Rewiring Our Morality

What goes on in the mind of a murderer? Neuroscientist Daniel Reisel set out to find the answer, venturing behind the heavy metal doors of London’s most notorious prison and into the microscopic world revealed by an MRI machine. In this compassionate and insightful book, Reisel describes how empathy evolves in every child’s brain, and how early traumatic experiences can distort its development. During his journey, Reisel unveils a powerful discovery: Even hardened criminals can change, right down to their neurons. Understanding this, Reisel argues that we must shift to a restorative form of justice — one that allows both victim and perpetrator a chance to heal, instead of the current punitive system that only perpetuates a cycle of crime. Our safety — and our humanity — depend on it.