| You have to hand it to Marc "Animal" MacYoung, he | | | | quarter-staff, polearm, and spear. MacYoung |
| has some of the most creative titles in the | | | | describes grips, stances and how to use long |
| self-defense genre. "Pool Cues, Beer Bottles, & | | | | weapons, including shovels. |
| Baseball Bats: Animal's Guide to Improvised Weapons | | | | MacYoung then covers swords and bludgeons in the |
| for Self-Defense and Survival" is definitely a creative | | | | next chapter, covering a brief history, grips, blocking, |
| title. | | | | swinging, physics and effects of the weapon. Basic |
| Once the creative title catches your attention, | | | | blocks, guards and stances are also shown. |
| MacYoung hits you with his first sentences, "You | | | | The focus of the next chapter is on strike enhancers. |
| know, I don't write these books so people can go | | | | He covers a variety of enhancers such as brass |
| out and kick somebody's... In fact, I write them so | | | | knuckles and saps to keys and other improvised |
| people don't go out and get their ... kicked." This was | | | | implements that enhance one's striking power. He |
| one of the earlier books MacYoung wrote, and you | | | | finishes with short chapters on flexible weapons and |
| can see that he is not far from the street in his | | | | diversions. |
| writing. There is a considerable difference between | | | | As I stated earlier, this book is only 136 pages long. |
| some of his more recent works and his earlier ones. | | | | So it was not meant to be a complete treatise on |
| Some of his language is much rougher in his earlier | | | | improvised weapons. Rather, it is an introductory text |
| works, so if you are offended by this, you may | | | | and a quick and dirty guide on using improvised |
| want to stick to his later books. However, one thing | | | | weapons to protect yourself and survive violent |
| that you find in all of his books is practical advice on | | | | encounters. |
| keeping yourself safe and various aspects regarding | | | | I read the first several books MacYoung wrote |
| fighting and self-defense. He has put out a lot of | | | | before meeting him. I remember reading and going, |
| good information. You might not agree with | | | | yep, I've seen that. I also applied some of the things |
| everything he says, but I guarantee you if you read | | | | I read in his book and they helped me during various |
| his works he will give you things to think about and | | | | fights and physical encounters. Later MacYoung and I |
| will assist you with the topics he writes about. | | | | met and became friends. I've learned a lot from his |
| This book is shorter than some of his others, but | | | | books, and even more from him in person. I |
| within the 136 pages are some very practical | | | | recommend his works to anyone who wants to |
| guidelines for using improvised weapons for | | | | further their knowledge in self-defense and survival. |
| self-defense. He starts out with a chapter on the | | | | You don't have to agree with him on everything, |
| seriousness of weapons. He then briefly explains | | | | heck he will tell you he doesn't know everything and |
| keys to look for and patterns. | | | | you shouldn't blindly agree with him or anyone. But I |
| He then explains some different types of improvised | | | | do guarantee he will open your eyes regarding |
| weapons and things they share in common. The next | | | | various topics and give you something to think about. |
| chapters cover specific types of weapons, the first | | | | And I also guarantee that he will provide you with |
| being a chapter on long weapons such as | | | | information to help you stay safe and survive. |
