On Killing

"On Killing," by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, explores the psychological and physiological effects of killing in warfare. It examines how soldiers are conditioned and prepared to overcome natural instincts of self-preservation, often through training and psychological barriers. The book discusses factors like desensitization, moral challenges, and the emotional impact of taking lives. Grossman aims to understand the complex responses of humans to combat, emphasizing that killing can be traumatic even for trained soldiers, and highlights the importance of understanding these effects for both military training and mental health support.