on the stories of abusers, Anna C. Salter shows that sexual predators use sophisticated deception techniques and rely on misconceptions surrounding them to evade discovery. Arguing that even the most knowledgeable among us can be fooled, Salter dispels the myths about sexual predators and gives us the tools to protect our families and ourselves.”
In the wake of #MeToo, #ChurchToo, and predatory teachers, I want to be prepared.
I’ll give you the chapter titles. It’s usually those that get me to buy a book.
- The Problem
- Deception
- Techniques of Deception
- Child Molesters
- Rapists
- Sadists (skipped that chapter)
- Psychopaths: Fooling People for the Thrill of It
- Staff Seductions
- Rose-Colored Glasses and Trauma
- Detecting Deception
- Protecting Our Children and Ourselves: Deflecting Sex Offenders
John Lovell of the Warrior Poet Society had it on his books-to-read list. I have kids, and I work security in the children’s area at church every Sunday.
I want to spot the wolves because one thing I’ve learned is they get away with a lot before they’re caught.
A few takeaways are:
It’s usually someone your kid is around a lot.
Kids with uninvolved parents are targeted.
Rapists are usually someone you know.
Anyone could be a predator; don’t be optimistic that it never could happen.
You can be fooled.
This book is disgusting, yet necessary. The predators documented inside make me wonder why God hasn’t rained lightning down.
If you’re a parent or work with kids, read it. We can’t look away at evil because it disgusts us if we want to protect the kids from evil.
A Ronin's Journey 