The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers Rampage Shooters and Other Self-Destructive Killers

The Myth of Martyrdom presents a startling look at the deepest darkest secrets that terrorists pray youll never know.. For decades experts from the most powerful governments and prestigious universities around the world have told us that suicide bombers are psychologically normal men and women driven by a single-minded purpose: self-sacrifice. As it turns out this claim originated with the terrorist leaders themselves who insisted that they would never recruit mentally unstable people to carry out suicide attacks. As these strikes have become both increasingly common and increasingly deadly no one has challenged this conventional wisdom. These are fearless ideological warriors were told who have the same resolve and commitment to their beliefs as our own Navy SEALs because theyre willing to die for the sake of their cause.. In The Myth of Martyrdom Adam Lankford argues that these so-called experts have it all wrong. The truth is that most suicide terrorists are like any other suicidal person―longing to escape from unbearable pain be it depression anxiety marital strife or professional failure. Their martyrdom is essentially a cover for an underlying death wish. Drawing on an array of primary sources including suicide notes love letters diary entries and martyrdom videos Lankford reveals the important parallels that exist between suicide bombers airplane hijackers cult members and rampage shooters. The result is an astonishing account of rage and shame that will transform the way we think of terrorism forever.. We cant hope to stop these deadly attacks Lankford argues until we understand whats really behind them. This timely and provocative book flips a decades-old argument on its head―and has huge implications for our future.