The Safety Trap: A Security Expert's Secrets for Staying Safe in a Dangerous World

by Spencer Coursen

"Coursen provides real world lessons on how to avoid danger, how to manage it, if necessary, and how to triumph over it, when all else fails. The Safety Trap is the best book on personal safety that I’ve read in the last decade." ―Vincent O'Neill, Chief, Headquarters Security for the International Monetary Fund, retired Secret Service agent and founding member of the elite Counter Assault Team

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Audiobook, Health, Crime

368 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2021

About the author

Spencer Coursen is a combat veteran, former supervisory special agent, and founder of Coursen Security Group — a premier threat management firm based in Austin, Texas. As a nationally recognized threat management expert, Coursen provides vulnerability assessments, security consultation, and protective strategy to help organizations, public figures and private families succeed in staying safe. Over the course of his diverse career, Coursen has planned, executed and led close protection details for dignitaries, heads of state, boards of directors, CEOs, celebrities, media moguls, and public figures on more than 300 international trips to 163 different countries. He has extensive international exposure, including the provision of close protection and threat assessment to clients in high-risk environments throughout Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. In his debut non-fiction book, The Safety Trap (St. Martin’s Press) Coursen draws from his global experience, personal anecdotes and professional insights to entertain, educate, and empower the reader on what it really means to both be — and stay — safe.

Reviews

[Spencer Coursen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the publishing process. I hope you enjoy reading The Safety Trap as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. Please feel free to be as open and honest in your reviews as possible. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Working together, we can all do our part to help prepare today for a safer tomorrow. Onward. Upward. Work. Sweat. Win. -- SGC

[Sara L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting informative book full of secrets and THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE...


Thank God I picked up this book because BOY is my life messed up. I don't mean to be a phobia master but I need to get more protection. Reading this book made me realize how much I'm letting other people know about me! PEOPLE I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I'm sorry but I just need to scream a THANK YOU at the author (Spencer Coursen) for writing this because this will definitely save my life one day.

The fact that I just dump info everywhere and nowhere at the same time is *great*

I got an insight into how "bad guys" think which was go helpful because listening to this book made me realize I am opening the door to my life and calling them all in...

But anyhow! Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an arc!

[Cindelu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It is a very interesting look at how we view and utilize security in this day and age and what we are doing wrong. It considers all aspects of work, school and personal life. We should all read this book!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once every decade or so a book comes along that changes the paradigm and ups the game for everybody who wants to write in that field. Think what Die Hard did to action movies in the 80s, and what Harry Potter did to young adult literature in the 90s and 00s.

For the field of personal protection, that book in the 90s was Sanford Strong's "Strong on Defense". For the 2000s it was Gavin deBecker's "The Gift of Fear". Rory Miller dominated the 2010s with his series of practical self-defense manuals including "Mediations on Violence" and "Force Decisions."

This decade's game-changer is "The Safety Trap."

In this surprisingly well-written guide (security professionals are rarely excellent wordsmiths), Coursen introduces the concept of a "Safety Trap" -- a situation where people tend to feel safe and secure when they are in fact neither. He then walks us through fifteen of the most common, explaining what it is, why it's important, and how to best avoid falling into it. The advice is clearly presented and empowering, rather than jazzed up with fear-motivation like many third-tier books of this sort.

As a martial artist with nearly 40 years experience and a dad of 23 years combined, I can tell you his advice checks out AND added to my already extensive knowledge base. This is a must read for anybody serious about safety.

One surprising aspect of the book I really loved was how compassionate it is despite being a personal safety book. There's a kindness behind it all that really makes the whole work more approachable, and socially responsible.

Buy this book. Read it. Make notes in the margins about how you will apply it to your life. Get it as a gift for people you love.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be a fear-mongering ad for whatever product the author was selling. Luckily, that's not the case. While there are some references to his business in security, it's mainly there for credibility rather than promoting. I appreciated Coursen acknowledged we're in one of the safest eras in human history while still explaining that we could still be safer.

[Sarah Magruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs a copy of this book on their shelf. Read it cover to cover and then reference it as needed. I wish I’d read this when I was a freshman in college. It would’ve saved me a lot of hard learning the past 20 years. But it’s even more important now that I’m a mother and business owner. Because there is a chapter in here that will hit home with every person reading it. You really will think and look at the world differently after reading it. And be much safer.

[Jechayni Khobalakrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up The Safety Trap expecting a deep dive into how our pursuit of mental and emotional safety, through things like avoidance, excessive politeness, or rigid belief systems, can backfire and leave us more vulnerable in the long run. I was especially curious to explore how psychological habits and cultural norms might be doing more harm than good.

Instead, the book focuses primarily on physical safety. This is understandable, since Spencer Coursen is a security expert, and the subtitle and cover says this. Still, I was disappointed because I hoped for a broader or more psychological approach. That’s on me for expecting something the book never claimed to be, but I can’t help but feel that the idea of mental safety traps is also rich and worth exploring, maybe even a good concept for a future book.

If you're looking for practical insights on physical safety and threat management, this book is good. Just be aware that it's rooted in personal security, not psychology or mental health.

[Kevin Aschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coursen has managed to concoct the perfect blend of insights, education, real life examples, and wit, and bottled them in The Safety Trap. His experience and reputation in the threat management space is second to none, giving him more than enough credibility to discuss this subject in the depth in which he does. The chapter recaps in and of themselves are worth the price of admission.

This is one of very few books that has taken up permanent residency in my nightstand and has woven its principles into my everyday life. If you are looking for a simple way to start curbing the real life threats that are becoming more common, grab 2 copies of this book - one for your own edification and another for a loved one.

[Chris Mercado · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting mix of practical advise and stories of the author's career in protecting celebrities, however it felt like there was too little of each. It felt like he couldn't decide if he wanted the book to be practical or entertaining, so he tried a little of each and fell short in both areas.

The stories are mildly interesting, but he never names names, so it's not overly entertaining. Some stories he tries to connect to the points he makes about safety, but they don't all tie together.

Then, the practical advice could easily be boiled down to a pamphlet or brochure. I did come away with a handful of practical items to implement, but I could summarize those on a single page. It was not entirely useless.

[Alex Hoskinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some helpful tips for a variety of different situations in life.

[Jared Driessche · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous and a guaranteed bestseller! Spencer provides such sound advice to a wide audience on realistic strategies that will keep people safe. If you’re a parent, in the military, in protection or just interested in being safer in general, this book is for you!

[Peter Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two thirds is mostly anecdotes of celebrity protection, analyzing a received threat (e.g. voicemail or letter) and general talk of situational awareness without much of a usable plan on how to perform or achieve either successfully. The book is redeemed in the end by a section with some real specifics on school safety, personal safety and preparation for a disaster or zombie apocalypse. Any of those topics could be covered by a whole book but this book is a fair starting point for someone looking for an overview and diving off point into more specific study of developing situational awareness, or a home defense plan, or prepping for an apocalyptic scenario, for example. In general a lot of nonspecific hand waving, but eye opening anecdotes and the end sections with some actionable information salvage this.

[Rahul Ravindran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea why I decided to read this book, but I don't regret it.

It has a bunch of principles related to physical safety, with each getting a chapter for itself. This is the kind of book you wish you had read after something happens to you or you read it and your life is mostly fine so you could have skipped it and be okay.

[Misty’s Corner Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty's Corner Review :

It’s not often that I can say that I learned a lot, absorbed much, and took detailed notes on a book with plans to re-read/listen to specific sections for reference. (My usual genres are thrillers, cozy mysteries, romance books - enjoyable stories, a form of escapism if you will.) Coursen’s “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙥” had me taking notes and then immediately applying these real-world safety tips and strategies. Our family now has a nightly safety sweep routine; we've turned license plates into a lyrical memory game and we've established the 3F’s regarding stranger danger (ok to seek help from families, food sources & locations with flags) with our kiddos and SO much more!

Having read and listened to this book, because I couldn't just stop reading, I had to continue this safety experience through audio as well; I've started taking a harder look at oversharing, social media, physical fitness, and overall life preparedness.

🎧𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧!

This book includes many helpful tips backed by logic, psychology, and security expertise supported by years of the author’s own experiences. The protective preparedness for the safety trap of responsibility and children really hit home. I appreciated the relatable metaphors and examples, which helped bring about a deeper understanding.

The protective strategies in “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙥” are quite beneficial, written in an easily understood and relatable narrative.
✨  

“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚡 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚙.”
✨
 
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Many thanks to the author, publishers & @netgalley for my advanced copies. 🙏🎧📖 I have honestly and voluntarily reviewed this title.

Thanks for reading!
Misty M. @MistysCornerReviews
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[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, in all honesty I skimmed some of this and went to the parts that interested me in the here and now. I find myself not wanting to read it all at once because this isn’t a book to just read in one sitting and move onto the next this is a read some then take it in and go back to analyze and read different or same sections again. This is a great guide because more than ever we are living in a more dangerous world than some of us had growing up and our parents before us and grandparents before them! This book hits into realistic situations and hits close to home for people with their thoughts or maybe even experiences. I think this book is really engaging to anyone who is interested in helpful advice about safety and protecting yourself and family the best you can. Better to keep oneself over prepared or at least keep in the know of preparedness than to be in a false sense of security thinking there is nothing to ever worry about! I would recommend this to anyone to just get more insight, whether anyone thinks they know it all there is always something that can be learned. Thank you Goodreads giveaways for the copy and the handy guide to keep using!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This was an informative and practical resource on personal safety. There was definitely some really important emphasis placed on the individual being firstly responsible for their own safety and that you should never rely on or expect others (be they police, school administrators, security guards, etc) to take the responsibility to keep them safe. That many procedures that are nominally for our safety are directly counterintuitive to what the individual should do. I thought the section about the star and her ex went on a bit long though I see the point of it. It also works better as a reference text rather than listening to the audio straight through as some sections are repeated verbatim.

This book started many incredibly interesting discussions with my partner and I as he's a combat veteran. This did break down though when I read him: "Ask any soldier who had ever been in combat to tell you the number one rule of survival". "Do something" became his catch phrase for bullshit over the next few days where he pointed out scenarios where doing 'something' would get you or others killed. That definitely soured him on the book.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes far beyond what I initially expected in a book about personal safety. I'm sure many will find specific instances that Spencer Coursen explores, to be highly controversial. (Especially, school lock-downs in cases of an active shooter scenerio.) He's right though. Much of what has been put in place, in public settings, can actually put you in more danger than it protects you. That doesn't mean we need to live in fear. It does mean we always need to be aware that possible threats exist. The most important lesson Coursen has for us, is to not trust others to protect us. We must be actively responsible for our own personal safety.

Throughout the book, Coursen gives solid examples and advice to build a better safety net around us. He warns throughout that feeling safe, ignoring potential threats, can mean we are exposing ourselves to greater danger. We can all learn a lot through this book. Knowledge and action will be what keeps us safe.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jack Leskovar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in the executive protection/protective intelligence/threat assessment business for over 30 years. I must admit that “The Safety Trap” is one of the most informational books that I've read in some time. If you are interested in protecting your loved ones and yourself, this book is a must read. My copy is currently filled with "dog-eared" and "Post-it Note" filled pages, so that I can have a quick reference to vital information that will help me be more effective in my personal and professional life. I'm adding "The Safety Trap" to my personal arsenal of professional development literature and will recommend it to anyone who wants to be more proficient in the area of safety, security, and situational awareness.

Very well done!

Respectfully,

Jack Leskovar

[Susan Barrows Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a complicated world, with threats to our health, well-being, and safety exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and livelihoods, the world can be a scary place. Spencer Coursen breaks down in The Safety Trap what common safety traps we should be aware of, how to spot them, and then with diligence, how to learn to avoid them. Spencer Coursen does this all in a very approachable and, at times, an entertaining manner with personal stories from his extensive international work. As a frequent solo traveler, this book is now in my travel backpack for re-reads and reference. It is a hard book to put down and an even easier one to pick up again and again.

[Kristen Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person in a public-facing job, I've always been wary of my level of security, both in person and online. I found myself dealing with some unsavory people and wanted to learn more about how to keep myself AND my family safe. The Safety Trap was an incredible way to learn the ins and outs of security and privacy lessons. To be honest, there were a lot of things I had never even thought about that stick with me now wherever I go. Not a "scare tactic" book, instead it's a well-written and thoughtful look at how we treat our safety and how to improve it in our day-to-day lives. Highly recommend reading this for your own sake and your family's sake.

[Sharen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some good stuff here about taking responsibility for our own safety as opposed to relying on others to keep us safe. Some suggestions around preparedness and information around how to scan our own environments to determine potential threats. Expecting 'others' (police, fire department, building manager etc) to respond to keep us safe isn't enough. We have to participate in our own safety and harm prevention.

A bit repetitive but works if people are going to pick and choose book sections to read.

'...your child's school is simply not capable of keeping your child protected.'

'When your life is on the line, you are your own authority.'

[Calley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re just starting to research what you can do to make yourself and your environment safer this book is perfect for you and has some amazing tips. If you’re like me and walk around with your keys through your fingers like wolverine then this book is going to have a lot of “duh” moments for you. That’s not to say their won’t be great takeaways for you, they just may be a little harder to find.

[Wind Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some good information here, but OTOH, I found it repetitious, preachy, and prone to making the world seem like a scary scary place. I couldn't take it anymore and gave up. I guess if you want some practical tips on staying safe and don't mind proselytizing this isn't a bad book. Maybe it gets better after chapter 5.

[Ashley King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read! I thought I knew how to keep myself and my family safe but the expert advice in The Safety Trap proved how wrong most of us are in our sense of security. I have recommended this book to every friend and relative I have. 10 Stars! Must read!

[John Friedlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Spencer's book credible and engaging, with substantive recommendations to improve general security awareness and individual personal security. I look forward to giving The Safety Trap to select family and friends who will benefit from its content.

[Chris Chauvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons if insights into the signals that we ignore, the mistakes we make, and the better things we can do to plan and protect ourselves and our loved ones. As I read through this, I found myself nodding my head so many times in complete agreement with Coursen's advice.

[Val Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of information that is important information

This book is full of information on every subject of keeping yourself protected, how to look for certain things that may point us in the right direction for a safe escape from danger.

[Andrea Stephenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. It is a very interesting look at how we view and utilize security in this day and age and what we are doing wrong. It considers all aspects of work, school and personal life.

[Anita Horan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how interesting this book is. It covered so many areas of safety and there's loads info about human nature and how to increase and decrease your risk of being a target, assessing a threat, prevention and action. I highly recommend it to all.

[Summer Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay sooo I'm not sure if I'm going to sleep better after reading this. Definitely feeling infinitely better about not sending my kids to school.

Lots of practical tips with interesting story elements that kept it engaging.