Books On Family Safety And Travel

This page is dedicated to books that have assisted me along in life. The ones listed here align with the purpose of this website. Each one provides a factual insight into issues that affect us all.

It would be negligent if I did not mention the one,

It is also the book that has taken the least amount of my time, something I’m not proud of.

“I’ll Be Gone In The Dark”

Even though crime was my life, I have read very few novels on killers. They all had much in common, centering on the gore or the allure of the killer’s post-arrest media attention.

This book is different; Michelle McNamara was not only given access to case files on the crimes themselves but often assisted the investigators. Michelle puts the crimes in order and recreates the scenes for you. Why is this book different; we get to see how this killer operated from scene to scene. I’ve been on many death scenes and I still learned from this book. We can learn from this killer how to strengthen our own homes.

This killer terrorized communities from 1976 until his arrest last year. Outside the community of his victims; he was an unknown to the rest of us. Michelle’s dedication to identifying this killer led to this book and rejuvenated the effort by police to identify him.

Sadly Michelle died before “The Golden State Killer” was arrested, she never got to see him.

****UPDATE****

“Without Conscience”

Psychopath is a word we often toss about freely; especially by uneducated minds such as mine. There actually is a clear definition for the word. I was surprised to find out that the majority of psychopaths don’t carry the title of criminal. The book is a smooth, easy read. It uses case studies to explain psychopaths in relationships, both personal and in the business world.

“The Truth About Self Protection”

Many people my age know the name Massad Ayoob. We know of his teachings in firearm self-defense. This book is a bit dated, 1983, but still gets the point across in home defense and self-protection.

I used to give this book to individuals who I knew would read it and learn from it.

“Surviving”

Walter Philbrick is a South Florida man who has worn many hats. Wally, to those of us who know him, wrote this book in 2012. He gives advice on dealing with day-to-day criminal activity that we all have to live with.

A great book for the family to read, smooth and straight to the point. The book is a bit hard to find but can be found on eBay and Amazon.

Wally is a retired police officer and Florida business owner dealing with security issues.

Wally was a good Judo player and coach.

You’ve done well, Brother.

“Joan Of Arc”

Yes, you’re reading it right, Mark Twain. I bet you didn’t know that Mark Twain wrote a book about Jeanne d'Arc; Joan of Arc to us non-French. It was his best book. Twain visited France in the 1890s and his research on Joan became official.

Every parent knows about the “Required Reading “ lists that our school system dumps on our kids every summer. Most of the books on the list, usually 10 to 12 choices, are based on some form of radical left theology or a re-creation of the factual history that got us here in the first place.

This book, I’d recommend it to high school or college level students; it will give your kid a good understanding of human nature regarding politics and religion. Both are subjects that I get questions on every week or so from my 26-year-old.

My advice, take a “0” grade on the summer reading list and expose them to the biggest real-life motivator in written history, Jeanne d’Arc.

Facts On Joan Of Arc

A 16-year-old peasant girl from a small village, with no formal education.

Her entire life was sworn under oath in the Great Trial of 1431. Still preserved to this day in the;

National Archives of France.

The youngest person in written history to hold the title of “Supreme Commander Of A Nation’s Military”, at age 17.

She maintained her character of goodness in the most brutal century in human history.

She led her army from the front, not the hillside, severely wounded twice.

She entered a war that was already in its 91st year; she crushed the enemy and freed France in 7 weeks.

When asked by the French King what would be her wish; she asked nothing for herself.

Give your kid this book.

Lonely Planet

In my few travels abroad, I have always purchased the travel guide for the specific country that I’m headed to. I have found that the guides from Lonely Planet are precise in the descriptions and facts related to the country. On more than one occasion, the guide has saved me from trouble. The guides explain the latest scams or dangers that are being practiced on the tourists. I read the guide on Romania two weeks before I traveled. It prepared me for a scam that was actually pulled on me at the main train station in Bucharest.

“Two men demanded my passport under the cover of a police badge that they flashed at me. I pretty much knew they were not really police officers. My response was “F%&K You, No Passport!” I learned for the first time that certain four-letter words are universally understood. I braced for the fight to come,,, 3 seconds of silence by all, then a gracious “F%&K” You Too!” was given to me by the smaller of the two thieves as they walked away. Thanks, Lonely Planet for the heads-up on that scam.”

Lonely Planet updates their guides every 2 to 3 years by sending their people to the country for travel/work; what a job, huh? Even though I use ebooks mostly on my iPad, I get the guidebook instead, not the electronic version. I can easily mark it and hand it to people if I have a question. I’d rather hand a book, than an iPad. I have found their restaurant reviews right on target.

Well worth the investment if you travel.

Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies That Created The Parkland Shooter and Endanger America's Students.

When I think of corruption, I think of presidents, senators and congress. I think of local city governments and even an occasional police officer. I have always felt that corruption was part of adult life, in a society that continues to lose its moral compass. I never thought about corruption directly affecting our children.

Whatever you think you know about the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, before you get through chapter 1, you’re in for a harsh reality check.

If you have a child enrolled in school, in this Country, you need to know what’s in this book. The system that created the Parkland Shooter is not just a Broward County School nightmare; it’s a system being utilized all over this country.

Know what is being taught in your child’s school.

Optimism: An Essay

By Helen Keller

“Be an optimist, not a pessimist.”; I’ve heard this so many times throughout my life, usually it’s tossed by another when you are facing an obstacle or just failed one.

I often thought that optimism and hope were basically the same, but they are not.

Optimism is a tool available to us, 24/7.

It’s the fuel that never runs dry and propels us forward through difficult times.

Helen Keller wrote a short essay on “Optimism”. Learn from her how to use this valuable resource that we all have.

I have family that graduated from the Broward County Police Academy this October. The young man’s family has expressed concern for his welfare in an occupation that lives on our television screen every night. I can’t go back to the streets to train him, so I wrote a few words down and Barnes & Noble was nice enough to spread those words. There are no editors involved and I don’t claim to be an author; some of the chapters are harsh and direct. I hope that something written in this book keeps the young officers on their feet.

There is now a Kindle eBook and paperback version available on Amazon Books.

This book from Jeff Cooper is not a book on handgun shooting, despite the cover photo. It’s a book on surviving violent encounters, a refresher for all of us. It can be easily read in under 2 hours.