The Gift of Fear, and other survival signals that protect us from violence

avin de Becker is a very well known and high profiled security expert, consultant and author from the USA. He's an advisor to several institutions within the American government, as well as prominent media figures and celebrities. Furthermore he has been an advisor in many well-known cases, the O. J. Simson trial being one of them. This book is on the very top of its field in personal security, violence and prevention of violence.

This is a book about intuition..., ...which has very little to do with the mythical stuff that some may term "female intuition" :-). The root of the word intuition (tuere) means to guard - to protect. What we are talking about here are the signals that criminals, perpetrators, attackers, predators etc. send out to a potential victim - signals that are visible and audible (we can see and hear them). In other word: there is nothing mystical about intuition, it is an ability we're all born with. But through social adaption, denial, lack of training or recognition this natural "gift" can become dulled or non-responding.

Often times we get this: "Come to think about it...", or: "There was something about that person..." - feeling after something has happened. In other words we have seen or heard something, but did not have the ability, will or knowledge to put it into the proper context. In the words of the author: "(...) and many others want to dismiss as a coincidence or a gut feeling is in fact a cognitive process, faster than we recognize and far different from the familiar step-by-step thinking we rely on so willingly."

This truly great book points out and explains many of these signals, how they occur in various situations, and how we may respond to or act on them. It is a practical book, filled with examples and down-to-earth advice. The form is somewhat American here and there (hey... it's a book from the US :), but that doesn' change the fact that this is an important book, as well as a well written book.

In short you simply owe it to yourself to read (and study) this book. Anyone concerned about self-defense, personal safety, prevention of violence and human behavior must simply read and re-read this book - no if's - no but's! If not for yourself, then for the benefit of your children!

I am confident that the book can be obtained from Abebooks. I have also seen it on Amazon (link in the left column). Do not delay this purchase!

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