Defensive Living is a short, but very well-written book on personal safety. Written by Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding, the book is written to preserve “your personal safety through awareness, attitude, and armed action.” This book, now in its second edition, is an excellent primer for anyone taking responsibility for their own safety.
Covering many of the basic aspects of self defense inside and outside the home, the authors of Defensive Living speak from obvious experience. Defensive Living is easy to read, but makes a significant impact to your mindset. It is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in starting their journey for self-reliance, but also offers valuable insight and information to people already well along the path.
Among the topics explored in Defensive Living:
- the ‘fight or flight’ response (aka: body alarm response);
- recognizing potential threats;
- conditioned responses;
- legal issues in self defense;
- threats to you in your home;
- threats to you while in your car;
- handguns for self defense;
- mental preparation;
- holsters;
- firearms safety; and
- gun handling skills.
Defensive Living is not a gun book, per se. Rather, it is a holistic approach to the concept of self-defense. Firearms are an obvious part of the book, and are covered, but so are other topics such as situational awareness and criminal mindset.
In the handgun section of Defensive Living, there are step-by-step instructions, with photos, on establishing the best grip, perfecting the draw, indexing the weapon, using flashlights, and much more. Lovette speaks about self defense from experience. He is a retired CIA operations officer, a prior commissioned officer in the US Army Special Forces, and a 10-year law enforcement veteran. Spaulding is a firearms instructor and retired sheriff’s lieutenant with 28 years of law enforcement experience.
As I mentioned earlier in this article, I highly recommend this book to the citizen who is just starting out, seeking to take responsibility for their own safety. Defensive Living will open your eyes to a variety of issues you may have never considered.
I also suggest that the “old hands” to self defense and concealed carry consider Defensive Living. While some of the information you may have already gotten in other training classes, there are explorations into areas not covered in basic CCW classes.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Dave Spaulding, and based on my impressions of him he is a no-nonsense, find what works kind of guy. I did not get the impression when reviewing this book that there was any agenda other than keeping the reader safe.
You can click here to get your copy of Defensive Living from Amazon.
Surviving the Street: Guide to Concealed Carry of a Firearm
Essential information on concealed carry. This book has just the basics - not a lot of fluff to get bogged down in. Easy to read, Surviving the Street introduces the reader to the important information you need as an armed citizen.
The author presents frank information about self defense in a way that is easy to understand and use.
