📖 Overview
Power, Control and Domestic Abuse examines the dynamics of intimate partner violence through research and firsthand accounts. Author Jess Hill spent four years investigating domestic abuse across different communities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The book moves between personal stories of survivors and perpetrators to broader analysis of systems that enable abuse. Hill explores law enforcement responses, family court proceedings, and cultural attitudes that impact how society handles domestic violence.
The work draws from psychology, criminology, and sociology to explain patterns of coercive control and cycles of abuse. Interviews with experts and frontline workers provide insight into intervention strategies and support services.
This examination of domestic abuse challenges common assumptions about why violence occurs and what keeps victims trapped. The book frames intimate partner abuse as a societal problem requiring collective action rather than just an individual or family issue.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Jess Hill's overall work:
Readers praise Hill's thorough research and clear explanation of complex domestic violence issues in "See What You Made Me Do." Many reviews note the book's impact on their understanding of abuse patterns and systemic failures.
What readers liked:
- Detailed case studies and real examples
- Clear breakdown of abuse tactics and warning signs
- Balance of personal stories with data and research
- Practical suggestions for policy reform
What readers disliked:
- Content can be emotionally difficult to read
- Some found certain sections repetitive
- A few readers wanted more solutions-focused content
Ratings across platforms:
- Goodreads: 4.58/5 from 2,800+ ratings
- Amazon: 4.7/5 from 300+ reviews
- Book Depository: 4.5/5
Reader quote: "This book should be mandatory reading for police, judges, and social workers" appears frequently in reviews. Multiple readers described the book as "life-changing" in understanding domestic abuse dynamics.
Note: Review data primarily focuses on "See What You Made Me Do" as Hill's most reviewed work.
📚 Similar books
Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft
This book examines the mindset of abusive men and the tactics they use to maintain control through interviews with abusers and survivors.
No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder The book reveals the patterns and systems that perpetuate domestic violence through research, case studies, and interviews with victims, abusers, and experts.
See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill The work investigates coercive control and domestic abuse through interviews with perpetrators, survivors, and experts while examining societal structures that enable abuse.
Coercive Control by Evan Stark The text presents research on how domestic abuse operates as a strategy of control beyond physical violence through analysis of hundreds of cases.
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker The book explores patterns of violent behavior and control through case studies and analysis of predatory tactics used by abusers.
No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder The book reveals the patterns and systems that perpetuate domestic violence through research, case studies, and interviews with victims, abusers, and experts.
See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill The work investigates coercive control and domestic abuse through interviews with perpetrators, survivors, and experts while examining societal structures that enable abuse.
Coercive Control by Evan Stark The text presents research on how domestic abuse operates as a strategy of control beyond physical violence through analysis of hundreds of cases.
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker The book explores patterns of violent behavior and control through case studies and analysis of predatory tactics used by abusers.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 Jess Hill spent four years investigating domestic abuse in Australia, conducting hundreds of interviews with survivors, perpetrators, and experts.
🏆 The book won Australia's most prestigious literary prize, the Stella Prize, in 2020—making it one of the few non-fiction works to receive this honor.
⚖️ Hill's research revealed that domestic abuse costs the Australian economy approximately $22 billion annually, yet prevention programs receive minimal funding compared to the scale of the problem.
🔍 The author challenges common misconceptions about abuse, showing that it occurs across all socioeconomic levels and that perpetrators often maintain respectable public personas while being abusive in private.
💡 The book explores how coercive control—a pattern of dominating behaviors—is often more psychologically damaging than physical violence and has led to law reforms in several countries.