What Makes a Murderer: Dr. Bernard Glueck’s Psychological Evaluations

historyanalysisNLM Circulating Now1924 · Chicago, USA

What Makes a Murderer: Dr. Bernard Glueck’s Psychological Evaluations

the gist

In 1924 two wealthy Chicago teenagers, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, murdered a neighborhood boy for the thrill of getting away with it, and their lives were saved partly by a psychiatrist's report. Bernard Glueck, a leading criminal psychiatrist, evaluated both men for their lawyer Clarence Darrow, arguing that they were psychologically damaged rather than simply evil. The reports traced their crime to feelings of inferiority and to fantasies that had taken over their judgment. Because they had already pleaded guilty, insanity could not be formally used, but the psychiatric evidence helped the court spare them from execution, and they received life sentences.

so what

The case showed how early twentieth-century courts were beginning to weigh psychological explanations when deciding punishment, a shift that still shapes debates about responsibility and sentencing. Glueck's archive at the National Library of Medicine preserves how forensic psychiatry was practised before modern diagnostic standards existed.

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.