Customer Reviews

Defensive Living: When Defensive Driving, Diets, and Exercise Aren't Enough to Keep You Alive and Well!

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has excellent advice on self-defense. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more on how to protect themselves.

I will take issue though with the author's stance on firearms. He makes statements that are blantly false (more people are injured with their own gun...) and others that lack foundation. He states that a firearm can only be used as a "lethal" choice, yet uses his own non-lethal example of "racking" a cartridge into his shotgun when faced with a mob of youth. The mere presence of the firearm and the sound of the shotgun being put into battery diffused the situation. Studies have shown that the mere presence of a firearm has thwarted more crime than was previously thought, see John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime".

Once again this one issue was not enough for me to trash the book. The basics included in this book are the best foundation for self defense I have ever seen.

Rhino

Since I am one of Mr. Hardy's students, I was required to read the book for promotion in the martial arts. The book contains practical guidelines for avoiding possible dangerous situations. The ten tips that Mr. Hardy conveys in the book are tips that every person should learn and practice. I know for a fact that many of these techniques will work. For example, I was once approached by a person whom I felt meant me harm. I calmly looked the person in the eye and said something about helping the police look for a suspect. The look on that person's face was of utter suprise. He mumbled a few words and went on his way. I never took my eyes off him, and I never let him invade my space. Unlike most martial arts books, Mr. Hardy's book does not teach the novice how to punch, kick, or block, but rather he teaches them ways in which they will not become victims. For anyone who fears becoming a victim in our dangerous world, I would advise them to read this book. IT MAY JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Defensive Living is absolutely filled with important information that everyone should be aware of in order to ensure his or her safety. This book is well organized with commonsense tips on how to stay safe in an ever increasingly dangerous world. Although most of these tips seemed like commonsense to me, you have to remember that I have been studying martial arts for over 25 years; to the many people, these defensive tips will be eye-opening and some could be life-saving. Most of simple and straightforward and are things which anyone can do to ensure their safety. Although this book does touch on some physical self-defense techniques, that is not what this book is all about. It is more concerned with simple, everyday things that people can and should do to keep themselves safe.

I highly recommend this book for everyone. Even if you have been in martial arts for some time, there are ideas and tips in this book that you may not have considered or that your instructor may not have taught you. Self-defense involves much, much more than learning fighting techniques in some dojo; it involves ensuring your safety and the safety of your family in EVERY way. This book is a valuable resource to help you do just that. Highly Recommended!

Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path

Nice book. How to act to do not became a victim. No self defence techniques ( ex. martial arts)but very appropriate advice to avoid the danger of an aggression.

Unlike many 'self-defense' books, in this book the author doesn't try to teach you the 'Ten Easiest Ways to Kill a Man'. Instead, he focuses on concepts of awareness that any person can immediately put to use, such as paying attention as you walk though a parking lot. When you read the concepts in the book you wonder why you didn't think of them yourself. I've loaned out my copy of the book to half a dozen friends and they all liked it tremendously.

As a criminal justice professor and a reserve peace officer, I deal with crime prevention topics on an almost daily basis. In the arena of personal protection against violent victimization, I have found no book that I can recommend more highly. Mr. Hardy presents critical crime prevention concepts in a clear and concise format. His "Ten Tips" provide an organizational structure that is easy to remember and easy to implement.

If you are looking for the top ten ways to kill an attacker empty handed, then this book is not for you. It is also not for those desiring to hone their combat handgun skills. Mr. Hardy focuses almost exclusively on the most formidable weapon of all: The prepared mind.

I've loaned my copy out so much that it's falling apart. This is required reading for my private students. Most come back with an appreciation of the true value of the martial arts and understanding that force and violence do not necessarily have to be your primary weapon to survive and `win' an encounter.

Too often we fall into the trap that it is our skill, strength and technique that is important, this book points out that our best weapon is still intelligence and an understanding of human behavior.

If nothing else, this book makes my students consider a wider spectrum of what they consider `self-defense' techniques and forces them to confront their own preconceived values and ideas. Any book that does this is valuable.

Along with this book my students are required to read: STRONG ON DEFENSE, by Stanford Strong, and THE GIFT OF FEAR, by Gavin De Becker to give them an overview of how to plan, and prepare for possible threats and gain an understanding of the individuals out there who may someday be a danger to you, your family and friends.

This book should be required reading for every human. It does a great job of keeping you out of becoming the "offender" while providing great tips to ward off aggressors with.

The author provides the reader with a solid personal safety and crime prevention plan based on his choice of 10 basic safety tips. The 10 tips are then covered in detail; what they are and how to apply them. While I don't agree with everything that the author says I do agree with most of it. Personally I would have chosen some different tips that better reflect the objectives. However, the book is still solid and provides the reader with sound advice that can enhance safety, if applied.