Personal Security: Preparing for the Unexpected in an Era of Crime and Terrorism

by Richard Bradford

BOOK DESCRIPTION How to Recognize the Threat and Avoid the Attack Here is a unique, common sense, and proven life-saving approach to avoiding violent assaults by terrorists and other criminals. The issues faced by potential “targets of opportunity” as well as the concerns of those specifically targeted for individual attack are addressed. The procedures appropriate for use by government officials, business or vacation travelers, or those simply going about their daily lives are described. Relevant tactics and techniques to discover hostile schemes in the planning stages and then to avoid or evade assaults are detailed. This is not another book on the latest in firearms technology, knife fighting moves, or hand-to-hand self-defense techniques. It is about how to avoid the need to resort to these options. While most personal security training concentrates on countering an attack, the methods described here focus on recognizing and avoiding the attack before it takes place. The concepts presented are not complicated or dramatic. In the mayhem of a surprise violent assault, intricate counterattacks are unrealistic. The book describes how terrorists and other criminals plan and execute violent attacks. It then explains how to uncover and disrupt their plans before they become deadly encounters. While others emphasize “situational awareness,” but do not explain how to attain and maintain that awareness, this book provides straightforward techniques that can be practiced every day. You will become keenly aware of what is going on around you. You will not only be more observant, you will know what it is you are looking for. You will recognize potential dangers and develop appropriate ways to avoid them. The techniques examined here neutralize the terrorist and criminal’s most critical advantage - surprise. Included are ways to assess and alter the habits that make you vulnerable. You will make yourself a “hard target,” encouraging the would-be attacker to look elsewhere for a victim. Included are ways to analyze your own vulnerabilities in the same ways that hostile assailants do. Also included are explanations of how to detect criminal or terrorist surveillance and how it differs from classic surveillance methodology. Learn how to identify where, when, and how they plan to attack you. Most importantly, learn what to do about it. Most attacks against specifically targeted individuals take place while the victim is in transit. Chapters covering techniques to discover and evade attacks while driving are included. As an additional benefit, these techniques raise your general awareness, significantly increasing your ability not only to discover and avoid attacks but also to anticipate and avoid traffic accidents. Also included are tips for avoiding being a victim of a mass casualty tragedy such as those which recently devastated London, Barcelona, Manchester, Paris, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg, Berlin, Columbus, Orlando, Marseille, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New York, and Sutherland Springs. The author, a West Point graduate, former Army Special Forces Officer, and retired CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer with over 35 years of service, designed and taught personal security courses for CIA and other US Government personnel deploying overseas. After retirement, he continued to develop, refine, and teach new approaches to personal security. Many of those strategies are presented here for the first time.

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2017

Reviews

[Greg]

My friend and analytical super-genius Marcus Wynne recommended that I check out this book. I'm glad I did.

The book did a very good job covering many of the issues involving personal security that other texts tend to glass over. The author provides a thorough analysis regarding the exacting process criminals choose to select their victims and perpetrate their attacks.

A lot (maybe even the majority) of the book covers vehicular concerns. As most of us spend a lot of time in and around our cars, I think vehicular safety is of paramount importance. Given the percentage of the book dedicated to vehicle safety, I would surmise that the author agrees. I've read almost every text in the self protection field and no other goes into greater depth than this one on vehicle topics. For that reason alone, you should pick it up.

This is really a five-star book. I had to rate it four stars because of some of the outdated research the author cited in a couple of early paragraphs. Much of the research conducted by Bruce Siddle and published in the book "Sharpening the Warrior's Edge" was groundbreaking at the time, but has since been discredited. Citing Hicks' Law in the context of defensive encounters is also a bit problematic.

Additionally, I think some of the book's concepts could be better explained with photos or diagrams. In updated editions, I hope the author enhances the text by adding some visual displays.

If you can overlook the lack of diagrams and the small issues (literally about four paragraphs) regarding the outdated research, the rest of the text is extremely valuable.

You'll be glad you bought this one.