Rating: 
Summary: Be aware of your surroundings
Review: "Be aware of your surroundings" sums up most of the useful information in the book. As in his other works, there was some useful insight into the "street psyche" of would be toughs. Also, he reminds us that there are people who are ready, willing and able to do you harm. Once again, "BE AWARE."I have a difficult time believing all of the author's stories. They just seem like the type of macho krap (although he warns of the macho mentality) you might hear from some barfly before someone gets tired of it and calls his bluff. Overall, it is not as useful as some of his other books. If I had it to do over again, I would probably save my money.
Rating: 
Summary: It was pretty good
Review: After reading the great reviews, I really had high hopes for this book. I read 40 pages the first day I recieved it, and was constantly left in a state of.... ( and...ok... when do we get to the USEFUL stuff.) It's a well written book, but it's all COMMON SENSE. I could of told you everything this book does. The pictures aren't helpful at all, in that you have no idea what's going on, or how to perform any of the very few moves described in this book. If you're looking to learn how to fight, look elsewhere. If your looking to read a book on common sense, DING DING DING, you found it.
Rating:
Summary: More a book on common sense than fighting
Review: Although Mr. MacYoung does offer a lot of advice about streetfighting, the heart of his book is really about how you can avoid dangerous situations entirely. Much of this is common sense, gut instinct kind of stuff -- which of course most people ignore! 95% of bad situations can probably be avoided. As for the remaining 5%, he has good advice for the dojo trained: there's a BIG difference between the dojo and the street. It's the difference between fighting and combat. If you're not bothered by the author's frequent salty and street language, this is an entertaining book that is practical and informative.
Rating:
Summary: Often Bogus
Review: Chubby ex-security guard "ANIMAL" (more than likely a nickname he gave himself) gives lots of advice on wacky karate techniques. The pictures of him and his skinny Dungeons and Dragons nerd friend performing outlandish "wing chun" moves, replete with too-tight jeans and knives on his oversized belt, are worth the price of the book, however.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Medicine
Review: Great ideas to help you learn to read situations and avoid a fight. Also, some good ideas on what to do if (when?) the above fails.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable Info
Review: I always wanted to read one of the books written by this guy. I picked what I think was his first book. Anyway, the psychology of various streetfighters he goes into is incredible. Where did he learn all that? He writes about people you DON'T ever want to mess with and describes them with stunning accuracy. Its just amazing that he has figured out so much. That in itself is why this guy is very credible to me. He couldn't have figured all this out by surfing the web or playing in dojos (i.e. the "wolverine" personality). You need to get this book if you are serious about fighting or protecting yourself. If you want to just play in the dojo, don't get it.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable Info
Review: I always wanted to read one of the books written by this guy. I picked what I think was his first book. Anyway, the psychology of various streetfighters he goes into is incredible. Where did he learn all that? He writes about people you DON'T ever want to mess with and describes them with stunning accuracy. Its just amazing that he has figured out so much. That in itself is why this guy is very credible to me. He couldn't have figured all this out by surfing the web or playing in dojos (i.e. the "wolverine" personality). You need to get this book if you are serious about fighting or protecting yourself. If you want to just play in the dojo, don't get it.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible of Self-Defense!
Review: I do not exaggerate when I tell you that reading Animal's book saved my life: using his awareness techniques, I was able to avoid a mugging in a rather seedy neighborhood of New York City. As a professional bouncer, it is my opinion that MacYoung covers the realities of fighting and violence like no other "martial artist" on this planet. This man has been there and done that! As I read this book, the truths of violence and fighting suddenly became very clear, due to MacYoung's no-nonsense, hilarious writing style. This is the book that started a whole new way of looking at the TRUTH of violence, self-defense, and fighting. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Rating:
Summary: A good place to start, even if you go no further
Review: I like this book. I like the author, and get every book I can by him. He is funny as well as being informative. He is rude and uses some very rough language, but that is a breath of fresh air after reading some of the psuedo- zen stuff that passes as martial arts these days. MacYoung makes fun of himself and is quite willing to tell how he made mistakes so that the reader can avoid making the same ones. No huge egos here, well.....maybe he has an ego but it doesn't seem to get in the way like some of the ones I have seen. This book is described as a primer for reading cook books for martial arts. That may sound strange, but if you have never learned how to cook then the first time you pick up a cook book you will be lost because you will not know the language or the sklls needed to use it. In terms of martial arts, this book explains all the points that standard martial arts books leave off. After you read this you can look at other martial arts book and be able to tell what they are doing as well as being able to tell if they would be effective on the street or are just another "McDojo" trying to attract students. Even experienced martial artists should enjoy this book. In fact I highly recomend that everyone who is in martial arts for the purpose of dying in bed (either of old age or in the arms of a red head- preferably both) pick this book up and confirm that what they are doing is consistant with the real combat lessons that MacYoung and his friends have paid such a heavy price to learn. I am happy to say that what I do is consistant with what I read in this book, but there are some points I would not have been aware of had I not read it. This is the value of the book for even experienced martial artists. Some people just go through the motions and they have no meaning. This book will help add meaning to your practice IF you are doing something worthwhile. You may just find out that you are wasting your time, at which point this book may save your life by getting you out of a bad dojo before it is too late. I like to learn from my mistakes, I really like to learn from other people's mistakes- less blood on my part. Anyone who feels the same should get this book. And then they will probably do the same as I and get everything else this little maniac has published.
Rating:
Summary: If you expect to defend yourself ... go get this book!
Review: I've seen quite a lot of books about self-defence and martial arts but this one beats them all, though its more about "when-and-how-to-fight" rather than "Now take your opponents left arm and manouveur yourself behind him!". You get the idea of how to treat people. Together with a really good dojo training, it might be worth something.
| 
