From the Publisher
"Farrow and Frombach’s unique experiences make them effective and credible advocates for their message, and the book as a whole is a highly readable and useful addition to the genre of women’s self-defense writing."— Kirkus Reviews
“Street Smart Safety for Women is filled with wisdom that every woman should have to better situate herself for security and safety. There is so much about the life skills that women can employ/develop/learn to maintain their health and well-being. I really enjoyed the well-researched information and the personal stories of the authors. Sharing their personal perspectives gives the reader a clearer perspective on the importance and the suggestions that are made throughout the book.”
—Dr. Robin Larson, PhD, retired Broward Sheriff's Office Captain
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-26
Farrow and Frombach present a guide to women’s safety at home, online, and in the world.
In this self-help book, Farrow (a retired deputy sheriff) and Frombach (a military veteran and technologist) advise readers, primarily women, on keeping safe in a variety of environments. Employing defensive driving as a metaphor (“use the same level of awareness and confidence in your daily life that you do behind the wheel of your car”), they encourage women to adopt safety-oriented behaviors as part of everyday life, making them ingrained habits without allowing fear to dominate their thoughts. The book explores the psychology of victimization, the common characteristics of a predator or aggressor, the specific risks of online communication and dating, and domestic violence. Subsequent chapters instruct readers in resisting persuasive tactics, establishing and maintaining financial security, and evaluating the appropriateness of weapons and other defensive tools. The book concludes with appendices that include survival tips and red flags in dating situations. The text is supported by a combination of both authors’ personal stories (Farrow’s tales of law enforcement highs and lows and Frombach’s history with domestic violence and addiction), research, and common sense. The book explores the psychology of violence from the perspective of both attacker and victim, and places theory into a usable real-world context. There are practical tips with obvious everyday applications, as well as discussions of situations readers may experience infrequently, if at all, offering a comprehensive perspective on the multiple types of violence women may face.
The book is an informative collection of data and advice that many readers will find useful. The authors have a talent for pithy phrasing (“Your car is not a drive-thru! Do not ever roll your car window down because a stranger wants you to”) that makes the book’s recommendations easy to both assimilate and remember. Their broad definition of “violence,” incorporating physical, emotional, and financial aspects, is both an asset and a limitation as the guide occasionally loses focus with its departures from and returns to the core thesis. The wide-ranging discussions can also lead to repetitiveness at times (one quote appears at three different points in the text), giving an unfocused feel to the information and advice on offer. The relevant and up-to-date explanations of terms like “love bombing” and “the manosphere” contrast with minor but jarring moments like describing IBM as “a company similar to Apple” or characterizing the temptation of Adam and Eve as a “scam”; the contrast between the clued-in material and out-of-touch infelicities such as these may give readers reason to question the book’s authoritative qualifications. These distractions do not outweigh the book’s cogent arguments, however, and its recommendations for developing mental toughness, establishing an awareness of one’s surroundings, and understanding the power of persuasion and social conditioning are clearly explained and presented in a way the average reader will be able to implement. Farrow and Frombach’s unique experiences make them effective and credible advocates for their message, and the book as a whole is a highly readable and useful addition to the genre of women’s self-defense writing.
A generally clear and coherent introduction to self-protective skills for women.
