The Bearded Trio

Dark Side of the Mind: Star Wars Psychology is a collection of essays, edited by Travis Langley, that seek to explore the motivations behind the iconic characters of the Star Wars Saga. It also looks at why we are drawn to those characters and what that could possibly say about us. The essays presented are written by those qualified to make such analyses, whether because of their professional credentials, or their deep connection to all things Star Wars . It’s very much ‘by the fans, for the fans.’ The book itself is divided into five major sections: Tales, Kinds, Journeys, Paths, and Awakenings. Each section is then broken down into examinations of the major theme. For example, the essays that fall under “Paths” include “Explaining the Empire: Why Good People Do Bad Things” and “Lando’s Choice: Anatomy of a Moral Dilemma.” They look at the paths chosen by certain characters (or entities, in the case of the Empire), and the consequences of those choices. I foun...