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Rating: 
Summary: more useful than dressing up like a ninja
Review: As a nidan with no experience living on the "mean streets" I was intrigued with the premise of this book, to find out how bad dudes interact. In this book, MacYoung spends a lot of time talking about Operating Systems. "Talking" is a more appropriate verb than "writing", because this book is much like a long rambling chat. MacYoung wanders off into extended metaphors and movie references on every other page or so, which occasionally adds some insight but more often seems like filler. Operating Systems are really simply the cultural codes different groups live by, but his extended exploration of them doesn't seem to turn up anything unexpected. Locking eyes with a "young buck" (he loves that phrase) often starts a fight. Or when among warriors, breaking local customs or unspoken rules can get you beat up or killed. Most of this book seems to be based solely on MacYoung's personal experience and opinion. That isn't always a bad thing, but this book would have benefited from some real examples of, say, how the culture in Latino gangs differ from Asian gangs, which is something that he may not have personally experienced.
There are some nuggets, like a few ways to confront or mentally sideslip aggressive people, and some mental exercises to increase your awareness, but it seems like this book could have been condensed a lot without losing much. What really redeems this book is actually the flipside of the flaw I mentioned earlier-- reading it is like having a long rambling chat with one serious testosterone-laden hardguy, who has been in the worst hellholes and has lots of stories to tell about it. If that isn't the world you're from, it certainly makes for interesting reading.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun trip but doesn¿t cover much ground
Review: As a nidan with no experience living on the "mean streets" I was intrigued with the premise of this book, to find out how bad dudes interact. In this book, MacYoung spends a lot of time talking about Operating Systems. "Talking" is a more appropriate verb than "writing", because this book is much like a long rambling chat. MacYoung wanders off into extended metaphors and movie references on every other page or so, which occasionally adds some insight but more often seems like filler. Operating Systems are really simply the cultural codes different groups live by, but his extended exploration of them doesn't seem to turn up anything unexpected. Locking eyes with a "young buck" (he loves that phrase) often starts a fight. Or when among warriors, breaking local customs or unspoken rules can get you beat up or killed. Most of this book seems to be based solely on MacYoung's personal experience and opinion. That isn't always a bad thing, but this book would have benefited from some real examples of, say, how the culture in Latino gangs differ from Asian gangs, which is something that he may not have personally experienced.
There are some nuggets, like a few ways to confront or mentally sideslip aggressive people, and some mental exercises to increase your awareness, but it seems like this book could have been condensed a lot without losing much. What really redeems this book is actually the flipside of the flaw I mentioned earlier-- reading it is like having a long rambling chat with one serious testosterone-laden hardguy, who has been in the worst hellholes and has lots of stories to tell about it. If that isn't the world you're from, it certainly makes for interesting reading.
Rating: 
Summary: A THESIS PERTAINING TO HOW NOT TO GET STOMPED
Review: I enjoyed this book a great deal, although by looking at a few of the other reviews it seems that not everyone was able to get something out of it . . . could this be due to the fact that there are no pictures or illustrations to look at??? If you have only limited experience dealing with the likes of: skells, goblins, crackheads, and wannabe gangstas, this book will open your eyes as to what might be going through their diseased brains. Likewise, if you happen to find yourself in a bar that happens to be frequented by: outlaw bikers, airborne rangers, or drunken cowboys, the tips on "ettiqutte" herein will greatly increase the likelihood that you'll be permitted to leave the premises with all of your teeth intact. True, this is NOT a "how to fight" book, but it IS in fact a "self-defense" manual, as the most important lesson of self-defense is AVOIDING the fight in the first place!!! Unfortunately, most [people] know nothing of this, having been brought up with the "John Wayne" macho mentallity. Add some alcohol to the equation and . . . "HEY!!! Are you lookin' at ME??? Maybe you wanna TAKE IT OUTSIDE???" You get the picture. Violence is not "happy fun time," children, regardless of what you might've seen on TV. If you get in a fight, there will be the following things to take into consideration: broken knuckles, busted nose, blood all over your expensive shirt, tearing up your fancy shoes on the goblin's incisors, hospital bills, court, jail time, your name in the newspaper, and the goblin's brothers coming lookin' for you. Take it from someone who's been there . . . after you've been in a few fights, it stops being fun anymore. Animal's book has a lot of good advice so that his readers don't have to learn these lessons the hard way.
Rating:
Summary: more useful than dressing up like a ninja
Review: My opinion is that crime prevention has nothing to do with learning the latest 'martial art' or any other macho testosterone driven fluff. So on this note this book offers some information that may help you out more than any judo flip ever will in a tight situation. Still tho it is about fist fighting. So right there that should tell you we are not talking about a deeply intellectual topic. It's about how not to get beat up, so therefore by default it is childish. People with certain metalities and fears of bullies im sure will love the book. Other than that it is mostly just one guy's opinion on a topic that is uninteresting to begin with. All tho the book doesn't impress me from a literary standpoint, it does remain as one of the most practical "self-defense" books ever written. If you are an average guy that wants to know how the typical goon or thug operates, and how to avoid him then check this book out.
Rating:
Summary: someone remove this review
Review: someone reviewed this book using my account. it wasn't me. please take this review off the page
Rating: 
Summary: Valuable knowledge to have
Review: What sets Marc Macyoung apart from many other self-defense experts is this: he teaches you how to avoid fights in the first place. Avoidance and Prevention are common themes that prevail throughout his works. And this book teaches you exactly how to avoid or anticipate confrontations by identifying the potential trouble makers. With his unique style of writing, Animal shares his knowledge in an informative, yet entertaining way. For all those of you who have enjoyed Animal's other works, this is a good book to have. And for those who don't know Marc Macyoung, this book is worth a try.
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