Just 2 Seconds

Un gran libro. La pena es q no se traduzca al castellano porque tendría mucha más demanda

Gavin DeBecker burst onto the mainstream scene with his groundbreaking work 'The Gift of Fear.' DeBecker and Associates have shaken the firmament again with 'Just 2 Seconds.' Just as one cannot go to a serious training event today and not escape a reference to 'The Gift of Fear,' one will not be able to train next year and escape a reference to this new work.The value of this work is threefold. First, the essential lessons of their extensive research are distilled and well presented in the first part of the book. Leveraging their previous work, and referencing other luminaries in the field of combat psychology (i.e. Col Grossman), the chapters are well delineated and the topics are well beyond those normally found in Protection 101. For example, discussion on Zen and the Art of Protection (ZAP) is not something found elsewhere, and yet is deadly serious.Second, insights into DeBecker and Associates' own training academy are given to provide a foil for professionals in the protection field to compare/contrast their own programs to. One's own training may be better, worse, or different, but examination allows for a reevaluation of the 'why' behind the 'what and how.' It also gives insight into how the conclusions of their work are translated into practice.Finally, the compendium provides the research material that supports the conclusions in the first chapters. This alone is amazing, since it is the first summary of attacks against principles (over a 40 year timespan) that I have ever seen.This is not a beginner's book. Someone interested in protection will not find this a Protection 101 skillset reference. However, make no mistake. This is Protection 521 - this is the graduate material. I firmly believe that 'Just 2 Seconds' will quickly become the new equivalent to the 'Book of Five Rings' for those in the field. It cannot be too highly recommended, and likely those already in possession will be very reluctant to lend out their copy.

When you pick up and start reading this 650 page book you think you have reached THE book about professional protection. But you are just scratching the surface more than anything. The first 150 pages or so of this 650 page book goes into good detail on the importance and what is needed in one area of professional protection, which all fits in to about 2 seconds of a encounter.The rest of the book is filled with many detailed examples of many past situations. Hundreds of encounters and attempted encounters are explained and discussed. This is very useful to someone who does this for a living, and is a interesting read from a analytical and historical stand point, but not so much use to any body else.The last group of pages are examples of letters and white pages that are generally given to protectees.Over all what you will get out of this book depends on what you need. If you need a great well written collection of hundreds of past events that has happened in the world than this is a great book. If you are more interested in the actual process, or at least what happens within a very important 2 seconds of a physical encounter of a assassination like attempt. Than you might only enjoy the first 1/4 of this book. This one is a very much a try before you buy type of book.

Yes, it's a textbook: that is why it's so expensive.However, it's also a Zen book, and one of the best of the many I have read. For that reason, it's not just for bodyguards. Some of the best Zen books involve weapons and fighting, like Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery. Nevertheless, an older woman such as myself can get a great deal from this book. Be a predator, not prey. A predator fights back better. Stay in the Now by observing closely whatever novelty can be perceived, and then letting it go and watch for the next one. (Specific techniques for staying Now are hard to come by even in Zen.)Using Gavin de Becker's techniques, I observed people for a few days in the ways he suggests. I saw a woman in a restaurant betraying anxiety I would not have noticed before; eventually a man came from the restroom and sat down near her, but at the next table so he could take out his smartphone and text with it. Perhaps his distancing was why she was anxious; but best not to judge or ponder that; just keep observing. I saw a droopy male hiker on the road with a backpack --- who had a large yellow helmet covering his whole head, inexplicably! These were all events well worth noticing, but normally I would filter them out in favor of thinking, thinking.This is actually a very rich Zen book. I took many notes. I am using its techniques. It's not only for bodyguards.

This has been described by other reviewers as being for professionals only. I'd have to disagree. If you're curious about security and protection protocols, this is a well-written and exact account. There are so many examples of security incidents, some of them historically important, and dissections of what went right/wrong. There are lessons to be learned for anyone who wants to understand why events happened as they did. It was an unexpected delight to see photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger meticulously observing the correct boundary limits between himself and the crowd, and carefully allowing only his fingertips to be grasped (not a full handshake, as this is risky.) Proper setup of venues to provide for maximum protection is discussed. Gavin de Becker's writing is always a delight.

As with Gift of Fear, Just Two Seconds is full of useful, practical information that can be immediately applied to all of our lives. His work on intuition is absolutely invaluable, and continues as a theme in this new book. The principles, lessons and reference terms he uses...MOC and MOR are as applicable to civilians as to professional BGs because ultimately we are all in the position of professional protectors to our children, partners and selves. Forgetting that could be described as denial, and there is no survival value in that!!!I bought the Kindle version for £18, and think its worth every penny.

This is a must for people operating in the security sector, my second copy as my first was taken from me and not returned,

I have read The Gift of Fear and this confirmed few things that I already discovered and gave me lots more to think about.This position is a obvious next step to all who consider them selfs as a "Sheep Dog" enjoy and be safe.

This is the greatest work on the pointy end of close protection ever written. Contains nugget after nugget of gold in terms of practically applicable knowledge based on research and experience from benchmark practitioners. The case appendix rounds out the volume with thorough historical examples which provide excellent context for the first half of the book.

Interesting insight in the kind of things a bodyguard keeps in mind (such as distance to protectee). Obviously not a training manual to be one, but did give me more understanding of their work.