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| The Truth About Self Protection | 
 enlarge | Author: Massad F. Ayoob
Publisher: Police Bookshelf
Category: Book
List Price: $9.99
Buy New: $7.79
You Save: $2.20 (22%)
New (3) Used (5) from $6.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 18033
Media: Paperback
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 0936279133
Dewey Decimal Number: 364
UPC: 749522007998
EAN: 9780936279138
ASIN: 0936279133
Publication Date: 1983
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 About as close to "THE" book on self protection as you can get... September 2, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
...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 I wouldn't call the info on them outdated per se, because much of it still holds true.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.
A wake-up call for everyone interested in minimizing crime's impact August 13, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Living in a liberal, free country is advanced citizenship. It demands participation at multiple levels, to succeed, including active participation in the safety and security of one's self, family, possessions.
Ayoob is smart. He realizes what criminals don't want you to know. No single book can contain all precautions or be a recipe for avoiding the impacts of crime. It's not possible. However, this is one of the finest books I have read for presenting concrete rationale for simple steps a simple person can perform to dramatically elevate the level of preparedness against just such a day.
Good tips. Great breadth of coverage. Practical examples of the realities involved. Worth every penny.
 Massad does it again March 16, 2006
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
GREAT book. Massad has a wonderful way of putting his perspective into words for readers. This book is very informative and a good read.
Information that will protect you August 18, 2005
49 out of 53 found this review helpful
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.
Good investment May 3, 2005
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
This book has some very good things it's worth the time to read it. Some of the information is outdated but overall is a good investment.
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