Fascinated by the innate criminality of the human species, I went through my favorite bookstores in Zagreb in search of the literature in English that explores the roots of criminal behavior in its untold forms. I browsed through the available books in philosophy, legal studies, economics, sociology, and psychology. And the best I could find was Ian Leslie’s Born Liars: Why We Can’t Live Without Deceit.[1] A writer of popular books, the author argues that far from being a bug in the human software, lying is central to who we are. Crammed with gripping stories, the book is a disappointment nonetheless. What I was looking for was a book with a bit more daunting title−say, Born Robbers or Born Murderers. Better still, Born Criminals. But such a book is nowhere to be found. Not yet. It would follow the development of the human species from its primate origins, wretched as they undoubtedly are, through its bloody tribal meanderings, to the monopolization of crime by increasingly powerful rulers propped up by their religious helpers. For crime and sin go well together. Perfectly, as a matter of fact. Only the most powerful among humans are free to indulge in both with impunity. Anyway, my only recompense for the time being is the title of the book I am after.

Footnote

1. London: Quercus, 2011.