A Brief History of Criminal Profiling is the third book in the series Student Guides Simplified. It is written by best-selling author David Elio Malocco (Forensic Science : Crime Scene Analysis; Criminal Profiling: An Introduction; Psychotherapy: The Top 50 Theories and Theorists; A Brief History of Criminal Profiling; and Psychotherapy: Approaches and Theories)The book is a simple and uncomplicated introduction to the history and evolution of Criminal Profiling. It provides a basic understanding and summary of the development of profiling. The book is principally aimed at first year criminology and forensic science students, students thinking about taking these courses as a major or anyone interested in reading about criminal profiling from its inception in 1486 throughout the centuries.It begins with an overview of criminal profiling, its aims and the various definitions and the approaches involved. It then deals with the development of profiling which begun in 1486 with the publication of Malleus Maleficarum, a diatribe on how to identify witches. It also covers the Salem Witch Trials. Then in 1876 an Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso published the then highly influential L'uomo delinquente (The Criminal Man) and claimed to be able to identify criminals by virtue of their physical appearance. The author discusses the influence of other criminologists including Franz Joseph Gall, Enrico Ferri, Gerald Fosbroke, Franz Von Liszt, Ludwig Fuld, Abraham Baer, Paul Nacke and others.The birth of Forensic Science is also covered in a separate chapter and the influence of Hans Gross and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is discussed in detail. Profiling was later dealt with by medical practitioners and eventually psychiatrists like Dr. James Brussel before the FBI brought their influence to bear.As with all Student Guides Simplified books it is entertaining and very readable with everything explained in a simple manner so the reader doesn't feel drowned by complicated theories or high brow discussions on esoteric topics which they don't feel are properly defined. The book is ideal as a reference for existing students and provides a comprehensive evolution of all major events in the development of profiling. Some students will use it as a stand-alone text as it provides the basis for all major essays that a first year criminology or forensic science student might be asked to undertake.A special feature is the chapter on crime scene analysis which anyone with an interest in crime will find fascinating. As with all Students Guides Simplified books it is short, to the point, easy to read and understand , packed with all kinds of interesting information and inexpensive to purchase. Enjoy!