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Sentinel: Become the Agent in Charge of Your Own Protection Detail

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Anything can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Wouldn't you rather know that you had done everything in your power to have prepared yourself for that moment when something goes wrong? None of us plan to fail, but we may fail to plan. In Sentinel, author Patrick McNamara provides an instructional guide filled with survival techniques for the family. Drawing from his background as a special-operations agent for twenty-two years, McNamara discusses the importance of being the protector of the family and provides a host of techniques, strategies, and procedures to ensure safety. He offers simple steps for being better prepared for power blackouts, home invasions, and attacks on the street and more. From your home to your vehicle and beyond, McNamara discusses how to plan for contingencies. Sentinel provides the information necessary to help you take charge of your own domain and be able to count on yourself to protect your own life and the lives of those close to you.

142 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2012

173 people are currently reading
194 people want to read

About the author

Patrick McNamara

45 books14 followers
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5 stars
155 (48%)
4 stars
97 (30%)
3 stars
54 (16%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
46 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2018
The author is well versed in what he is writing about. At times you think that he writes and says things in a weird way but after you understand his mindset it becomes clear why he does that and also challenges you to change the way that you think.

If you are reading this book it is because you are trying to improve your situation (this book does that and gives you options) or that you are trying to understand the mindset of a highly skilled professional in the world of security (this book does that as well).

The only down side to this book is it is a little short (although very well written and definitely gets the point across) and I thought that he could have gave some more insight in different situations and using that knowledge to aid in protecting your principals.

I did read this book in one sitting so it is definitely something that you cant put down.
1 review
May 17, 2020
Excellent read

This book gives excellent advice on self preparation and situational awareness. To many people today are totally unaware of what is happening around them or what could happen. Much of this I already knew through training throughout my own career, but if you never had the training then this book is a must read. This guy is at the top of his game and I have great respect for him and his service to our country! Even if you think you know it all, there is plenty that he can teach you.
1 review
February 22, 2021
A must read for all men and women in charge of their families or in desperate need to become an asset

A required read for all citizens, ensuring that will become assets rather then living life as liabilities. Pat does a phenomenal job using military TTPs and known SOPs into plain and simple English. Enjoyable read, with highly valuable knowledge that all men in charge of a family should understand and live by. Highly recommended to everyone.
Profile Image for Christopher Piehota.
Author 1 book7 followers
May 10, 2019
Some good practical advice.

The author provided some good practical advice; however, there were no info points that were new or unique. I would have liked to see more instruction and insight from such a seasoned operator. Maybe this book was meant to be a primer for entry level folks, but I was hoping for a bit more.
16 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2021
Excellent . Perfect for anyone who wants to take more responsibility in their lives and be the go to person for other people , especially their families . Or as PatMac says ,’ be the Agent in charge of your own protection detail ‘ .
A perfect book to keep in your ‘go bag ‘ for future reference .
Basic Dude Stuff .
3 reviews
January 8, 2020
Fantastic material, first class delivery

This book truly deserves a 5 star+ rating, breaks the skills and techniques needed to become an agent of protection for yourself and your loved ones. Rock n Roll!!
Profile Image for Sparta.
40 reviews
July 22, 2022
Solid book that has room for improvement. Content is good but there is room for expansion relating to many of the covered topics. I would love to see Pat do a second edition that is significantly revamped.
Profile Image for Jay Izso.
Author 5 books13 followers
January 12, 2025
Excellent book!
Pat McNamara is sharing parts of his training.
Fact is we all need to be more self-aware every single place we go...and especially surroundings we are familiar with.
Great journey of self-awareness and preparation.
I will be reading it again and again.
24 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2017
Great Stuff!

Mr. McNamara is the real deal. This book has great info not only for the home "sentinel", but also for the professional.
Profile Image for Royce Higbee.
2 reviews
February 17, 2018
Great book but have to take with a grain of salt and realize it is written by an ex spec ops. Most of us need to know these principles and apply them but the tone might get some readers.
Profile Image for Will Combs.
41 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2019
Definitely worth reading, but I'm picky about my 5-star ratings and this one doesn't quite make it.
Best part (imo) was the part on driving behaviors. Actually gained a lot from that.
Profile Image for Andy Murphy.
Author 13 books3 followers
January 6, 2020
This book is a great resource for family protection. I can't recommend this book enough.
Profile Image for Polish Josh.
226 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2021
4.5 stars. A lot of really good information on being more aware and prepared in your day to day life. Some of the material gets into a lot of acronyms but still a great primer for general safety.
Profile Image for Casan Scott.
Author 2 books3 followers
March 6, 2023
Legit!

This is great. Super practical and fun to read. Having listened to Pat Mac on podcasts before, I was already a fan. This exceeded my expectations.
Profile Image for Matthew.
424 reviews10 followers
July 28, 2016
This is a great book, but (sadly) it is for a very limited audience.

While it is short and simply written, and is itself an "easy read", each sentence comes from considerable experience on the part of the author and there are some real pearls of wisdom.

For those who are familiar with the Gift of Fear, Left of Bang, and the sheepdog principle - this book should be on your list. If not, this book probably is not a starter work.
Profile Image for Cheryl Holloway.
1 review
January 31, 2017
Solid advice...

I really enjoyed this book. It essentially serves as a blueprint for someone to become engaged the protection of their loved ones. The only downside is there are several parts where the author repeats himself.
Profile Image for Lucas.
128 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2022
Great book written in an easily digestible manner, doesn't require any previous knowledge base to still get alot out of. You can tell Mr. McNamara knows his trade.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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