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Beyond OODA: Developing the Orientation for Deception, Conflict and Violence
Beyond Developing the Orientation for Deception, Conflict and Violence is Varg Freeborn's highly anticipated follow up to the extremely popular Violence of Mind . While Violence of Mind was a broad introduction to all aspects of violence preparation, Beyond OODA focuses precisely on the development of mindset , or more accurately the orientation that influences and governs our decision making, and how it is developed for both good and bad people, alike.
A scholarly lesson on Boyd's O.O.D.A. loop is just the beginning of Beyond OODA. Then, as the title suggests, the book dives way past that concept into the deeper work of understanding, recognizing and developing the orientation specifically, since therein lies the answers to affecting our own decision making under stress as well as influencing the decision making of others at will.
“A thorough and experienced analysis of the most critical component of decision making. With his depth of knowledge and unparalleled experience in the realm of criminal violence, Varg Freeborn breaks from the norm of “they don’t think like you and I” to expose how culture, values, attachments as well as internal and external parameters inform decision making for both ‘good guys’ and violent criminals. Renowned warrior philosophers from practically every era have stated the importance of knowing one’s self to better understand the enemy. Referred to as ‘Orientation’ by LtCol John Boyd and expressed in chilling detail through the experiences of a man who has lived at both ends of the “good vs evil” spectrum, “Beyond Developing the Orientation for Deception, Conflict and Violence” creates a roadmap to developing counters to life and death situations as well as preparation for an eventual aftermath.”
- Daniel Shaw (Firearms Instructor, Shaw Strategies, USMC Ret.)
"You are absolutely spot on with how you're using Boyd's concepts, and I think he'd be very excited with this book...you've written a Book of Five Rings for the 21st century."
- Chet Richards (Author of Certain to Win, long-time friend and colleague of LtCol John Boyd)
A scholarly lesson on Boyd's O.O.D.A. loop is just the beginning of Beyond OODA. Then, as the title suggests, the book dives way past that concept into the deeper work of understanding, recognizing and developing the orientation specifically, since therein lies the answers to affecting our own decision making under stress as well as influencing the decision making of others at will.
“A thorough and experienced analysis of the most critical component of decision making. With his depth of knowledge and unparalleled experience in the realm of criminal violence, Varg Freeborn breaks from the norm of “they don’t think like you and I” to expose how culture, values, attachments as well as internal and external parameters inform decision making for both ‘good guys’ and violent criminals. Renowned warrior philosophers from practically every era have stated the importance of knowing one’s self to better understand the enemy. Referred to as ‘Orientation’ by LtCol John Boyd and expressed in chilling detail through the experiences of a man who has lived at both ends of the “good vs evil” spectrum, “Beyond Developing the Orientation for Deception, Conflict and Violence” creates a roadmap to developing counters to life and death situations as well as preparation for an eventual aftermath.”
- Daniel Shaw (Firearms Instructor, Shaw Strategies, USMC Ret.)
"You are absolutely spot on with how you're using Boyd's concepts, and I think he'd be very excited with this book...you've written a Book of Five Rings for the 21st century."
- Chet Richards (Author of Certain to Win, long-time friend and colleague of LtCol John Boyd)
- GenresPsychology
184 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2021
160 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 30, 2021
Kind of a letdown.
I really enjoyed Violence of Mind. As such I had high hopes for this. Sadly it read as a tangent on the shenanigans of the “tactical industry” which wasn’t wrong, but not what I expected to get.
I really enjoyed Violence of Mind. As such I had high hopes for this. Sadly it read as a tangent on the shenanigans of the “tactical industry” which wasn’t wrong, but not what I expected to get.
June 10, 2023
Немного не про OODA в его привычном понимании, а рассуждения на тему поведения в конфликтных ситуациях
November 29, 2022
He obviously understands more than most about the OODA but in the end the book is biased to his own experience and in my opinion fails to make a clear point about the loop.
I don’t feel I understood anything more about Boyd’s concept beyond a very interesting tale about violent men, how they think, and how the perceive reality; he talks a lot about how people that have not been exposed to violence are at a huge disadvantage to those who have, yet Boyd would perfectly fit his stereotype of the non violent people.
I don’t feel I understood anything more about Boyd’s concept beyond a very interesting tale about violent men, how they think, and how the perceive reality; he talks a lot about how people that have not been exposed to violence are at a huge disadvantage to those who have, yet Boyd would perfectly fit his stereotype of the non violent people.
November 9, 2023
OODA was a mixed bag for me in that the interpretation was beneficial in some areas but not others. One really needs a deep understanding of not only the OODA Loop but it’s application in violence. To understand the OODA Loop is useless without an understanding of its functional application.
Understanding a concept is not the same as understanding a process.
Understanding a concept is not the same as understanding a process.
November 14, 2025
Expected slightly more depth, no doubt the author knows what he is talking about from extensive life&personal experience but basically it was about the right orientation (integrated mindset?) being way more important than the theoretical and physical preparation (moment of hesitation means you have already lost). Interesting part was description of the psychological aspects of prison life (i.e. conditioning, creating dependence).
“First, being trained to a highly proficient level does not guarantee that the individual will perform well under force pressure. Second, the lack of training does not guarantee that the individual will not perform well under force pressure.”
“intuition is always right in at least two important ways; It is always in response to something, it always has your best interest at heart.” Intuition is defined as the ability to understand, know or consider a thing likely without exclusively using conscious reasoning.”
“Observation and perception are two separate things; the observing eye is stronger, the perceiving eye is weaker.” What happens between observation and perception? A series of factors come into play where a person tries to interpret and understand what they see through the analysis and synthesis of information as it feeds into their orientation.”
“First, being trained to a highly proficient level does not guarantee that the individual will perform well under force pressure. Second, the lack of training does not guarantee that the individual will not perform well under force pressure.”
“intuition is always right in at least two important ways; It is always in response to something, it always has your best interest at heart.” Intuition is defined as the ability to understand, know or consider a thing likely without exclusively using conscious reasoning.”
“Observation and perception are two separate things; the observing eye is stronger, the perceiving eye is weaker.” What happens between observation and perception? A series of factors come into play where a person tries to interpret and understand what they see through the analysis and synthesis of information as it feeds into their orientation.”
May 10, 2025
It's supposed to be about OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) and the author is talking about how cool and tuff convicts just out of prison are.
He is also going on about 2Pac and how he relates to 2Pac's lyrics, even going so far as to quote them. Despite the fact that 2Pac and the quote has NOTHING to do with the topic and premise of this book OODA.
This is why you need editors and you don't self-publish.
He is also going on about 2Pac and how he relates to 2Pac's lyrics, even going so far as to quote them. Despite the fact that 2Pac and the quote has NOTHING to do with the topic and premise of this book OODA.
This is why you need editors and you don't self-publish.
August 23, 2021
Read the paperback version when it came out back in June.
February 9, 2022
This book had a ton of good information in it, which is going to require me to read it again in the future after I've had time to think on what was presented.
March 3, 2022
good for reflection
Good book which will lead you to look within yourself. Sometimes you don’t want to come across as the baddest person in the room
Good book which will lead you to look within yourself. Sometimes you don’t want to come across as the baddest person in the room
December 28, 2022
Understanding Humans
Insightful concepts for anyone that truly wants to understand, master and survive interactions of an aggressive nature with other humans. When Varg shares some of the principles of understanding your environment and how you are perceived in it, in order to better survive or manage a confrontation he reminds you to master yourself holistically and not merely tactically.
Insightful concepts for anyone that truly wants to understand, master and survive interactions of an aggressive nature with other humans. When Varg shares some of the principles of understanding your environment and how you are perceived in it, in order to better survive or manage a confrontation he reminds you to master yourself holistically and not merely tactically.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews