The Power of Awareness: And Other Secrets from the World's Foremost Spies, Detectives, and Special Operators on How to Stay Safe and Save Your Life

by Dan Schilling

Overview

A spy is suddenly aware she's being stalked through the streets of an overseas city. A special ops soldier intuitively recognizes something's "off" during a high-risk mission. In these life-threatening situations experts know exactly how to use their senses and what actions to take. At the intersection of The Gift of Fear and Make Your Bed, The Power of Awareness will make sure you will, too.
 
In his empowering book, Dan Schilling shares how to identify and avoid threats using situational awareness and intuition just like the pros. Told with wit and wisdom, this compelling guide uses harrowing stories from Dan's special operations career and those of other experts to outline six easily implemented rules you can apply anywhere to improve your personal safety.
 
It incorporates exercises to understand how situational awareness works in real life, how to better listen to your intuition, and when confronted by a criminal how to make a plan and take action with confidence—so you can escape the threat before it's too late.
 
He also includes tools on how to secure your home or hotel room, use public transportation, plan international travel, and reduce your criminal target appeal and exposure, in addition to how to escape an active shooter situation. As a bonus, you'll even learn how to survive a date without getting murdered.
 
By the last page you'll know that your own Power of Awareness can save your life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538718674
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,055,512
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

In his 30 years in special operations DAN SCHILLING conducted combat and clandestine missions around the world, founded and then commanded two special operations squadrons—the second being one of America’s most clandestine special mission units—and worked alongside the CIA, FBI, and NSA to defeat terrorists as well as biological and nuclear weapons proliferation. An adrenaline enthusiast, Schilling is a professional demonstration skydiver, holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours and is an alpine speedwing pilot. He is now committed to making the world a safer place through his Power of Awareness Institute. Learn even more about your personal safety at myPOA.org. 

Table of Contents

The Assassin ix

Introduction xiii

The Rules

Part I Know

Rule 1 Be Situationally Aware 5

Rule 2 Trust and Use Your Intuition 39

Part II Prepare

Rule 3 Determine If You Have a Problem 73

Rule 4 Develop a Plan Page 91

Part III ACT

Rule 5 Act Decisively Page 115

Rule 6 The Two Rs-Regroup & Recover 131

The Tools

Tool 1 Preparedness 147

Tool 2 Reducing Your Criminal Target Profile 161

Tool 3 Armed Threats and Active Shooters 167

Tool 4 Reducing Your Personal Information Footprint 185

Tool 5 Digital to Three-Dimensional Dating 197

Tool 6 Travel Planning 201

Afterword 209

Acknowledgments 215

Appendix A Resources 217

Appendix B Checklists 227

Selected Bibliography 237

Index 239

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/19/2021

In this gripping guide, Schilling (Alone at Dawn), an Air Force special operations and combat control veteran, advises on how to stay safe in the face of danger. The power of intuition, he argues, is the most important tool one can use, particularly learning to read body language and facial expressions, which can set off subconscious alarms. The ins-and-outs of forming plans, acting decisively, and being prepared are fleshed out. For instance, Schilling recommends carrying hidden money in the event of being robbed, always holding possessions in one’s lap, never using back pockets, and carrying a tactical pen (an inconspicuous steel pen that can be used as a baton). Tips on securing private homes and data are particularly thoughtful, as is a sadly necessary section about surviving a mass shooting: gather with others, subdue the assailant if possible, and “if you can’t escape, begin evading.” Real-life anecdotes, such as Schilling’s actions during the Battle of Mogadishu or the story of a CIA agent being stalking by Kuwaiti spies, break up chapters and add a sense of tension. Readers will gain essential insight on self-protection from Schilling’s eye-opening manual. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Schilling delivers the definitive guide to staying alive and safe no matter where in the world you find yourself, from the grocery store to the battlefield. Through storytelling based on real-world experiences, many his own, he reminds us that with a proper mindset, we all have the ability to shape our environment.”—Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent, FBI (retired), Former Assistant Director in charge of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division

"Some books are very entertaining. Some are very educational. The Power of Awareness is both, with a good helping of inspiration thrown in. Readers will find that Schilling's philosophy and methodical approach have applications far beyond the extreme situations we all want to avoid. His techniques make "awareness" a way of dealing with life, whether extreme or not."—Jim DeFelice, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“For special operations or clandestine officers, tactics, technique and procedures (TTPs) are a way of life and make the difference between life and serious injury. Dan Schilling, in an exceedingly entertaining and enlightening descriptive manner, provides rules and tools to make the everyday person’s life easier and safer. His stories, anecdotes, and lessons learned are as much fun to read as they are informative.”—Lt General Kurt A. Cichowski, USAF (Ret.), former CIA Associate Director and Vice Commander Air Force Special Operations Command

“This book is for all who wish to be prepared for anything. Dan provides information and exercises designed to build operator-level awareness and response. Whether for refreshing prior skills or learning to better protect self and loved ones, this book will save lives!”—Randy Watt, Former Green Beret and SWAT Officer

“Essential reading for anyone looking to navigate an uncertain world more safely, from dating to travel to your own home. Dan Schilling’s advice will teach readers how to stay aware, act in a crisis, and most importantly how to stay safe.”—Evy Poumpouras, former Secret Service Agent and author of Becoming Bulletproof

"In this gripping guide, Schilling (Alone at Dawn), an Air Force special operations and combat control veteran, advises on how to stay safe in the face of danger... Real-life anecdotes, such as Schilling’s actions during the Battle of Mogadishu or the story of a CIA agent being stalking by Kuwaiti spies, break up chapters and add a sense of tension. Readers will gain essential insight on self-protection from Schilling’s eye-opening manual."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An empowering guide with the potential to transform readers' approach to personal safety.”—Booklist

"Schilling helps readers become their own best bodyguards and prepare themselves before something happens."—Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 06/01/2021

Schilling, a veteran of combat and clandestine missions around the world, addresses personal safety. Drawing on his knowledge and that of other experts, this book teaches readers about situational awareness—listening to one's intuition and taking action when confronted with a problem. It offers six safety rules, divided into three categories, "Know," "Prepare," and "Act." There's advice for reducing one's criminal target profile or dealing with emergency situations while away from home. Schilling's message is to tap into and listen to one's intuition until this becomes second nature. VERDICT Schilling helps readers become their own best bodyguards and prepare themselves before something happens.

Library Journal