Words on Ice
Stephen Schneider isn’t worried about getting “whacked” anytime soon.
“No, although I must admit that the thought does cross my mind every now and again,” laughs the Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. “Still, my thinking is that if I can keep studying and gaining a better understanding of the criminal mind, then at the very least I will know when, where and how I am going to get whacked.”
Schneider’s good-natured humour might only be overshadowed by his obsession with the criminal mentality. Widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost researchers and educators in the field of organized crime, the Halifax native has conducted a number of top-secret studies on the subject for the federal government and regularly analyzes police case files, affidavits, wiretap transcripts and classified documents.
“It is a passion as much as it is a profession,” he acknowledges. “And it is one that I have had for as long as I can remember.”
That fervour is obvious both in person and in his writing. Along with his regular contributions to an array of field-related publications, Schneider also co-authored the 2007 book Money Laundering in Canada; Chasing Dangerous and Dirty Dollars.
His enthusiasm is also evident in his latest work, Iced; The Story of Organized Crime in Canada. “This is a book that I had wanted to write for a long time,” he confesses.
And while he is quick to suggest that the 600 page tome was not designed to be the definitive and authoritative volume on the subject, it quickly becomes clear that the author has done his homework.
Filled with fascinating facts, surprising statistics and newspaper clippings, and peppered with many graphic photographs and illustrations, Iced is a stirring collage of sensational stories that will captivate readers from cover to cover.
“I put the book together that way on purpose,” explains Schneider. “It would have been all too easy for it to come across as being overly-academic. Instead, I tried to create something that was both informative and entertaining at the same time, and something that could be enjoyed either by an expert in the field or your average, everyday person.”
So far, it would appear that the book’s topic has hit the target with both readers and critics. “The early response has been very, very positive,” he nods. “Mostly what I am hearing back from people is a mixture of surprise and shock when they learn that these kinds of illicit and illegal activities have been happening in a country like ours for many years, are still happening today and will likely continue to keep happening for the foreseeable future.”
He points out that the traditional perception that we have of ourselves here at home - that we are a kind and law-abiding people and a shining example to the rest of the world – is perhaps a little exaggerated. “For the most part, I believe that perspective to be fairly accurate with regard to the majority of our population.
“However, we are not exempt from our share of sin,” he continues, citing several examples from the book of both blue and white collar crimes that cross eras and geography. “In fact, most Atlantic Canadians could likely find an ancestor or two that was involved with criminal activity down here at some point, perhaps even going all the way back to the days of pirating.
“Hey - the reality is that where there is human nature there is bound to be plenty of temptation.”
Schneider adds that it was his desire to better understand that underlying drive for influence - what the controversial German philosopher and writer Friedrich Nietzsche once coined The Will to Power - that inspired him to write the book and continues to motivate his ongoing research.
“Beneath the surface of all of these stories, behind all the facts and figures and statistics, are human beings doing what they do best and that is to sway back and forth between the polarities of right and wrong,” he notes. “We all do it to some degree in our daily lives, but some individuals are driven to push those moral limits and explore their dark sides more than others. Those are the ones that really fascinate me – the ones that do the whacking.”
“No, although I must admit that the thought does cross my mind every now and again,” laughs the Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. “Still, my thinking is that if I can keep studying and gaining a better understanding of the criminal mind, then at the very least I will know when, where and how I am going to get whacked.”
Schneider’s good-natured humour might only be overshadowed by his obsession with the criminal mentality. Widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost researchers and educators in the field of organized crime, the Halifax native has conducted a number of top-secret studies on the subject for the federal government and regularly analyzes police case files, affidavits, wiretap transcripts and classified documents.
“It is a passion as much as it is a profession,” he acknowledges. “And it is one that I have had for as long as I can remember.”
That fervour is obvious both in person and in his writing. Along with his regular contributions to an array of field-related publications, Schneider also co-authored the 2007 book Money Laundering in Canada; Chasing Dangerous and Dirty Dollars.
His enthusiasm is also evident in his latest work, Iced; The Story of Organized Crime in Canada. “This is a book that I had wanted to write for a long time,” he confesses.
And while he is quick to suggest that the 600 page tome was not designed to be the definitive and authoritative volume on the subject, it quickly becomes clear that the author has done his homework.
Filled with fascinating facts, surprising statistics and newspaper clippings, and peppered with many graphic photographs and illustrations, Iced is a stirring collage of sensational stories that will captivate readers from cover to cover.
“I put the book together that way on purpose,” explains Schneider. “It would have been all too easy for it to come across as being overly-academic. Instead, I tried to create something that was both informative and entertaining at the same time, and something that could be enjoyed either by an expert in the field or your average, everyday person.”
So far, it would appear that the book’s topic has hit the target with both readers and critics. “The early response has been very, very positive,” he nods. “Mostly what I am hearing back from people is a mixture of surprise and shock when they learn that these kinds of illicit and illegal activities have been happening in a country like ours for many years, are still happening today and will likely continue to keep happening for the foreseeable future.”
He points out that the traditional perception that we have of ourselves here at home - that we are a kind and law-abiding people and a shining example to the rest of the world – is perhaps a little exaggerated. “For the most part, I believe that perspective to be fairly accurate with regard to the majority of our population.
“However, we are not exempt from our share of sin,” he continues, citing several examples from the book of both blue and white collar crimes that cross eras and geography. “In fact, most Atlantic Canadians could likely find an ancestor or two that was involved with criminal activity down here at some point, perhaps even going all the way back to the days of pirating.
“Hey - the reality is that where there is human nature there is bound to be plenty of temptation.”
Schneider adds that it was his desire to better understand that underlying drive for influence - what the controversial German philosopher and writer Friedrich Nietzsche once coined The Will to Power - that inspired him to write the book and continues to motivate his ongoing research.
“Beneath the surface of all of these stories, behind all the facts and figures and statistics, are human beings doing what they do best and that is to sway back and forth between the polarities of right and wrong,” he notes. “We all do it to some degree in our daily lives, but some individuals are driven to push those moral limits and explore their dark sides more than others. Those are the ones that really fascinate me – the ones that do the whacking.”
posted by stephen patrick clare at
7:06 PM
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home