Customer Reviews

The Truth About Self Protection

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After a long night of poker and drinking I crashed at a friend's apartment back in 1986. As I prepared to leave the next morning I found I could not reach my car due to all the police tape, an ambulance, and a couple dozen cops. Turns out a lady a block away where I had parked had been hacked to death with an ax early that morning. The incident convinced me to think about personal protection in a whole new way. A Seattle police officer friend of mine recommended that I get this book (originally written in 1983). I've probably read it a dozen times since then.

Although some of the material is a bit dated, I still consider it the finest tome on this subject matter ever written. It discusses what to do before, during, and after a violent encounter, morally, legally, and ethically identifying the appropriate to use countervailing force. It covers everything from walking down the street, to driving your vehicle, to securing your home. All manner of makeshift weapons as well as open hand defensive scenarios are discussed. It also provides a holistic set of criteria and considerations to help civilians decide whether or not to carry a firearm for self-defense.

Massad Ayoob, Director of the Lethal Force institute, is a retired police officer and one of the nation's leading authorities in countervailing force. Most of his writings are about firearms yet I believe this to be his finest work. Even though I wish that he would update these materials and reprint this book, I still feel that the current version is well worth the money. It's no longer the end all be all, but it is essential reading nevertheless.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

If I were writing a review of this book by Mr. Ayoob twenty years ago, I would have given it five stars. While much of the info in this book is still relevant today (e.g. the self-defense techniques demonstrated) - a lot of the info in the text is woefully out-dated. For example, there have been great developments in handguns since this book was first published. So while the advice he gives on gun selection was sound 1983, it really needs to be updated - I'll bet even the author would agree with me on this. Mr. Ayoob praises the PR-24 (Police Baton) at length in his book. Today, you'll be hard-pressed to find a Police Department that hasn't switched to the telescopic style of Baton (which doesn't look aggressive until deployed or get left in the patrol car). The same goes for OC (Pepper-spray). Perhaps in 1983 pepper sprays were, "useful only as dog repellents and have little if any effect on humans", but today's pepper-sprays work quite well, thank-you (ask your local G-8/APEC/WTO protester). I have used pepper spray on the job (and have had it used on me) and I can assure you while not 100% effective on 100% of the people 100% of the time, (short of a bazooka - what is?) the stuff works. So in essence, what the other reviewers are saying about this book (favorable comments) are true, but in my opinion this book badly needs an update/overhaul. Having said that, for the price of the book (cheap!) it is still full of practical advice. There you have it: the truth about, THE TRUTH ABOUT SELF PROTECTION.

This book is one of the best "self defense" books on th emarket. Massad Ayoob, a legend in the law enforncement and personal protection world, goes beyond the standard "tips" for self defense. He address many diferent things such as locks, martial arts, weapons, psychological stress, and much more.

There are some draw backs such as poor illustrations on certain "hadn to hand" combat technquies, but overall, it does not effect the top notch presentation.

This book is written for anyone, and especially the novice or the person who is trying to decide if "survivialism" (word used by Ayoob) is for them. Even if it isn't, there are tips that can still minimize the risk of being a vicrtim without learning how to be an expert combat killing machine.

The book is realistic as he has chapters about the moral dilemas and psychological trama one may encounter when trying to defend themselves or someone else.

Afetr working Law Enforcement for 12 years and being involved inthe martial arts for over 20, I can give someone searching for self protection ideas a confident nod that this book is one of the best!

I am among those who recognize than I am my own worst enemy. More specifically, my own ignorance can get me killed. Massad Ayoob's "The Truth About Self Protection" helped me dispell some of my ignorance. This book was written more than two decades ago, and even back then it wasn't 100% accurate on the laws in every location worldwide--so check on these laws yourself. There is only one rule in self defense: SURVIVE. Ayoob helps with all aspects of surviving a self defense incident: pre-incident (avoiding the situation is nice when you can manage it), the actual attack, and the mental, physical, and legal nightmares afterwards.

I liked the coverage of empty-hand and "less lethal" weaponry--and expedient weapons. Most of the time, you are prohibited from possessing loaded firearms. I travel a lot on business, and some of the world's garden spots are dangerous! Okay, sometimes my employer will issue me a machine gun and 800 rounds of belted ammunition, but that's an exceptional circumstance. Ayoob detailed options other than a trusty .45 in a shoulder holster.

Newton's Law applies to self defense, too. Every action produces reaction. "The Truth About Self Protection" talks about the reaction from the media and the legal system when you use force. News media exists to entertain--and while you are being entertained, you get bombarded by advertising. Ayoob's advice, "don't talk to the press," is about as good as it gets without your own professional spin doctor to manage your media exposure. Expect to be arrested when you clobber someone who tried to kill you, even if you are unarmed and your attacker had an automatic weapon. Institutionally, the law enforcement agencies are geared towards arrest and gathering evidence. It is their job to get you to make damaging admissions that will result in your conviction. Besides, the police don't know what happened--the criminal will usually not commit his crime with police around because he will be caught. Law enforcement officers deal with criminals, politicians, members of the media, legal system professionals, and other people who lie, cheat and steal for a living. Ayoob tells you what to say, and how to say it--more importantly, you are advised to say as little as possible and talk mostly with the people in your corner--your defense attorney. Many people are emotionally devastated when they are involved in a confrontation--especially when they had to kill in order to survive. The primary factor in emotional devastation is failure to prepare in advance. Ayoob provides some of that preparation and advises seeking professional help to deal with the post-incident trauma.

Buy a copy of "The Truth About Self Protection." It is cheap. Read it. The time you spend reading this book is less than the time you'll spend in the hospital and in prison when you get vitimized by an uncaring world. You cannot rely on others to protect you--you have to take responsibility for your own safety. After you have digested the lessons in Ayoob's book, you have a good foundation to build on. Some people cannot or will not use firearms. Good for them! "The Truth About Self Protection" is a start for learning to avoid becoming a crime victim in the first place. You can also learn enough about non-gun defensive tools to recognize the phoney security toys being vended to the ignorant and helpless. "The Truth About Self Protection" will not make you an expert gunman--you will need to get other training--but it will give you a yardstick to measure that additional training. You have to look out for your own safety.

Or, you can become President of the United States and let the Secret Service protect you for the rest of your life.

Has crime touched your life and driven you think about self-defense issues for the first time? You don't know who to listen to or what to believe? Has some so-called "expert" told you something that just doesn't sound right? Are you a woman who lives alone or are you a single parent with small children to protect? Are you afraid of GUNS but more afraid what might happen to you if attacked, robbed or victimized? Then "The Truth about Self Protection" is the one book that quite possibly will change your life and help you to become a more secure and confident person without being paranoid.

Massad F. Ayoob is known and respected in the law enforcement and judicial community as the consummate authority regarding all aspects of self protection and defense issues including the moral, legal and psychological aspects. In his countless books and articles he explains (in terms anyone can understand) the psychology and physiology of what goes on in the human brain and body during a violent encounter. Ayoob was the one person who explained to me through science and physiology how and why things can appear to be happening in "slow motion" during a startling event such as in a violent encounter or perhaps when in a car accident. (Most of you have probably experienced that effect at one time or another in your life.) He is the man that the professionals turn to, including judges and lawyers because he knows what he is talking about.

Ayoob is one of the most sought after court authorities on a myriad of topics that include shooting dynamics, judicial use of lethal force, neuro-linguistics (how the human body & brain reacts to being suddenly thrust into a life or death violent encounter). Educating you with the physics and science surrounding so many "tangible and non-tangible" aspects of a shooting or lethal force incident, he is the man you want on "your side" when he testifies in a court of law.

Ayoob's dynamic, no nonsense writing style "grabs" the reader right from the start and doesn't let go. This book in particular covers the full spectrum of considerations regarding so many aspects of self-protection. He covers the pros and cons of various methods of defense with sound advise leaving the reader with "options" so that you can choose what works best for your situation.

Right up front, in one of the first chapters of the book, Ayoob shows you "The Face of the Enemy". Through interviews he has done with hardened criminals in prison, he outlines for you, how they choose their victims. What they are afraid of regarding their victims. What they aren't afraid of, regarding their victims. (Hint: Everyone interviewed said they had targeted at least one victim in their career in which they "broke off" the attack at the last minute because they weren't sure if the victim was armed or not.)

Please read all the reviews posted on this book! They are all correct and right on the money regarding The Truth about Self-Protection! I would like to post a WARNING to people buying this book. "Make Damn Sure the People You Loan This Book To, Returns It!" I have gone through 6 copies of The Truth about Self-Protection by Massad Ayoob but was happy to have shared with those who got good use out of it but never returned it.

The information contained in this book as well as all of the books by Massad F. Ayoob "Is the stuff you can bet your life on! Every time I pick up a gun magazine I look at the table of contents for his name on one of the articles. If it's there, it's a definite buy! I've studied his work for almost 20 years now, long before I became a law enforcement trainer myself. His teachings have saved countless lives, of good police officers and hard working honest citizens alike, both on the street and in the courtroom. His books are like Lays potato chips, "you can't have just one."

There are a lot of self protection books on the market, but Ayoob treats most aspects of your home, the police, automobiles, robbery, etc., in a way that other authors have not. While it might take years to implement every suggestion offered by the author, when you have digested this book, you will shift your paradigm as to how you comprehend your own vulnerability eg. how weak and ineffective most doors are, as well as to comprehend those means immediately at your disposal to protect yourself, eg. the infamous Maglite flashlight. While there are better and more informative books written on many of the individual topics the author touches on, eg. firearms, you will, if a novice, come away with enough overall information to go out and start making concrete decisions. There are also topics in the book that address the often futile fingerprints, use of private detectives, as well as topics you probably know nothing about, like the difference between a guard and attack dog. If nothing else, this book will let you see who really has an idea of what they speak and who does not. One problem is that this book is 20 years old, many topics are up to date, others are sorely outdated, like the auto theft and home security sections. All in all, this is a good book, but expect to have to read more!

If you own (or plan to own) a firearm for self-defense, want to debate gun control with antigun groups like Handgun Control Incorporated, or want to learn about non-firearm security measures, buy this book. The author is a police firearms instructor with expertise on both the legal and practical aspects of self-defense: you will learn not only how to shoot when you must (as much as you can learn from a book, you must practice on a firing range), but when you must NOT shoot. The book covers gun safety, martial arts, makeshift weapons, locks, alarms, and antitheft security methods too. -William A. Levinson

Massad Ayoob offers more than 30 years of real-world practical experience based study, analysis, training, teaching in this comprehensive and concise book on Personal Protection in modern society. This book covers ALL the bases, albeit with a couple of the sections a little dated. The purchaser should be aware of this, and use the book as a springboard for more contemporary self study.

Primarily known for his firearms teaching and writing, Mr. Ayoob demonstrates his wider knowledge of security and protection for the average citizen in a clear and articulate volume. He has thorough experience as a journalist, part-time police officer, professional trainer, crime investigator, and trial advocate. Additionally, he has also been a crime victim, so he knows of what he writes! Only one small chapter deals with firearms (and both pro's and con's about their use), while the bulk of the material will apply to anyone interested in Personal and Home Security.

I bought this book thinking it would be mostly advice about handguns, since Ayoob writes columns in gun magazines. However, the book discusses a wide range of strategies and actions that one can take to defend oneself in this present time. Guns don't show up until the end of the book.

I think the book is very well written if a bit dramatic at times. It describes a lot of things that can be done to avoid trouble in the first place. It evaluates such devices and approaches as fighting rings, knives, karate, judo and firearms of various descriptions. Unlike some other books that describe self defense or various weapons, guns included, this book goes into the legal consequences of beating off an attack. There is a lot of good advice throughout the book.

...Provided you understand that it was published a long time ago and is not fully up-to-date on some subjects. Firearms, for example. I wouldn't call the info on them outdated per se, because much of it still holds true. Hollowpoints are still the best self-defense round, and it's still illegal to CCW in a bar in most places.

Of course, carry laws change VERY often, so it's foolish to rely on a paper source for those...and I bet Mas would be the first one to tell you that now, in the internet era. In fact, he has done so already in magazine articles on the different gun carry laws in the States.

And there have been a lot of firearms developments since then, the first that come to mind are the LEO-favored GLOCK pistols and the .40 S&W round. I know if he ever does update this work, the Glock will have a feature role based on favorable magazine articles by the author. (Mas is one of the reasons I chose a Glock for my carry pistol) Alas, the prices quoted in the book have ALSO changed. Don't yell at the gun store guy when he won't sell you a S&W automatic for about $350! ;-)

But I'm already a gun-owner and know all this. I wanted to learn about OTHER ways of protection. And this book does that VERY well. A little bit of everything from avoidance to what to expect after a violent encounter. He even throws in what some call "survivalism," but what I prefer to call COMMON SENSE - keeping a stock of food, water, medicine and other "essentials" on hand in case of emergency.

By the way, I was happy to see a section on the Kubotan, which I'm looking to train in. Some good basic info, but still as Ayoob says, no substitute for HANDS ON training. And he even tells you how to tell a "real" Kubotan instructor from an opportunist by what s/he tries to teach...

In closing, if you are BRAND NEW to self-protection...buy this book, but also look for other sources for more up to date info on the exact tools and laws.

If you're like me...a CCW who realizes he has a duty to learn about other methods of self-protection as well ("when all you have is a hammer, all your problems look like nails...") - then buy this book and use it to augment and supplement the knowledge you already have.

A great bargain and highly reccomended.