Can I See your Hands: A Guide To Situational Awareness, Personal Risk Management, Resilience and Security

by Gav Schneider

The title of this CAN I SEE YOUR HANDS refers to one of the key outcomes of this book-- being able to tell whether or not people want to cause us harm. To put it very simply, if you can see someone's hands and they are not concealing them, holding a weapon or positioning to strike you, one's levels of trust and confidence can increase. This simple example can serve as a reminder to all of us in many of the complex moments we have to deal with, and difficult decisions we have to make, in everyday life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Martial Arts

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2017

Reviews

[Dustin Blanton · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Can I See Your Hands' has an engaging title and promises to equip the reader with effective self-defense tools, but ultimately it repackages ideas introduced by other authors and experts and offers little in the way of novelty for the reader.

Those interested in this book would be better served reading 'The Truth About Self-Protection' by Massad Ayoob, published decades earlier and far more comprehensive in its content.

Furthermore, the book had frequent spelling and grammatical errors that were distracting. Unfortunately I cannot recommend this book.

[Susanna Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book after a friend from kickboxing recommended listening to a podcast by Gav Schneider. I knew as soon as I started listening to the podcast that this guy knows his stuff. He’s clear, a good communicator and a good writer. His approach is all encompassing and that makes the book very approachable. You don’t need to be a martial artist to understand the principles he describes and the practices anyone can incorporate into their everyday lives. I should point out that after paying $15 for an ebook, I had high expectations of this book. Well worth it.

[Ricardo Go · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Can I See Your Hands" by Gav Schneider is an insightful and practical book that can benefit anyone interested in improving their Situational Awareness, Personal Risk Management, Resilience, and Security skills. Drawing from his experience as a hostage negotiator, Schneider shares valuable insights and strategies for handling critical situations and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics.

One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on nonverbal communication and body language. Schneider teaches readers how to read and interpret nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, gestures, and posture, which can be vital in assessing potential threats and mitigating risks.

Another significant aspect of the book is its focus on building resilience and developing a proactive approach to risk management. Schneider provides actionable advice on how to prepare for potential threats, including practical steps like developing contingency plans, improving physical fitness, and strengthening relationships.

Overall, "Can I See Your Hands" is an excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their Situational Awareness, Personal Risk Management, Resilience, and Security skills. Schneider's expertise and practical advice can benefit everyone, from business professionals to law enforcement officers, to individuals seeking to improve their personal safety and wellbeing. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in developing practical skills for handling critical situations and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fundamental Self-Defense well explained

There's not much about self defense techniques you can learn from a book, but there's plenty you can learn about violent crime in these pages.

One of the hardest things for self defense students to do is use violence to defend themselves. The way I see it, one can apply what is discussed in this book like a mental checklist of all the things done to avoid assault. If enough has been checked off on the list, the easier it is for one to fight back enough to escape.

That's just my opinion though. My life experience has told me your average Joe black belt is a fairly decent guy who doesn't want to hurt anyone. Sadly, criminals look for people they don't think will try to be a hard target.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good overview of personal safety and personal risk awareness. I do feel more informed about violence and personal safety after reading this book. However, I wouldn't say that I feel less concerned about violence or more prepared for it. For me personally that is what I was hoping for from this book, so my expectations were a bit misaligned, hence the 3 stars. I highlighted lots on my kindle. It was a lot to digest, so I intend on coming back to those highlights.

[Kevin Hozak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoping for something more

This was an okay overview of personal safety and situational awareness. The author was very wordy and it also felt like the same thing kept getting repeated. I was hoping for something a bit more practical, but maybe that's not really possible for a book. But there were a few key ideas I picked out for consideration, so worth reading for that.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Pragmatic and functional in nature, it is full of common sense advice. My primary kudos to the author is an exhortation to avoid conflict. In my own consulting work, hero syndrome is rampant, and one has a tough time convincing others they're perfectly "tough" enough if they walk away.

[Tyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview, but more of a collection of topics people should look into further regarding situational awareness, rather than teaching on the subject.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent generic overview. Great for a starting patrolman.

[Eliézer Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introductory book into presilience, safety, and self-defense. Read it!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In depth look at situational awareness and other ways to keep you safer. Definitely need to read again and take notes