Description

Why do people hate? A world-leading criminologist explores the tipping point between prejudice and hate crime, analysing human behaviour across the globe and throughout history in this vital book.

‘This should be on the curriculum. A must read.’ DR JULIE SMITH
‘A key text for how we live now.’ DAVID BADDIEL
‘Wildly engrossing.’ DARREN MCGARVEY
‘This is a world-changing book.’ ALICE ROBERTS
‘Fascinating and moving.’ PRAGYA AGARWAL

Are our brains wired to hate? Is social media to blame for an increase in hateful abuse? With hate on the rise, what can we do to turn the tide? Drawing on twenty years of pioneering research – as well as his own experience as a hate-crime victim – world-renowned criminologist Matthew Williams explores one of the pressing issues of our age.

Surveying human behaviour across the globe and reaching back through time, from our tribal ancestors in prehistory to artificial intelligence in the twenty-first century, The Science of Hate is a groundbreaking and surprising examination of the elusive ‘tipping point’ between prejudice and hate.

‘Hate speech online has escalated to unprecedented levels. Matthew Williams, a professor of criminology, is shining a scientific light on who is behind it and why . . . a rallying cry.’
OBSERVER

‘Fascinating and beautifully written. I heartily recommend it.’
HUGO RIFKIND, TIMES RADIO

‘Fascinating . . . A harrowing but illuminating work.’
EVENING STANDARD

‘An indispensable guide to what’s gone wrong both here at home and in much of the Western world.’
THE HERALD

Publisher Review

;An important read, combining an expert use of data with moving, personal storytelling. A key text for how we live now.' - David Baddiel 'A truly insightful book that can help us all understand why hate can overpower us. It is wise, disarming, persuasive and compassionate.' - Robin Ince 'Powerful. This is a world-changing book . . . From personal histories to broader social patterns, from individual criminal cases to the latest neuroscience and psychology, Matthew Williams' brilliant forensic dissection of hate reveals its insidious power - but also its weaknesses. This book is not just about how and why hate happens - it's about how to combat it.' - Alice Roberts 'This is an incredibly powerful, important and valuable book on what causes hate and how we can help prevent and defeat it.' - Peter Tatchell 'Fascinating . . . meticulously researched . . . written in a really accessible manner . . . expansive in approach and supplemented with so many real-world case studies. This is a really key contribution to our understanding of the divides in our society, and how these can perhaps be repaired.' - Dr Pragya Agarwal 'Williams is masterful at making this complex topic accessible, so we can all better understand hate and the dark side of human behaviour and finally, start to tackle it.' - Nova Reid