Recommended Reading
We do not often recommend rape prevention books. Some are “idealistic,” and just don’t seem to grasp the truly violent nature of a sexual assault. Others push their own agendas. The worst of these tend to be authors that present their martial art as the ultimate guarantee of your personal safety. If they have you practicing crazy complicated moves by yourself in front a mirror, that is bad enough. If they actually have useful tactics, then rest assured the bad guys are reading the same book you are. Occasionally, we run across a book that is really packed with useful information, information that could save your life. Here are some of our suggestions:
The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
If it were possible to issue this book to every single woman in the world as a high school graduation gift, we’d do it. So many violent assaults could be avoided if more people followed Mr. de Becker’s clear, thoughtful, well-researched advice. He has dedicated his life to the study and prediction of violent behavior. In this book he outlines the warning signs of a potentially abusive date, stalker, or stranger. Even better, he offers solutions.
The Date Rape Prevention Book by Scott Lindquist
An excellent and illuminating study of the tools, tendencies, and culture of the most common subset of sexual predators in America today. Solid, useful information on drugs and alcohol, but it also offers the first breakdown on the characteristics of “good” and “bad” fraternity parties. That alone is worth the price to any woman going to college.