Conversations With a Pedophile is a landmark book: it is the first time the uncensored voice of a pedophile can be heard. Presented are a series of letters spanning a decade written by sex offender “Alan” to author Dr. Amy Hammel-Zabin, a therapist in the prison where he was incarcerated. Confessing that he had sexually abused more than one thousand boys, his first-hand stories are a compelling argument that the danger of the pedophile does not lurk mysteriously in the dark; rather, it is a very real threat in your neighborhood. Throughout the book, Dr. Hammel-Zabin offers her own expert analysis of Alan’s letters. As both a trained therapist and a victim of childhood sexual abuse herself, she is uniquely qualified to articulate the development, maintenance and sorrowful impacts of pedophilia. It is in the interest of our children that we listen so that we can better understand and prevent this horrendous crime.
