Customer Reviews

Defending Ourselves: A Guide to Prevention, Self-Defense, and Recovery from Rape

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Much information with regards to what to expect after an assault, from emotional reactions to the legal system. I agree wholeheartedly with the author's feelings on the subjects of date rape and the problems caused by extreme feminist views on the subject. However, the section on guns contained many errors which worked to destroy some of the book's credibility (one wonders, if the author is this ill-informed with regards to guns, how accurate is the rest of her information?) Specifically, she states that a revolver has intrinsic safety features, such as the capacity for being stored half cocked, so the firing pin is not in contact with the cartridge (which she mistakenly refers to as a bullet). It is far easier for the firing pin to strike the cartridge when the gun is cocked or half-cocked, than when it is uncocked with the firing pin resting on the cartridge. Many modern double action revolvers cannot be half-cocked. Some single action revolvers can be half-cocked and the mfgs caution users NOT to leave them in a half-cocked position. Half cocked is anything but safe. When she speaks of the distance a bullet can travel (one mile) and the ability to penetrate walls, she does not specify handgun v. rifle, which makes a huge difference. Nor does she discuss the use of defense handgun ammunition which has great stopping power when it hits flesh but does not penetrate walls. Her shotgun discussion is equally off-base and dangerous. She advises loading with buckshot which she states has much stopping power but will not penetrate walls. Yes, buckshot has a lot of stopping power. If she thinks it doesn't penetrate walls, I suggest she load a shotgun with buckshot and fire it at a sheet of drywall, and then rewrite her section on firearms or better yet, omit it altogether and refer her readers to well written, accurate firearm defense books or classes.

As a self defense instructor I am always looking for new sources of information on effective methods. Defending Ourselves teaches methods that I feel are more appropriate in the dojo than on the street. The section on firearms contains many errors and over simplifications. The author should have made an effort to consult an expert on the topic or eliminated the section altogether. The book encourages women to take responsiblity for their own safety and well being. Something I agree with completely.

This book is little more than a rehashing of other works written by someone who apparently thinks she has something special to offer - she does not! While her book does offer some practical post rape advice, the safety and self defense sections are full of errors; it reads like someone who took a few classes but lacks the voice of real experience. Her self defense advice reads like pseudo-feminist exercise lessons. No where does she even address the intensity of fear or how violent real attacks can be, or even the most basic martial concepts of speed and power - the might and force it takes to repel or incapacitate a comitted attacker. All in all, Wiseman's book has a juvenille, rich girl feeling - certainly not grounded in streetwise reality. My best advice to her is to stay on the pretty college campuses - and stay off the mean streets.

Much information with regards to what to expect after an assault, from emotional reactions to the legal system. I agree wholeheartedly with the author's feelings on the subjects of date rape and the problems caused by extreme feminist views on the subject. However, the section on guns contained many errors which worked to destroy some of the book's credibility (one wonders, if the author is this ill-informed with regards to guns, how accurate is the rest of her information?) Specifically, she states that a revolver has intrinsic safety features, such as the capacity for being stored half cocked, so the firing pin is not in contact with the cartridge (which she mistakenly refers to as a bullet). It is far easier for the firing pin to strike the cartridge when the gun is cocked or half-cocked, than when it is uncocked with the firing pin resting on the cartridge. Many modern double action revolvers cannot be half-cocked. Some single action revolvers can be half-cocked and the mfgs caution users NOT to leave them in a half-cocked position. Half cocked is anything but safe. When she speaks of the distance a bullet can travel (one mile) and the ability to penetrate walls, she does not specify handgun v. rifle, which makes a huge difference. Nor does she discuss the use of defense handgun ammunition which has great stopping power when it hits flesh but does not penetrate walls. Her shotgun discussion is equally off-base and dangerous. She advises loading with buckshot which she states has much stopping power but will not penetrate walls. Yes, buckshot has a lot of stopping power. If she thinks it doesn't penetrate walls, I suggest she load a shotgun with buckshot and fire it at a sheet of drywall, and then rewrite her section on firearms or better yet, omit it altogether and refer her readers to well written, accurate firearm defense books or classes.

This book might actually be of some help for a women who has been sexually assaulted and is looking for help in dealing with the aftermath. However, as a guide book dealing with women's safety issues, this book is no better than those free pamphlets that you can find at the local police station. The self defense section is made up of only a few sketches. My 3 year old niece could have done better. Howerver, I was turned off by this book, and by Rosalind Wiseman, before I had even finished reading the preface. After that it was all just more of the same.As you may, or may not have noticed, it seems as though every martial arts writer must have a story,.i.e.,..a defining moment that coincidentally can only be resolved through violence. The story may or may not be true, but the story is stll necessary in order to establish the author as an expert. Rosalind Wiseman's story is so ridiculous that I nearly threw the book into the fireplace after reading it!It seems as though Ms. Wiseman's eye opening catharsis came during sparring practice with a guy in her karate class. At that time her violent distain for men was so great that she went crazy and deliberately kicked her unsuspecting sparring partner (probably in the groin although she doesn't specify) as hard as she could. Then, while she watched him on his knees and in pain, she suddenly came to a brilliant realization that any school yard bully would have understood since his days in kindergarten,.i.e.... There's no honor and there's no satisfaction to be gained by assaulting someone simply because that person resembles someone or something that you happen to resent.....I simply couldn't belive what I was reading! Her story is laughable!The bottom line is this: If you're looking for a good book about women's self defense and women's safety issues then you'd be better off by looking elseware!

While it's true, the firearms section contains arguable information, this book is a MUST READ !

The information on Rape Psychology is great and the encouragement of women to be responsable for their own safety without taking any responsability for an atackers actions is fantastic.

Also, unlike much work on the subject, it does not take a gender seperatist approach !

Buy it, read it, be safe !