Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dated, but still the best, October 31, 2004
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
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46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book but needs to be updated..., August 5, 2002
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.
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37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource on Personal Protection, April 7, 2001
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!
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