Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream by Robert I. Simon Summary
Overview of Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream
Renowned psychiatrist Robert Simon reveals how our darkest impulses connect us to society's most violent offenders. This forensic masterpiece - endorsed by Harvard's top psychiatric minds - shatters the comforting myth that monsters exist separate from ourselves. What dangerous dreams lurk in your mind tonight?
Similar books to Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
The Darkness Within Us All
What separates a serial killer from an ordinary citizen? According to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Robert Simon, the answer is disturbingly thin. His groundbreaking work reveals that the darkest human behaviors are extreme expressions of impulses we all harbor. The comfortable notion that "bad people" are fundamentally different from "good people" is a dangerous fiction. This denial fuels prejudice, discrimination, and even genocide by destroying empathy. Throughout history, from ancient myths to modern literature, we've been confronted with our darker nature. We're simultaneously frightened and fascinated by this darkness-millions consume violent media, with the average American viewing 250,000 acts of violence on television by age 18. Who hasn't wished, in moments of frustration, to eliminate rivals or obstacles with impunity? The difference between "bad" and "good" people isn't kind but degree-and crucially, the ability to translate dark impulses into actions. Even the Dalai Lama acknowledges experiencing sexual and violent impulses in his dreams. Our antisocial tendencies emerge opportunistically-consider the looting after natural disasters or the prevalence of tax fraud. This isn't the work of inherently evil people but of "normal" individuals whose behavior changes under certain circumstances. We must recognize that we all contain both good and bad, like a complex rope of intertwining psychological strands. Rather than projecting violence onto "them," we must acknowledge our own demons and learn to control them.
Inside the Predatory Mind
The Psychology of Sexual Violence
The Terrorism of Stalking
When Trust Is Violated
The Ultimate Predators
The Power of Empathy
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream Summary in 10 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 8 Insights from Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream in a Nutshell
Distill Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream Lessons Told Through 24-Min Stories
Experience Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Bad Men Do what Good Men Dream summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.