5 comments about In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection.

1. This book is the cornerstone book when it comes to a citizens personal protection with firearms. Though it is somewhat outdated, this book clearly spells out the cornerstones and building blocks to personal defense. This is an excellent book that should be in the library of any person who is serious about self defence.



2. Great book. Factual, a must read for anyone even thinking of carrying a gun. It covers a multitude of info from the basics to the extreme.



3. I have read about 1/3 of the book to date. I am anxious to finish it. This should be required reading for anyone who carries or plans on carrying a hand gun. Even though Texas requires legal training in their requirements for a permit to carry it doesn't come close to the thought provoking contents of this book. Massad Ayoob knows his stuff.



4. Another complete thought provoking practical guideline from Massad Ayoob. I think he is the best at presenting the consequences of using a gun for self defense. With the new developments in ammunition and handguns since this publication was written, the last few chapters should be re-written and updated. If he can find the time.



5. If you're thinking about going through the training required to carry concealed, this book is an absolute must read. Although somewhat dated with regard to equipment, Ayoob will put the fear of God in you in terms of the very heavy burden of responsibility you incur when carrying a concealed weapon. This is a responsibility that should NEVER be taken lightly, and this book should be a minimum requirement for those taking CCW training in their state.

No comments about This Is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion.

5 comments about Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge.

1. At last, a textbook of mixed martial arts from the renowned fighter and coach PJ Penn! In this volume he presents a great number of techniques that he finds effective for himself and will work for most fighters. It is particularly strong in ground techniques, due no doubt to his grappling-based approach to the sport generally. The book is not intended to be the "last word" in MMA, or that the particular techniques drawn primarily from BJJ, Wrestling and Muay Thai presented in it are the be all and end all of the sport in its totality. However, they are those that he himself has used and tested. His game plan is to take the combat to the ground and win it there. Thus, he presents only cursory wrestling and striking techniques from the standing position, as the standing phase is not his preoccupation. His volume nicely complements Couture's wrestling-based strategy guide, with its throws. A kind of Muay-Thai for MMA volume might round off a "holy trinity" of textbooks in this genre.
   Awesome book! Handy for all fans and participants in the sport!



2. This book touches on all of the major points in MMA sport fighting in an easy to understand format that is coherent and makes learning MMA easier. I've got many expensive dvd sets but I find that this one book is what I work with the most. I met BJ and had him sign my copy.



3. This book was certainly worth the price! It's over 300+ pgs of some of the best MMA advice out there. It starts off with a mini biograhpy of B.J. Penn then goes right into the good stuff. Penn goes thru everything from striking basics to brazilian jiujitsu wizardry in well sorted and easy to follow chapters. The pictures that he uses to illustrate the moves are also great. Most come with several angles of the moves he is demonstrating and are very easy to follow with his great insight on each and everyone! I recommend this book to any who wants to get that edge in their MMA training whether it's for competition or simply to stay one step ahead of their training partners in the gym.



4. I should preface this review by clarifying that I don't train much MMA - I'm much more of a straight BJJ/submission grappling athlete. With that said, this book is an excellent perspective into BJ Penn's MMA repertoire and the basic theory behind his fighting style. For fighters who come from a striking background, the book may not be quite as applicable. Only a few basic punches are covered, and they are treated primarily as a means to set up a clinch or takedown, with the eventual goal of passing to a dominant position and winning by submission. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, no kicks or leglocks are covered. The book is not designed to be an encyclopedia of every fighting technique one could possibly use (indeed, Penn specifically disavows this purpose in the book itself), but it is a great introduction for grapplers who are curious to know what kind of strategies and techniques could work for them in an MMA context. I use the book primarily as a reference to explore different approaches to situations that I often find myself in just in BJJ/submission grappling, and have found it to be very useful. For example, BJ has an excellent description of how to tighten up the technique on your sprawl and use it to transition naturally to back control. He also has useful tutorials on an alternative technique for the double-leg takedown (as opposed to the standard wrestling shoot where you come over the knee of your lead leg and cut to the inside from a crouched position) that is helpful to know regardless of whether you actually do MMA. Whether you are a pure grappler looking for some insight into the techniques used by one of the best or someone looking to transition into MMA, this book has something for you.



5. If you do martial arts and don't know how to fight - what are you doing? This is an essential compliment to whatever martial art you're studying, as it will flesh out your studies and get you to rethink a few things.

5 comments about Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques.

1. I really enjoyed the book. The progression of the book is done really well. It takes the reader from the basics to advanced moves very easily. Although it helps if the reader has had some fighting expreience, I have been practicing Martial Arts for over 20 years, the moves are simple and effective. I picked the system right up but someone with no Martial Arts experience may have some difficulty. Actually nearly all the techniques I had already been taught in my Jeet Kune Do studies, ther are many similarities between the two arts. The moves chosen are very effective and practical. The rifle and shotgun disarms are something not may systems incorperate.
   If you are looking for an effective and practical system, Krav definately delivers.



2. This is written for those who are just getting interested in Krav Maga and it does its job perfectly. I was contemplating joining a local KM class but wanted to see what techniques the training would entail.
   
   This book goes through Levels 1 - 5 of the Krav Maga 'system' and throughly explains the moves. Each explanation has pictures to show the reader what's going on.
   
   In short, it's a great book and covers a lot of material.



3. Self defense (SD) covers a number of attributes: awareness, avoidance, deescalation, strategy, tactics, techniques, witness building, speaking to law enforcement and the legal system, torts, ad nauseum. This book on Krav Maga doesn't attempt to cover all of that, which is a shame, because they are necessary components of self defense. It does you little good to defend yourself only to be prosecuted and imprisoned later. That is what keeps a good, solid book about self defense from being great.
   
   Based upon the information is does present, I find the book to be excellent. The SD material presented (techniques) aren't flashy nor need the coordination of a nineteen year old Olympian. These are solid techniques that are practical, simple and can be retained in an adrenal event (when adrenaline hits, conscious thought can go out the window. Think of people who freeze at public speaking. Now magnify that fear by about a million). The KISS method is always preferable. Save the fancy stuff for the next Matrix movie.
   
   To sum up-
   The good:
   The techniques are solid, real-world techniques that are functional and appropriate. They are not useless chop and flop. Pictures are well-done and easy to see. The techniques are well-explained.
   
   The bad:
   No mention of appropriate use of force. No mention of legal strategies or that there are such things as laws regarding self defense. Little discussion on awareness and avoidance (the primary SD tools).
   
   Bottom line:
   If you have a good grasp on the other important parts of SD and just need a book on technique or maybe some more techniques to throw into your toolbox, this is a good book. A newbie wanting solid information of the totality of what it means to defend yourself can do better.



4. As a police officer and former Marine, I know your life may depend on your CQC skills and this book does not do Krav Maga justice. This book is a poor overreach at explaining what I have seen to be an extremely effective fighting system. From sport ground fighting (not street combat), ineffective combative movements, to sloppy weapons defenses this is a poor rendition of Krav Maga training. A few examples of the bad techniques:
   On pages 41-42, the other cover hand is left down, exposing your face and prohibiting a second strike with it. On page 126, this defense will not work if someone pulls back with force--which is likely. A simple turn and counterstrike will work against any type of rear pulling attack. On page 248, without stepping off the line of attack, this defense can get you stabbed.
   On page 250, this defense does not move to the deadside and will get you killed as the attacker falls back from your punches and retains control of the handgun. The handgun is designed for him to hold--not you. If he falls to the ground you are in danger. To preform the defense properly you must move to the deadside while delivering strong, simultaneous counterattacks while controling the barrel.
   On page 253, again, this defense does not move to the deadside and will get you killed as the attacker falls back from your punches and retains control of the handgun.
   If you know Krav Maga, you'll know this book has too many mistakes to be an effective guide to anything, much less Krav Maga.



5. Well written!!! All this stuff works... I been learning Krav Maga for years and this is a great way to start!!!!

5 comments about Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts.

1. The disagreement around the issue of 'Global Warming' and whether it is human-caused (anthropogenic) or not, is a good example of the principles discussed in this book. It is very plain to see now, the lashing-out by (mostly left-leaning) Environmentalists against the ever-increasing number of scientists, and hard evidence, which drives a vast wedge into this media-supported charade that 'the Science is Settled', 'humans are definitely to blame', 'we are near a tipping point in the environment' etc, ad nauseum. Ad Hominem attacks against hundreds of the world's most highly qualified (and Skeptical) climate experts are beginning to fly like confetti in a hurricane, especially since the Inhofe report. Sad to see, when many of the experts now being harassed, have been part of the UN IPCC's own effort to alarm the world. Environmentalism is an ideology, and Anthropogenic Global Warming a RELIGION, you need to be aware. But that's how stupid people can get, when they need to defend a conviction. And attacks by reason only firm a group's or individual's resolve, in many instances - in this case, the resolve of Global Warming alarmists. Thankfully, history demonstrates that good science usually prevails.



2. If there was ever a book that cuts to the heart of some of the major issues that confront our world this is it. It speaks to the individual & the marital couple, it speaks to the psychotherapy community, the judicial system, the healthcare system & goes on, I dare say, to speak to world leaders about a path, albeit a difficult one, to peace. To add to the credibility of this book, there was hardly a statement made that was not research backed. Yes, there was definitely a political point of view that will be offensive to some, but what could be a greater example of not being able to admit you were wrong than our own President in regards to the Iraq war? I think the point was that this self justifying attitude that seems to be pervasive in our society has enormous consequences. If you don't get that from this book or if you don't see yourself in the pages of this book... well, you weren't paying attention.



3. This book does fairly well in portraying how we go about attempting to make reality consonant with our internal self, and the consequences thereof. For instance, clinicians who do not use thorough scientific rigor to evaluate their claims (such as repressed memory) can end up seeking out anecdotal evidence that confirms their suspicions, and despite the fact that "x" may be untrue, will convince their clients that yes, "x" did indeed happen to them, and this is why they are the way they are. The client, apt to accept such a statement as it is consonant with the fact that it exculpates them, will then go on believing x is true (without sufficient evidence to do so), possibly destroying people's lives in the process.
   
   I focused on this as an example because the book focuses on sexual abuse and repressed memories as essentially hocus pocus, and this is where the book succeeds but also fails in some regards. For one, sexual abuse is associated with amnesia and dissociative symptoms; the hippocampus, when flooded with cortisol (as in stressful situations), interferes with the ability to form declarative memory.
   
   This is scientific evidence that helps make the point that, while the clinicians in the examples given in the book jumped to the conclusion of sexual abuse--due to operating on the non-empirical assumption that their patient had repressed memories--were indeed wrong to do so, the inclination to suspect sexual abuse or trauma when someone has lost a large portion of memories of their childhood is not necessarily a poor hypothesis (just an uncorroborated one).
   
   In general, while I enjoyed the book and found it applicable to my life on many levels, I felt as though the political examples of cognitive dissonance may have been imbalanced against Republicans (I am a Democrat); the statement that an individual with a completely false autobiography was "healthy" was a bit puzzling, given that meningiomas, porphyria, and other medical conditions can cause false memories (and the person discussed had been abandoned early in his life by his mother; how exactly can one presume healthiness here?); and that the book gave off the sweeping impression that if you've been sexually abused, you'll only experience heightened explicit memories.
   
   So, I recommend buying the book if you don't mind these objections, as it can help you gain insight as to how we have a confirmation bias and need to distort reality to our benefit.



4. A face paced, witty, entertaining, informative, and dark read from page one.
   Nothing like having every belief, stance, arguement, sacrifice, ethic,
   loyalty, and moral conviction challenged by the time you've made it through
   the introduction! We humans are endlessly interesting creatures, that's for
   sure. A must read for any inquiring mind, politician, pastor, activist,
   judge, police officer, teacher, doctor, suffering soul, do-gooder, bully, or
   social terror. Enjoy.



5. I just picked this up in Newark airport on my way back from Europe. My boyfriend had been terrible to me and the trip was the worst I ever had. So this book seemed apropo. I love it! It brings in a lot of MBA oriented theory from my Power and Politics classes as well as Advertising and Marketing. It is brilliant and I wish I had read it years ago!

5 comments about Fit to Fight: An Insanely Effective Strength and Conditioning Program for the Ultimate MMAWarrior.

1. Fit to Fight is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn the latest training secrets that will turn you into a complete, fighting machine. Ferruggia sticks to his no-holds-barred, straight talk. He does an excellent job submitting the outdated, dogmatic training methods that many fighters have followed over the decades.
   
   Most training books consist of methods that build one fitness quality at the expense of another - not this book. Ferruggia lays out a system that will simultaneously develop brute strength, powerful endurance and plenty of mobility. This book represents a new frontier in training for fighters and fitness enthusiasts.
   
   Buy this book, read it, and put the information to use right away. It contains tips, tricks and principles that are applicable to anyone, not just fighters. And I can assure you the book is worth 10x the price. I've implemented many of Ferruggia's principles with my fighters and the results have been outstanding.



2. "Fit to Fight" has it all. You not only get cutting edge strength and conditioning routines for the MMA athlete, but you get Jason's unique ability to bring it all home in a manner that both the expert and the neophyte alike can benefit from.
   
   Jason breaks new ground with some of the exercises in here -- likely ones you've never seen before, along with describing textbook-perfect form on exercises you may have been doing for years and explaining why they're useful for combat training. Not only do you get detailed descriptions on the latest strength training methods and dieting guidelines, but you'll also get 'Tips from the Cage' that answer some of the important questions you might have regarding training, diet, etc.
   
   So, Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a weekend warrior, a UFC contender or the average Joe looking to get big, strong, and shredded training the way the top fighters in the world do, do yourself a favor a pick up a copy of Fit to Fight.



3. Jason Ferruggia has outdone himself again! This book is applicable to anyone looking to get into great shape, not just MMA Warriors. Jay provides a plethora of information, including assessing flexibility/mobility and strength, prehab, conditioning and strongman training. Jay presents this information in a very easy to read manner, in which he relates everything back to his own in the trenches experience. This is definitely a must read for anyone trying to take their conditioning or strengh levels to new heights.



4. Jason has certainly outdone himself. I have found this book to be very detailed and very well laid out. For a beginner like myself, its an easy but precise read and I was able to follow the various chapters. I totally recommend this book to anyone young or old... seasoned or beginner levels.. what Jason has done is really clear - he wrote a book that is for everyone. - Darren :)



5. More myth-busting warrrior workouts from a real world expert. Jason Feruggia is straight-ahead with good advice and just the right amount of supporting anecdotes.
   Enjoyed the book and would purchase it again.

5 comments about Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

1. this item was excellent, a good buy. it was exactly what i was looking for.



2. I came into this world many years later since Lee had closed his eyes upon it. I can only imagine the loss it must have been to the world to Martial Arts. But, he never left in spirit. An essence of his philosophy and his approach to martial arts still lives through his followers and this book. I learnt Aikido for 5 years, but found it not very handy when it came to tackling an opponent in the street. That's when someone recommended Lee to me. JKD is much faster and more practical (make no mistake, I still worship Aikido from bottom of my heart...JKD is only a natural next step in the route I took for my education in Martial Arts) when it comes to handling a situation in the street. But this book is not a step-by-step guide to beat someone black and blue. It's Lee's philosophy, his approach to martial arts (which is called Jeet Kun Do) - a way of life, from Lee's perspective.
   
   I am only qualified to speak so much, but definitely recommend this book for everyone who wishes to understand Lee's apparoach to Martial Arts and, in turn, benifit from it to develop his or her own perspective.



3. I love Bruce Lee, but I couldnt get into this book! I cant honestly tell you to read it or not, because I havent! I bought it here at Amazon and gave it away a month later! Watch "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story", thats a classic!



4. It is a must have if you participate in any martial arts! This book not only helps with improving as a martial artist but also brings awareness in understanding oneself better.



5. One can see from this book that an open mind and a desire to learn is essential to learning to "fight", whether physically, or in the war against ego......
   
   Live to learn, and you will prosper.
   
   Close your mind, and love only one "way", and you will probably remain trapped in it forever.

5 comments about Training for Warriors: The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Workout.

1. Martin has once again out done himself. Training for warriors is a must have. This book is not only for MMA athletes and coaches it is for all professionals in the field of strength and conditioning. The quallity of information is second to none. Having over ten years of experience in the field of strength and conditioning and over twenty years in martial arts I can honestly say you are not going to find a more comprehensive and practical book. I consider this book, as absolutely essential for anybody serious about strength training. I use this book as a resource daily and strongly recommend it.



2. I must say that Training For Warriors is a fantastic book. The photography is great and the exercise program is simple to follow since it maps back to the book. The nutritional section really helped out and made adjustments to my diet. I started the workouts and the hurricane is challenging, but a great change from what I have done in the gym.



3. Martin Rooney's "Training for Warriors, The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Workout" is just that! Only those who truly understand training can lay it out in such a simplistic fashion. From the ease of the read, to the cornucopia of pictures, it is legible for all to understand, apply, and then reap the benefits from. I strongly encourage anyone interested in the arts or those who just desire to "train like warriors" to invest in the purchase. I promise, you will not be disappointed!
   Tom Myslinski, MS, CSCS
   Head S&C Coach
   The Cleveland Browns Football Club



4. Martin Rooney has once again demonstrated that he is the leading expert in the field when it comes to the training of combat athletes. His book, "Training For Warriors", is the most complete and thorough book ever written on the training of MMA athletes. I highly recomend it to any athlete who aspires to be a "Warrior" and consider it a must read for all professionals in the field of Strength and Conditioning.
   
   Ben Hilgart
   Head Coach- Sports Performance
   Arizona State University



5. I personally want to thank Martin Rooney for putting together such an outstanding and phenomenal book. The attention to detail for this type of training is long overdue and Martin went above and beyond the call of duty in that aspect. This book can be used for Warriors of all types and skill sets which is what sets it apart from the pretenders out there. The training program and content will not only challenge you physically but also mentally. Thanks again to Martin for creating such an awesome tool.

5 comments about The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and How to Respond.

1. I DO recommend this book for anyone questioning their relationship for verbal abuse. I was a bit disappointed by the lollipop/bubblegum examples given for relationship discussions, but they were obvious enough to be understood and can easily be applied with some adjustments. I just felt that it seemed directed to people who were older rather than the general middle age group. I have other books from this author which I will be reading as well and hope to get more insight out of the material written.



2. This book is phenomenal! Whether you are the perpetrator of the abuse or the victim of it, you will find solid information about -- and vital insights into -- this sometimes insidious problem. If you haven't already recognized a verbally abusive relationship that you are in, you will see it immediately upon reading Patricia Evans' book. If you have realized that you are being verbally abused, you will learn how to effectively respond to it. And, then, when it's all said and done, as a knowing victim of the abuse, you will see that this book will offer you the tremendously needed hope that you can and will recover. I highly recommend this book.



3. I was called every name in the book by my alcoholic husband. He even criticized me because I peeled a cucumber "wrong"!! I have a Masters Degree in my field. He would tell me things that were in my OWN field. As Toby Rice Drews says in her book, "Getting Them Sober" ----- Getting Them Sober: You Can Help! (Getting Them Sober)"if Florence Nightingale was married to an alcoholic, he would have her convinced that she was a terrible nurse." Many of our verbal abusers have drinking problems and we don't often even recognize that it's alcoholism ---- but verbal abuse and alcoholism often go hand in hand. (According to the National Institute of Health, half of all American families have active alcoholism.) After years of being verbally abused and nitpiked to death---I began to doubt that I could do the most ordinary mundane tasks. Then I found the book, "Getting Them Sober" --- it gave me hundreds of practical ways to protect myself against abuse of all kinds. (No wonder 'dear Abby' endorsed the book, and wrote "this book should be read by everyone").



4. The book is good for what it's worth, but it doesn't address alcoholism at all. The first thing a partner of a verbal abuser should consider is whether there is alcoholism involved. Then it's a whole other issue!



5. This book was like reading a chapter out of my life. When I read the checklist on behaviors, and could check 7 or 8 things off, I knew I had to act to change my life. I would read a passage and say, "Oh my God, that is me." I felt the worst when I read about what living in a verbally abusive relationship does to my children. I wish I could have started the response techniques that were written, but after 25 years, I figured it was too late to start. He has moved out, and I am beginning to find peace in my own home. I don't know what the future holds, but I will never be treated like that again!

5 comments about The 48 Laws of Power.

1. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to live an independent life. You will encounter the challenges Greene writes about, and this book offers useful strategies for overcoming them.
   
   I know Greene's thinking is sound because I've tested it. With no business or technical education, I managed to increase my income 400% in just a few years. With my own money and leverage, I bought a house in the most expensive city [housing-wise] in America.
   
   Maybe your ambitions are different. Whatever you want, you won't get it without planning. All along the way, you must deal with people. You must get around or through them. This book is a great help. It is a masterpiece. I can't recommend it too strongly. I've read it through twice, listened to it on CDs and dipped deeply into Greene's bibliography. Read this book, you will never regret it.



2. This book is being used by all the wrong people.this is like a bible for some gangs in prison.They are using it to get over on staff, and there own family.most people dont know what hit them untill its to late.The 48 Laws of Power



3. When I were in high scool I used too alwayse get picked on buy other kids and I new that one day I would be powerfull. People made fun of me working at McDonalds at first but then something happended. I found this AWESOME book! now i have the last laff. One kid even bumped into me the other day and asked me for some money and I said your not powerful and spit in his face. i got beat up but felt better later on that week. my mom didnt buy me a GI Joe aircraft carrier when I was yong so I slashed all her tires and disconnekted the ocygen bottle just to show her who has the power now! I even make my cowworkers look really bad at work by doing small things to make them mess up and makes me look better. Thanks to the athor of this book. Finally a book that i can understand AND it makes sense to me also! I feel like i am the powerfullest man in the world and I no that I am everyday when i put on my brown uniform and look into the mirrer and tell myself that i am better than god and that he kooldnt ever sweep the floors at mcdonals like better than I can sweep the floors!



4. From the Author of: One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
   
   
   This book has many great historical oddities that relate to everyday life. Who did what, when and more importantly, why. It's a book of wisdom, but I must say, I really hated the red ink on some of the stories - that part (on every page) made it tedious reading.



5. This is a fantastic reference, a book you'll want to turn to many times over the years. Worth reading through once just to get a feel for the many examples and analyses, then you can grab it as necessary when facing a problem or issue that might be resolved by changing the power dynamic between you and others.
   
   I won't say I agree with every single specific law and application. I will say that this is an excellent work worthy of your time and study.