The Gift of Violence
Practical Knowledge for Surviving and Thriving in a Dangerous World
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Narrated by:
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Matt Thornton
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Salome Thornton
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Peter Boghossian
About this listen
In today's modern world, we are largely isolated from the kind of savagery our ancestors faced on a daily basis. Although violence was as natural to our evolutionary development as sex and food, it has become foreign to most of us. At once demonized and glamorized, but almost always deeply misunderstood.
Our hard-earned and hard-wired instincts—our evolved and trained ability to survive and overcome violent encounters—have been compromised. Yet, as even a cursory look at news headlines or a police blotter will reveal the threat of violent crime is ever-present, and those we've entrusted to protect us cannot always be relied upon.
The Gift of Violence tells the story of this vulnerability, providing the average person with all the knowledge they need to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of violence and to increase their chances of surviving a violent encounter. Based both on the author's decades of experience teaching everyday people how to defend themselves and on a rational approach to the scientific data, The Gift of Violence offers clear, easy-to-remember lessons for people of all ages and abilities. It is designed to empower those who've been affected by violence or are concerned that they or their loved ones could be—in short, it was written to help good people become more dangerous to bad people.
Every listener will be armed with the necessary knowledge to harness the power of violence for themselves, and in the process, not just smarter and stronger, but also safer.
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People with harm OCD - a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - suffer from violent, unwanted thoughts and a crippling fear of harming others. They may also resist seeking treatment for fear of being judged. In Overcoming Harm OCD, psychotherapist and OCD expert Jon Hershfield offers powerful cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness tools to help listeners break the endless cycle of pain and self-doubt caused by their disorder, and overcome their most debilitating symptoms.
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Ok
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Left of Bang
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You walk into a restaurant and get an immediate sense that you should leave. You are about to step onto an elevator with a stranger, and something stops you. You interview a potential new employee who has the résumé to do the job, but something tells you not to offer the position. These scenarios all represent "left of bang", the moments before something bad happens.
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Easier to follow when read
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Why Honor Matters
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- Narrated by: Tamler Sommers
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
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Overall
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To the modern mind, the idea of honor is outdated, sexist, and barbaric. It evokes Hamilton and Burr and pistols at dawn, not visions of a well-organized society. But for philosopher Tamler Sommers, a sense of honor is essential to living moral lives. In Why Honor Matters, Sommers argues that our collective rejection of honor has come at great cost. Reliant only on Enlightenment liberalism, the United States has become the home of the cowardly, the shameless, the selfish, and the alienated. Properly channeled, honor encourages virtues like courage, integrity, and solidarity.
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A critical, yet seemingly impossible, topic!
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By: Tamler Sommers
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Building Confidence in Your Child
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- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Proven ways to improve your child's self-esteem. A solid sense of self-worth helps your child make good choices, develop healthy relationships, and work to achieve his or her dreams. But what's the best way to instill self-confidence while still teaching your child to value and care about others? Based on a biblical understanding of human worth, Building Confidence in Your Child teaches you how to parent positively and help your child grow into a secure adult who is poised for success in life.
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Outdated Terms/Assumptions- I'm disappointed
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The Power of Strangers
- The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World
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In The Power of Strangers, Joe Keohane sets out on a journey to discover what happens when we bridge the distance between us and people we don’t know. He learns that while we’re wired to sometimes fear, distrust, and even hate strangers, people and societies that have learned to connect with strangers benefit immensely.
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Not worth a credit
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Anxiety Free
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Anxiety Free explores how preprogrammed rules of reaction, which are a product of the evolutionary process, keep us in the grip of anxiety. For each anxiety disorder, Leahy shows how our fears and unchallenged assumptions stand in the way of our freedom. Using Leahy's methods, which are based on the best psychological treatments available, you will be able to work toward a life free from the apprehension, tension, and avoidance associated with anxiety.
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Life changing! Amazing book
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Why Does He Do That?
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He says he loves you. So...why does he do that? You've asked yourself this question again and again. Now you have the chance to see inside the minds of angry and controlling men---and to change your life. In this groundbreaking book, a counselor who specializes in working with abusive men shows you how to improve, survive, or leave an abusive relationship.
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I needed this.
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Mindwise
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You are a mind reader, born with an extraordinary ability to understand what others think, feel, believe, want, and know. It's a sixth sense you use every day, in every personal and professional relationship you have. At its best, this ability allows you to achieve the most important goal in almost any life: connecting, deeply and intimately and honestly, to other human beings. At its worst, it is a source of misunderstanding and unnecessary conflict, leading to damaged relationships and broken dreams. How good are you at knowing the minds of others?
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Finally gave up - no real point
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On the Warrior's Path, Second Edition
- Philosophy, Fighting, and Martial Arts Mythology
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On the Warrior’s Path connects the martial arts with this larger perspective, merging subtle philosophies with no-holds-barred competition, Nietzsche with Bruce Lee, radical Taoism and Buddhism with the Star Wars Trilogy, traditional martial arts with basketball and American Indian culture. At the center of all these phenomena is the warrior. Though this archetype seems to manifest contradictory values, author Daniele Bolelli describes the heart of this tension: how the training of martial technique leads to a renunciation of violence, and how overcoming fear leads to a unique freedom.
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Amazing
- By Anonymous User on 08-28-24
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The Wonder of Boys
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What can parents, mentors, and educators do to shape boys into exceptional men? Michael Gurian, a respected therapist, storyteller, and recognized expert in family systems, explains the basic needs of every boy: a primary and extended family, a relationship with mother, father, and mentors, and support from his community.
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Great Book for Mothers and Fathers
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Controlling People
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In Controlling People, best-selling author Patricia Evans tackles the "controlling personality" and reveals how and why these people try to run other people's lives. She also explains the compulsion that makes them continue this behavior - even as they alienate others and often lose those they love. Should you ever find yourself in the thrall of someone close to you, Controlling People is here to give you the wisdom, power, and comfort you need to be a stronger, happier, and more independent person.
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EXTRAORDINARY
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Bozo Sapiens
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Our species, it appears, is hardwired to get things wrong in myriad different ways. Why did recipients of a loan offer accept a higher rate of interest when a pretty woman's face was printed on the flyer? Why did one poll on immigration find the most despised aliens were ones from a group that did not exist? What made four of the Air Force's best pilots fly their planes, in formation, straight into the ground?
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A tour de force
- By Ivan on 07-05-11
By: Michael Kaplan, and others
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Combat Pressure Points: A No Nonsense Guide to Pressure Point Fighting for Self-Defense is a one-of-a-kind book designed to teach you hard-hitting pressure point fighting techniques for real-world self-defense. Pressure point fighting is a fighting skill that can be performed by just about anyone, young and old, regardless of size or strength or level of experience. Best of all, you don’t need martial arts training to apply these simple fighting techniques. Unlike other pressure point books, Combat Pressure Points is devoid of impractical and gimmicky techniques that can get you injured ...
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What listeners say about The Gift of Violence
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- Heath Hoover
- 08-07-24
A very thorough common sense approach to situational awareness and violence.
I can’t even begin to start on how valuable this book is. I have five daughters and three sons and I’m going to somehow make my daughters and sons Listen to this book. Especially women…not to sound sexist but If I do -get over it.
You don’t need a black belt in jujutsu(I have a purple belt). You don’t need to be a hand to hand instructor (I studied Thai boxing for seven years) this book gave me so much NEW information and re-reminded me of the edge I lost.
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- Rockenvelop
- 07-20-23
Great information
I very much appreciated the author’s candor in describing all the BS in the martial arts world. He did so respectfully while debunking the myths of magic techniques. Excellent book.
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-26-23
It's for everyone
This book is a difficult read, and everyone should read it. It is not difficult in the usual sense - it’s not long, or technical, or obtuse, or difficult to understand. In fact, it is simple, straightforward, and logical. At times, however, it is difficult to accept. It will make you feel things about yourself that you don't want to admit are there. It may bring up things from your past that you don't like to think about. It is not a particularly violent book. There are a few descriptions and examples of graphic violence to make important points, but the point of the examples isn't to shock you or make you cringe or to tell you brave stories of heroism.
The audiobook is narrated by the author. Matt Thornton's speech has likely been honed by his decades of teaching martial arts so he has an excellent narrating voice and it is always a treat to listen to a book narrated by such an author because their meaning and passion is completely unfiltered.
The Gift of Violence cites many classic works of logic, psychology, and evolution, but one book not cited that it reminds me of most is On Aggression, by Konrad Lorenz. While On Aggression is almost exclusively about the evolution of violence and aggression, TGoV is about rebuilding your relationship with violence. Does that mean making you a more violent and aggressive person? No, in fact the moral of the story is quite the opposite. In fact if you learn to embrace and come to terms with your inherently violent nature, you may end up leading a safer and less violent life than you currently do.
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- Sarah W.
- 11-30-23
Inspiring
Great job, Started my journey to a better me. Gave me the confidence to show up at my first BJJ class at the young age of 44. Thank you!
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- Adrián
- 10-07-23
Fundamental
This book is to be read or listened to by anyone interested in self and loved ones protection.
It gives a complete overview of all aspects related with violence and self-defense to take into account: common statistical dangers, reality grounded training practices and prevention tactics for your family and yourself.
Totally recommended, it was long since a so profoundly impacting listen.
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- AE Perez
- 09-29-23
Great content
Honest and challenging truths about violence and about men.
A well researched book. Glad the author narrated the book.
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- Andrew
- 12-16-23
Essential
Common sense on the preservation of what you love. Good listening as well. Looking into BJJ programs for myself.
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- Matthew J Tubolino
- 03-10-24
Very insightful and useful!!!
The perfect intro and in-depth look into this crucial phenomenon! Every person should read and heed!
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- Aldous
- 11-11-23
Transformative
I didn’t know what to expect when I began this book, but found it to be deeply engaging and fascinating along with being well researched and informed.
After completing it, I have a deeper understanding about my personal psychology and how to continue progressing on my life’s path.
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- Anthony W. Shallin
- 01-01-24
Best martial arts book there is.
This is the best book I have listened to in a long time. It is also the best martial arts book I have ever heard or read. I recommend it for anyone, beginner to advanced. The author explains concepts in a way that makes sense and is evidence based. Very clear and very practical.
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