Exposing Torture: Centuries of Cruelty

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

This slim, informative volume offers a solid overview of historical and current uses of torture in a variety of societies, examples of specific torture techniques, and chronicles the philosophical underpinnings of the unified social movement that condemns it, eventually explaining how the Geneva Convention came to be. Also provided are examples of arguments for and against the continued use of torture -- or its euphemism "enhanced interrogation" -- in the context of counter-terrorism. Finally a short section at the end lays out some ideas for readers to consider in forming their own critical view on the subject. Marcovitz employs a matter-of-fact tone in discussing this grim subject and doesn't shy away from including accounts of torture occurring in both developing and developed countries, including the United States. Photos and images are interspersed throughout and while some are certainly troubling -- an image of a hooded prisoner at Abu Ghraib, a spiked chair used to torture Medieval prisoners -- none depict graphic violence. Extensive back matter, including a glossary, lengthy bibliography, list of source notes and an index make this an excellent resource for upper middle and high school students.

Overall Book Score: very good