Bulletproof Spirit, Revised Edition: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart

by Dan Willis, Donald Bostic (Foreword)

- Each year, more police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty

-Winner of the Books for a Better Life Award

- Soldiers, fire fighters, ER personnel, and law enforcement officers suffer from severe PTSD and other mental and emotional issues due to the work they perform each day

- First book to offer assistance and support from a spiritual perspective to first responders and their family and friends

- Captain (ret) Dan Willis teaches at various police academies around the country, including the National Command College, which trains police captains and chiefs, and the International Academy of Police Safety

- Bulletproof Spirit has become required reading at many police academies and is a textbook in 2 classes at the FBI National Academy

- Revised edition will include a new chapter on PTSD and healing as well as updates throughout the book

- Foreword by Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Donald Bostic is an instructor in the Executive Programs Instruction Unit at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy at Quantico, Virginia

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, ebook

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Yichen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's surprising to me now that I did not think about how experiences as a first responder can lead to mental health deterioration. Now I'm wondering if support programs for first responders, their families, and the communities they serve would be much more effective than, say, body cameras.

In the light of recent events, I think everyone should read this.

[Ryan Rodriquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book that I’m sure I will reference throughout the remainder of my life. Captain Dan Willis has, to our benefit, had the strength to be so vulnerable as to share his personal experiences in dealing with emotional illness. In the role of first-responder, it is rare to be provided moments where we can be “selfish” and step back from what drives us to be who we are...protectors. Captain WIllis has shown us how we can and why we NEED to. If we want to fulfill our calling to serve others, we need to be sure that we are mentally and emotionally fortified to do so. Thank you Captain Willis...

[Earl Pike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for all first responders. Great guidelines and insight into how to deal with the many stresses of the first responder careers. Many great anecdotes and stories to learn from. Easily recommendable for anyone a part of the first responder community.

[Stephanie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Information and resources galore! Loved how personal stories were interwoven throughout to breakup all the logistical suggestions. Highly recommend for any first responder or their family 🇺🇸

[Amber Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been going through this book with a Bible Study group of First Responders from all the different departments in and around our city each week. We’ve paired it with scripture and it’s opened up some really great conversation. My partner is in the group as well and we applied principles to our shifts that just made things so much more positive. I’m with a new partner as of two shifts ago and it’s clear I may have to do that work on my own now, but I’m better for having the experience of doing it with accountability because I know it works and will always be reminded of that when I’m tempted to let up on it.

That said, when books bring value to life, I don’t tend to “review” based on writing style, etc. My only comment on that with this book is a little redundancy. And as always with this topic, it’s full of on-the-job stories that may trigger PTSD, but the point is to work through that. It’s a quick and easy read, though. I’ve enjoyed breaking it down slowly over a couple months and have made some great friends. One of our department’s Commanders is in the group as well and it’s invaluable to me that I can call someone in leadership that is infallibly aligned with this and faith.

[Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a quick, easy read that offers practical advice throughout each chapter. It covers several facets of first responder wellness, including peer support, chaplaincy, and support from home. While it is apparent efforts were taken to make this book applicable to many different first responder careers (including dispatchers, Fire, EMS, and ER nursing), it is still heavily tilted toward police. I was also disappointed that the spouse section did not share any perspectives from male spouses, who face unique challenges in their role as support for their first responder partners. The section on faith, while also attempting to be neutral, has a primarily Christian-based perspective. Overall, I think this book makes a great companion to other supportive resources and the author should be given significant credit for attempting to create a resource for all first responders. His passion and commitment to wellness, both personally and in advocacy for others, were evident throughout the book.

[Kimberly Monaghan]

Bulletproof Spirit, authored by Captain Dan Willis, was written as a training and emotional resource guide for first responders, but it should be required reading for everyone. read full review: https://loom.ly/nBbgA_U

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the wife of a career firefighter I recommend this for every first responder and significant other.

[David Crumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that I can highly recommend.

[Tim Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This needs to be essential reading for anyone in a First Responder profession. Excellent read with thought provoking questions. You will not regret taking some time to work through this book.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great suggestions and ideas for first responders with dealing with stress/PTSD and the emotional turmoil they experience. I’m thinking of giving this book to Matt and all his friends in the force.

[Otis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Not a bad read with some good tips throughout. It repeats itself fairly often however, and could have quite easily been about 1/3 shorter without losing any of its usefulness.

[David Szatkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good for anyone in the first responder profession, as well as their chaplains and family members. What I like about this book is that the author shows correctly the pitfalls and stresses of a first responder career, but that the challenges can be met and the person can have not only a good, fulfilling career, but one that does not sacrifice everything else in their life.

[Marilyn Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is by a first responder for his peers. It is also useful for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of what this work entails, the stressors, and the impacts on workers and their families.