A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers to help carry a woman’s groceries. Is he a good Samaritan or is he after something else? A fired employee says “You’ll be sorry.” Will he return with a gun? After their first date, a man tells a woman it is their “destiny” to be married. What will he do when she won’t see him again? A mother has an uneasy feeling about the nice babysitter she’s just … hired. Should she not go to work today?
These days, no one in America feels immune to violence. But now, in this extraordinary groundbreaking book, the nation’s leading expert on predicting violent behavior unlocks the puzzle of human violence and shows that, like every creature on earth, we have within us the ability to predict the harm others might do us and get out of its way. Contrary to popular myth, human violence almost always has a discernible motive and is preceded by clear warning signs.
Through dozens of compelling examples from his own career, Gavin de Becker teaches us how to read the signs, using our most basic but often most discounted survival skill – our intuition. The Gift of Fear is a remarkable, unique combination of practical guidance on leading a safer life and profound insight into human behavior.
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Amazing Insights! It’s so logical when you are hearing the stories of the experiences of others, yet you can’t see it clearly when it’s happening to you. This is a book that has something to offer every reader. I only wish I’d found it sooner.
Gavin de Becker’s books are always at the top of my list when I teach violence prevention and self-defense.
An eye-opening look at instinct and our responses to peril. I’ve been thinking a lot about safety what with the chaos these days
The author grew up in a dysfunctional household, in which his mother was abused by her various husbands and boyfriends. The author and his sister, learned how to use their intuition and situational awareness to survive. While the author could have grown up to repeat the behavior that he learned at home, instead he became an expert on violent …
I enjoyed this book due to its informational value that offered great insight into criminality, family violence, and deaths. The book offered a lot of gems by the way of how to understand the signs of criminal intent and predictors of violence. It covered threats by children, stalkers, people in the workplace, family members, and strangers. A …
Everyone should read this book.
I have now read this book twice, given it as gifts and believe that everyone should read it. I will likely read it again.
For anyone who doubts themselves or others. I buy every used copy i see to pass onto women who need to understand how and why they get taken advantage of. It’s great for any gender who seems like easy prey to those who seek to cause harm. Gives examples of real situations by the author and others. Gavin De Becker Is the authority on domestic …