Conversations With a Pedophile is a landmark book. It is the first time the uncensored voice of a pedophile will be heard. Amy Hammel-Zabin met the man called "Alan" while working as a music therapist in the prison where he was incarcerated. She was the first therapist to whom he would actually respond. "Alan" opened up to her, confessing that he had sexually abused hundreds. Though he will spend the rest of his life in prison, Alan with Dr. Hammel-Zabin's help, decided he wanted to make constructive amends. This book contains a series of letters to the author in which "Alan" explains how the mind of a pedophile works. In an effort to help parents protect their children from predators such as himself, Alan carefully describes how he selected and preyed on his victims. He fortifies the reader on the ways to spot early warning alarms. He proves that the danger of pedophilia does not come from the stranger in the street offering gifts of candy. It's the nice boy next door, the distant relative, the sweet baby-sitter. It is also shown that our churches aren't safe havens. Nor are our schools or our Scout troops. Throughout the book, Dr. Hammel-Zabin offers her expert analysis on "Alan's" letters. She is uniquely qualified because she is both a trained therapist and a victim of sexual abuse herself. Throughout, Zabin compares the motivation and perseverance of the abuser "Alan," with her story: that of the abused. Nothing like this has ever appeared in print before. It is a book of tremendous value to all parents and child caregivers.