Finalist for the 2021 Montaigne Medal, Eric Hoffer Awards

Instead of the epic, alien force of our imagination, anthropologist Monique Layton argues that evil is intrinsic to our humanity, constantly evolving with modern notions of morality.

Much of the world's suffering, she argues, can be traced back to the individual actions of ordinary people trying — and failing — to maintain a static social order.

Drawing on anthropology, history, philosophy and popular culture, Layton provides a new lens through which to view contemporary issues, establishing connections between such disparate phenomena as:

• medieval law enforcement and the Trump Baby balloon,
• the Salem witch trials and female genital mutilation,
• body-snatching and surrogacy,
• slavery and fast fashion.

Monique Layton
is the former Associate Director of the Centre for Distance Education (Criminology Programs) at Simon Fraser University and resides in Vancouver. She was raised in North Africa and educated in France and Britain. After moving to Canada, she obtained degrees in comparative literature (MA) and cultural anthropology (PhD).

Monique Layton's profile page

• Runner-up, Montaigne Medal, Eric Hoffer Awards

"Everyday Evil: Why Our World is the Way It Is will reach social issues and philosophy readers alike with a multifaceted blend of history and contemporary inspection. It seeks to identify and trace elements of evil, from ancient to modern times. . . The result is highly recommended reading for students of history, sociology, philosophy, and psychology. Everyday Evil also promises to reach beyond these scholarly circles to general-interest readers with a special concern about the interpretation and broad modern applications of evil's presence in everyday life, offering much food for thought and discussion."
— Midwest Book Review

"Everyday Evil: Why Our World is the Way It Is considers modern social issues and historical precedent, linking the two with discussions that delve into social values, moral considerations, and the events that have reinforced or changed both over the course of human history. . . Anthropology, history, psychology, and social issues students alike, as well as many a general-interest reader who enjoys facets and intersections of all four disciplines, will find Everyday Evil: Why Our World is the Way It Is an outstanding consideration of how the world got to where it is today—and where it may be heading."
— Donovans Literary Services

"Anthropology, history, psychology, and social issues students alike, as well as many a general-interest reader who enjoys facets and intersections of all four disciplines, will find Everyday Evil: Why Our World Is the Way It Is an outstanding consideration of how the world got to where it is today – and where it may be heading." DIANE DONOVAN, Midwest Book Review

"With remarkable detail and a wide breadth of examples Monique Layton has engineered an assault on our too-often thoughtless innocence. Her analysis ranges from Genesis, through the philosophy of classical and modern writers to the Sneetches of Dr. Seuss, from the work of historians and journalists to editorials and documentary films." ELVI WHITTAKER