I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined)

 Shirley J.                Adult Non-Fiction               Klosterman quote: Villains know more but care less

I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined) by Chuck Klosterman    256 pages

I really, really, liked this book.   Klosterman, known as the Ethicist for the New York Times Magazine, brings to light a number of villains throughout history ( Machiavelli, Hitler, etc.) throws in some contemporary villainized souls (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc.) and stirs in a few fictional controversial characters (Batman, Snidely Whiplash, etc.) for a potpourri of discussions on the villainous reputations each have acquired and why they are perceived as such, what may have influenced their behaviors and whether or not they are super geniuses who know more than the rest of us do but simply care less about others in their day to day workings of serial killing, lying to the public, or being a little manic in their over the top acts.   He puts so much thought into each of the villains discussed and shares his vast knowledge in such a captivating way that you will only want to hear more of what he has to say.   I think this will not be a book kids would necessarily like, possibly not highschoolers either, but certainly it will open the minds of first year college students and give food for thought for a dissertation that would be both compelling and entertaining.   I give this one 2 thumbs up.  I think 20 somethings on up will get a kick out of it.