Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America [Hardcover]

Randall Larsen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0446580430 | ISBN-13: 978-0446580434 | Publication Date: September 7, 2007

OUR OWN WORST ENEMY provides a solid, practical, logical approach to personal security for all Americans and explains why the government is not prepared to help us in a time of crisis (Katrina, 9/11, etc.). Leading homeland security expert Randall J. Larsen details what we must do as citizens to protect ourselves, our families and our assets. The key, Larsen argues, is finally asking the right questions about homeland security, such as:
-"How do we prevent a terrorist organization from becoming a nuclear power?" The media frequently poses the question: "What can we do to ensure that al Qaeda does not smuggle a nuclear weapon into the U.S. through one of our ports?" But the right question should focus on prevention -- and the answer is far different from the discussion that dominates the debate and the spending priorities of the Bush Administration and Congress.
-"Who should be in charge of logistics during a major disaster?" Larsen says that it's not the military. The fact is, no one is better at logistics than American businesses such as FedEx, UPS, and Target. OUR OWN WORST ENEMY states that the government should encourage citizens and businesses to be active and learn to "posse up" while looking to the private sector to provide food, water, shelter, and transportation during a natural or man-made crisis.
Larsen offers a strong combination of practical advice (Did you know a $1 mask can save your life in the event of a dirty bomb?) and wise examination of such key issues as the economy, borders and immigration, national health care, personal security, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As founding director of the Institute for Homeland Security, adviser to the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh and author of previous books about terrorist threats, Larsen might be seen as profiting from fear of terrorist attacks. Refreshingly, he blows the whistle on fearmongers, while for the most part maintaining an understated tone. Larsen criticizes government officials at all levels—Republicans, Democrats and those without political party labels—for spending billions of dollars without a logical rationale. He explains why questions such as What can we do to ensure that al Qaeda does not smuggle a nuclear weapon into the United States through one of our ports? are not only uninformed but lead to wasteful spending. Larsen argues persuasively that the priorities should be preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons-grade nuclear material, detecting biological weapon attacks, improving homeland security education and designing information systems that tie together data from a variety of credible sources. The author delivers on his promise for a commonsense guide. (Sept. 7)
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About the Author

Randall J. Larsen is a leading advisor to the White House, the military and Fortune 500 companies on homeland security as well as the CBS News resident expert on matters relating to disaster, terrorism, and our national preparedness. He is the Director of the Institute for Homeland Security, a nonprofit/nonpartisan research group. He previously served as chairman of the Department of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College. For more information, you can visit www.tihls.org. He has written op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and USA TODAY.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446580430
• ISBN-13: 978-0446580434
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #750,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Intelligent Book I've Ever Read on the topic, September 11, 2007

By 

W. Keller "Wendy Keller" (Marina del Rey, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America (Hardcover)

This guy knows his stuff! I learned more about how we ARE and ARE NOT prepared for terrorism (as a country and as people) from reading this book than I have from about 2,000 hours watching news programs. He obliterates the sense of helplessness so many of us seem to feel about terrorism. I'd seen Larsen on TV and come to respect his sage opinions, so I bought the book. In it, he simplifies complicated political mumbling and sleight-of-hand into real language about what's going on and what we should do. His position makes great sense. His opinion on immigration, on controlling nuclear supplies and personal preparedness are so logical you'll be wondering how the whole topic ever looked overwhelming. He does it all without talking down to people who didn't spend their time at West Point. It's an immensely readable, deeply grounded, reassuring book. It takes a genius to distill a complicated subject so eloquently. I recommend it most highly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Judging from his C-SPAN appearance..., February 3, 2008

By 

Judith K. Warner (Rohrersville, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America (Hardcover)

I just saw Randall Larsen on C-SPAN's Book TV and I am about to order his book. He puts a healthy emphasis on the fact that the government is not able to help citizens in every situation, nor is it the government's job. To show how far we have come from the self-reliance we need, he told of a well-dressed woman who 36 hours after Katrina was demanding the government supply her with drinking water. She knew Katrina was coming; couldn't she have filled her bathtub, or bought a supply of water?, he asked. How dependent and childish can you get?

He told the story of a sheriff in Texas who is in charge of a county a third the size of Delaware, with 27,000 people. How would he deal with a security emergency? "I'd posse up," he replied. That is, he has all the backup he needs in citizens trained to help in law-enforcement.

Larsen is telling us to "posse up." Become aware of how to keep our families safe, and get training to be a part of law enforcement when the government can't supply enough manpower for our needs. We need to take responsibility for our security and be prepared to act when there is a crisis, instead of expecting the government to take care of us in every situation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read, January 3, 2008

By 

The Texan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America (Hardcover)

This was an amazing book which pushes beyond the partisan struggle over policy making in homeland security. He discusses not only the problems, but also the successes and solutions that exist. It will entertain you, enlighten you, scare you, and reassure you. It is a must read for all Americans.