Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women's Self-Protection - Softcover

Larkin, Tim

 
9781609613587: Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women's Self-Protection
Softcover
ISBN 10: 1609613589 ISBN 13: 9781609613587
Verlag: Harmony/Rodale/Convergent, 2013

Inhaltsangabe

Approximately 1.9 million women are physically assaulted annually in the United States alone. In Survive the Unthinkable, Tim Larkin empowers women to understand that surviving a potential attack isn't about being physically bigger, faster, or stronger; it's about knowing how to self-protect, not self-defend.

Survive the Unthinkable reveals the effective, proven principles behind Target Focus Training, the system Larkin has used to train Navy SEALs, celebrities, and soccer moms. It's a counter-intuitive mind / body approach women can use to protect themselves and their loved ones. Readers learn how to identify the difference between social aggression (which can be avoided) and asocial violence (which is unavoidable), recognize personal behaviors that may jeopardize safety, and target highly specific areas on an attacker's body for a strategic counterattack.

Larkin discusses how predators think and teaches women how to spot them, outsmart them, and stop them in their tracks. With principles proven to work regardless of size, strength, or athleticism, Larkin's approach revolutionizes women's perspective on violence and self-protection. Armed with the tools to neutralize any threat, readers will blast through the victim mindset and live freer, safer, more peaceful lives.

Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

TIM LARKIN is a self-protection expert and author of How to Survive the Most Critical 5 Seconds of Your Life. He was named Black Belt magazine's 2011 Self-Defense Instructor of the Year. Over the last 20 years his company, Target Focus Training, has trained more than 48,000 people in more than 52 countries. He lives in Las Vegas.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

CHAPTER ONE

WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS

Life, in many ways, is like a game. We all live by a set of rules that govern sane, socialized behavior, and when we all play by these rules, people live happy lives in relative safety. These rules are, in essence, a set of agreements that we have with each other. For example, on the road we all agree to stop at red lights and drive on the right side of the painted line. When we fail to abide by these rules, people often get hurt or killed.

Most of us live according to age-old agreements about ethical behavior-- think of the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule. All societies have remarkably similar ethical codes when it comes to civilized behavior. From a very early age, we are taught these rules until they become part of our social DNA.

The problem with this whole agreement scenario is that obviously, not everyone plays along. There are those among us who do not recognize or abide by the rules the rest of us acknowledge and respect. These individuals are predators. In some cases, predators have consciences, and in other cases, they do not. Asocial predators know how to capitalize on your desire to be a decent, ethical person so they can use it against you to get what they want.

THE FEMALE ADVANTAGE

As a woman, you have a special gift--an advantage, really--that many men do not. Most women, even at a very early age, are remarkably good at reading and interpreting the significance of nonverbal cues: body language, posture, gait, expression, grooming, clothing choices, and so on. By comparison, most men are almost comically inept when it comes to reading all but the most overt signals. Whereas men's ability to read nonverbal cues is essentially like a binary code--they either see it or they don't-- women are able to pick up on a rainbow of nuanced signals, as if they're seeing everything in full color while men are seeing in black-and-white.

Think of this set of typically female skills as a natural early warning mechanism (I often describe it as radar) that gives you precious moments to avoid violence instead of needing to deal with it on a physical level. My goal in this book is to make you aware of the many different types of potentially violent behavior.

Asocial violence is designed to be difficult to spot--which is why you need to trust and use your radar so you'll never end up in a dangerous situation. You don't want to live in a constant state of fear. But simply knowing that you have the tools to save your own life--and more specifically, that you have the power to use these tools--can dramatically impact your ability to survive a potentially violent encounter.

YOUR HISTORY AS PREY

There's a saying that wildlife biologists use to differentiate between predators and prey: "Eyes in the front--I like to hunt. Eyes on the side--I like to hide."

Your eyes aren't on the sides of your head. You're no soft bunny or squirming fish. Humans are designed as predators. That means you were also born with the tools to tap into this power to do damage to another human when necessary. You just have to give yourself permission to reconnect with these innate tools when the situation warrants it.

Throughout this book, I will share the many, many ways that you can make better choices that will steer you clear of dangerous situations, whether you're at the ATM, in a nightclub, or simply driving down the street. By far the best way to save your own life is to avoid putting it in danger in the first place--and I will show you dozens of ways to do just that.

But I also recognize that you probably have not come to this book as a blank slate--chances are that something bad has already happened to you. Whether it was physical violence, emotional abuse, or a shaky feeling that you narrowly escaped a creepy guy on a dark street, you may have had an experience that left a lasting mark on your psyche. By taking a look at your history, we'll examine how your prior run-ins with predators may have affected your self-image so you can work toward building your confidence and empowering yourself to live a safer, freer existence.

I'll introduce you to the very ugly world of violence, and the only thing that actually works against it--causing injury. Although unpleasant, it's imperative that I do so, because most of us are completely unfamiliar with this stark reality. Let me assure you, though: The moment you experience violence, you'll never ignore your instincts again--ever. Experiencing it (or even narrowly escaping it) is learning the hard way, and I hope that never happens to you.

The more I can show you about how a predator operates, the better you'll be at avoiding the deadly games they play.

ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Marta and her husband, Jeff, took a trip to Turkey. Both are highly educated and well traveled, and neither would strike you as a typical victim if you met them. In fact, Jeff is a big man--he stands six foot eight and has the physique of an NFL linebacker. Their guide warned them about walking around Ankara by themselves, but the city seemed completely safe, with lots of American tourists.

After about an hour of relaxed sightseeing, Jeff spotted a local bazaar that another tourist had mentioned to him the previous day. They decided to have a look, and after buying a few souvenirs, they sat down to have some Turkish coffee. As they rested up from their long walk, the couple savored the many sights and sounds, snapping pictures of the various food vendors and enjoying snacks with their coffee.

Before long, two local men at the next table started up a conversation with Jeff. They expressed their fondness for the American tourists they had met, and relief that the Americans they'd met didn't seem to be prejudiced against Muslims, despite what local news programs were saying. Both men were charming, well dressed, and seemingly sincere. Still, although Marta couldn't put her finger on why, her instincts told her something wasn't right.

After ten or fifteen minutes of conversation, one of the men offered them some small cookies that looked similar to Oreos. "These cakes are famous in Ankara--people travel many miles just to taste these--you must try them!" one of the men insisted.

Marta's instincts screamed, "Don't eat them!" but her desire to be polite overpowered her inner radar. Marta and Jeff each ate a few cookies, which were laced with an unknown drug. The only thing that saved them was the fact that Jeff's size meant the drug didn't have a significant effect on him. He managed to fend off the two men, although he was injured in the process.

These two predators knew exactly how to manipulate social conventions. They built up a lot of social goodwill before they attacked. And Marta and Jeff ignored their instincts and assumed everyone around them was playing by the same social rules. Asocial violence uses these rules against you. As Marta recounted this nightmare scenario to me, I could sense that she would never ignore her instincts again. It could have been worse for Marta and Jeff, but they got lucky (and I never suggest betting your life on luck!).

MYTHS ABOUT RAPE

Rape is a violent crime that is greatly misunderstood in our society. Our society harbors certain myths about rape that make it difficult for women to understand these crimes, let alone report them. The blame-the-victim stigma not only prevents women from seeking help, but also perpetuates myths that get women killed. Let's set a few to rest.

MYTH: Rape is a sexual act.

TRUTH: Rape is an act of brutal violence that has nothing to do with sex. Rape is all about power and domination and aggression. Instead of equating rape with "rough sex," think of it as being like a stabbing or a shooting. The rapist uses his penis as a weapon, just like a gun or a knife. That definitely is...

„Über diesen Titel“ kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Verlag
Harmony/Rodale/Convergent
Erscheinungsdatum
2013
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
1609613589
ISBN 13 
9781609613587
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
176
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Rodale
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/imprints/A6/rodale-books/books

Attn: Andrea T Sheridan 1745 BROADWAY, 14-1
NEW YORK
NY
10019
USA
Verantwortliche Person
Nicht verfügbar