The Man Who Shocked the World: The Life and Legacy of Stanley Milgram

Stanley Milgram was one of the most innovative scientists of our time. Creator of the famous Obedience Experiments carried out at Yale in the early 1960s, and originator of the six degrees of separation theory, Milgram continues to be an intriguing figure in psychology and beyond. In this sparkling biography - the first in-depth portrait of Milgram - Thomas Blass captures the colourful exploits and pioneering work of an experimental psychologist who profoundly altered the way we think about human nature. Milgram's experiments, which confirmed that normal people would readily inflict pain on innocent victims at the behest of an authority figure, generated a firestorm of public interest and outrage - proving, as they did, that moral beliefs were far more malleable than previously thought. But he also explored other aspects of social psychology, from information overload to television violence. His work continues to shape the way we live, think, and conduct research today. Blass offers a brilliant portrait of a flamboyant, visionary scientist who revealed the hidden workings of our very social world. In this new paperback edition, Blass offers an after-word connecting Milgram's research to recent events including war crimes, interrogation techniques, and more.