Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, and Live Fearlessly

by Evy Poumpouras

Overview

Former Secret Service agent and star of Bravo’s Spy Games Evy Poumpouras shares lessons learned from protecting presidents, as well insights and skills from the oldest and most elite security force in the world to help you prepare for stressful situations, instantly read people, influence how you are perceived, and live a more fearless life.

Becoming Bulletproof means transforming yourself into a stronger, more confident, and more powerful person. Evy Poumpouras—former Secret Service agent to three presidents and one of only five women to receive the Medal of Valor—demonstrates how we can overcome our everyday fears, have difficult conversations, know who to trust and who might not have our best interests at heart, influence situations, and prepare for the unexpected. When you have become bulletproof, you are your best, most courageous, and most powerful version of you. Poumpouras shows us that ultimately true strength is found in the mind, not the body.

Courage involves facing our fears, but it is also about resilience, grit, and having a built-in BS detector and knowing how to use it. In Becoming Bulletproof, Poumpouras demonstrates how to heighten our natural instincts to employ all these qualities and move from fear to fearlessness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982103750
Publisher:	Atria Books
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	75,416
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Evy Poumpouras is a former Secret Service Special Agent and on-air national TV contributor who frequently appears on NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and HLN. She also costars on Bravo’s Spy Games, an espionage-inspired reality competition. Evy holds a MA in forensic psychology from Argosy University and a second master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is also the recipient of the United States Secret Service Medal of Valor for her heroism on 9/11 and has been part of the protective details for former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Gerald Ford. She is also an adjunct professor for The City University of New York where she teaches criminal justice and criminology.

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

Introduction: Harder to Stop 13

Part 1 Protection

Chapter 1 How We Fear 23

Chapter 2 Harnessing Fear 33

Chapter 3 Mental Armor 47

Chapter 4 Mental Resilience 65

Chapter 5 The Secret Service Mindset 77

Chapter 6 Be Your Own Shift Agent 91

Chapter 7 If You Must Fight, Then Fight 103

Chapter 8 Bulletproof Your Life 115

Part 2 Reading People

Chapter 9 Becoming a Human Lie Detector 127

Chapter 10 Everybody Lies 139

Chapter 11 Reading People 149

Chapter 12 What Are They Really Saying? 169

Chapter 13 How People Read You 181

Chapter 14 It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It 187

Chapter 15 Detecting Deception 199

Part 3 Influence

Chapter 16 How to Influence 209

Chapter 17 Undivided Attention 215

Chapter 18 Commanding Respect 221

Chapter 19 The Right Questions 229

Chapter 20 The Principles of Rapport 237

Chapter 21 The Tactics of Influence 249

Chapter 22 How Others Influence You 265

Chapter 23 Being Presidential 277

Conclusion: Becoming Bulletproof 293

Acknowledgments 301

Index 305

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/02/2020

In this illuminating debut, former Secret Service agent Poumpouras lays out a road map for ensuring one’s personal safety in any situation. Her advice is hard-won, garnered from stints in the New York Police Department and working in the security details of former presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Poumpouras proves she’s adept at self-protection as she counsels that fear (“and its crazy cousin, panic”) can paralyze even the most confident—and that facing it head-on is the key to becoming “bulletproof.” She divides her strategies into three topics: protection, reading people, and influence. The first illustrates the importance of mental resilience during fast-moving, dynamic situations and offers strategies for planning for all eventualities. She also gives tips on situational awareness, trusting intuition, and taking concrete steps to ensure personal safety. Part two gives readers tools for detecting lies and for how to read people while keeping one’s own emotions under control. Part three brings everything together, with advice on influencing (but not changing) people, earning respect, and harnessing the power of empathy. Poumpouras’s wise direction and actionable lessons will be relevant to audiences of all ages. Those looking for a shot of confidence will love this. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Evy’s insight into safety and self-defense is second to none. In addition to her incredible knowledge, training, and experience she is battle-tested and proven having stood tall for our country when so many lives were on the line including her own. For anyone concerned over personal safety in these challenging times, this book is a must-read.” —Maria Menounos, New York Times bestselling author

"Evy takes readers on a powerful journey from being vulnerable and afraid to being prepared. Not only would I trust her with my life, I would go through any door with her.” —John (Buck) Smith, Chief Inspector/Fugitive Task Force Commander, United States Marshals Service (Ret.)

“Poumpouras’s wise direction and actionable lessons will be relevant to audiences of all ages. Those looking for a shot of confidence will love this.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"In a world that seems to be getting more violent, less safe, and crazier year after year, Evy is the much-needed voice of calm, humor, and sanity." —Jenny Hutt, Sirius XM radio host

"Evy brings her experienced and persuasive voice to one of the most important issues we face personally and globally: safety." —Gavin de Becker, bestselling author of The Gift of Fear

"San Bernardino, Paris, Las Vegas . . . for years I have turned to Evy to advise, guide, and empower in times of crisis. When it comes to security and safety, I find myself asking, 'What would Evy do?'" —Dr. Drew Pinsky

"Evy offers us a new narrative about what strength, determination and grit sound like, act like, and look like. Her book shows us where our true power and fearlessness comes from: the mind. In the midst of the current political, social and cultural climate, she introduces a new way for us to empower and protect ourselves." —Iman Oubou, founder and CEO of Swaay Media

From the Publisher

"San Bernardino, Paris, Las Vegas . . . for years I have turned to Evy to advise, guide, and empower in times of crisis. When it comes to security and safety, I find myself asking, 'What would Evy do?'"

Dr. Drew Pinsky

"Evy brings her experienced and persuasive voice to one of the most important issues we face personally and globally: safety."

Gavin de Becker

Evy’s insight into safety and self-defense is second to none. In addition to her incredible knowledge, training and experience she is battle tested and proven having stood tall for our country when so many lives were on the line including her own. For anyone concerned over personal safety in these challenging times, this book is a must read.

Maria Menounos

"Evy offers us a new narrative about what strength, determination and grit sound like, act like, and look like. Her book shows us where our true power and fearlessness comes from: the mind. In the midst of the current political, social and cultural climate, she introduces a new way for us to empower and protect ourselves."

Iman Oubou

"Evy takes readers on a powerful journey from being vulnerable and afraid to being prepared. Not only would I trust her with my life, I would go through any door with her.

John (Buck) Smith

"In a world that seems to be getting more violent, less safe, and crazier year after year, Evy is the much-needed voice of calm, humor, and sanity."

Jenny Hutt