Thinking Critically: Video Games and Violence

“Controversy over video game violence is ongoing, and based on statistics about game play, it is a topic that is relevant to most Americans.” This book provides a balanced look at the debate. Each chapter is organized around a specific question—for example, “Are Video Games a Cause of Mass Shootings?” The discussion starts off with bullet point summaries of the pro and con positions as well as things to keep in mind while reading. Short essays argue both sides, seamlessly interweaving news reports, anecdotes, and academic studies. Numerous charts and pulled quotes provide visual interest. For careful readers, the benefits of the book’s pro/con structure are three-fold: a deeper understanding of the topic, a greater appreciation for the complexity that accompanies such hot-button issues, and a better sense of how to build an argument, even in the face of contradictory research. Extensive back matter includes source notes, a review of relevant facts, a list of organizations and Web sites involved in the debate, text and Internet suggestions for further research, and an index.