On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace Summary and Reviews

On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace
by Dave Grossman, Loren W. Christensen

On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace
List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $18.98
You Save: $5.97 (24%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $11.93 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Dave Grossman, Loren W. Christensen
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-16
ISBN: 0964920522
Number of pages: 403
Publisher: PPCT Research Publications

Book Reviews of On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace

Book Review: A Goldmine of Information
Summary: 5 Stars

Although it is targeted primarily to warriors, 'On Combat' is a very valuable book that should be read by a much wider audience. It certainly has a wealth of information for soldiers and police officers, but it has much more besides.

I'll try to address some of the areas where it is particularly useful for military and law enforcement types (warriors) and also parts that are great for everyone.

First, the warriors:

1. Innoculation against fear and stress. By preparing psychologically for combat, one can be much better equipped to deal with it. This preparation also includes making the decision in advance if one is capable of killing another person in defense of oneself and others. (Hint: Those who cannot make that decision should not get into or stay in these fields.) As the authors state: 'When you are truly prepared to kill someone, you are less likely to have to do it.'
2. Debriefing - By talking through the events that have transpired, warriors are much better able to decompress. The authors even show the history of this and why PTSD and other psychological factors have been so much more problematic starting about the time of WWI.
3. Physical reactions - This includes the importance of such things as loss of bladder/bowel control, auditory exclusion, and tunnel vision.
4. Sleep deprivation and its toxic affect on performance.

Now, for everyone:

1. The powerful link between media and teen violence. A couple of the statistics cited in the book include these: A Canadian study showed a 90% reduction in teen violence when video games were removed. Also, there is a causal link between media and one-half of murders (AMA).
2. Tactical breathing - Although this powerful technique has a particular benefit for the military and law enforcement, its application can be of great help to those in accidents, undergoing medical procedures, etc. This one tool alone is well worth the price of the book.

Everyone can profit from the information in this book. I would recommend it for anyone.

Psychology & Counseling Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Psychology & Counseling Books
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values ImageZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
by Robert M. Pirsig
Harper Perennial; Published: 2000-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.23
Price in other shops: $13.00
Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Providers (4th Edition) ImageSurviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Providers (4th Edition)
by E. Fuller Torrey
Harper Paperbacks; Published: 2001-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $15.00
Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers and Providers ImageSurviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers and Providers
by E. Fuller Torrey
Perennial; Published: 1995-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.68
Price in other shops: $16.00
The Evolving Self: A Psychology for the Third Millennium ImageThe Evolving Self: A Psychology for the Third Millennium
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Harper Perennial; Published: 1994-06-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.70
Price in other shops: $15.99
How People Change ImageHow People Change
by Allen Wheelis
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 1975-07-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.48
Price in other shops: $11.99
Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep ImageSleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep
by Jodi A. Mindell
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2005-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.38
Price in other shops: $14.99
Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You ImageEmotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You
by Susan Forward, Donna Frazier, Susan Frazier
Harpercollins; Published: 1997-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops: $23.00
Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View ImageObedience to Authority: An Experimental View
by Stanley Milgram
Harpercollins; Published: 1974-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $532.97
My Life Among the Serial Killers: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Murderers ImageMy Life Among the Serial Killers: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Murderers
by Helen Morrison, Harold Goldberg
William Morrow; Published: 2004-05-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.97
Price in other shops: $24.95
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Stress ImageThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Stress
by Jeffrey P.; Davidson, Jeff Davidson
Macmillan Distribution; Published: 1996; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.33
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools ImageTerror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools
by John Giduck
Archangel Group Inc; Published: 2005-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops: $25.00
Leadership And Training For The Fight: A Few Thoughts On Leadership And Training From A Former Special Operations Soldier ImageLeadership And Training For The Fight: A Few Thoughts On Leadership And Training From A Former Special Operations Soldier
by MSG Paul R. Howe
AuthorHouse; Published: 2005-10-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops: $18.48
Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill : A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence ImageStop Teaching Our Kids to Kill : A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence
by Dave Grossman, Gloria Degaetano
Crown Archetype; Published: 1999-10-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.29
Price in other shops: $22.95
Leadership and Training for the Fight: Using Special Operations Principles to Succeed in Law Enforcement, Business, and War ImageLeadership and Training for the Fight: Using Special Operations Principles to Succeed in Law Enforcement, Business, and War
by Paul R. Howe
Skyhorse Publishing; Published: 2011-07-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.43
Price in other shops: $14.95
Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion ImageVerbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion
by George Thompson
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2004-03-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.51
Price in other shops: $14.99
Sharpening the Warriors Edge: The Psychology & Science of Training ImageSharpening the Warriors Edge: The Psychology & Science of Training
by Bruce K. Siddle
PPCT Research Publications; Published: 1995-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.97
Price in other shops: $19.95
The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence ImageThe Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
by Gavin de Becker
Dell; Published: 1999-05-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.74
Price in other shops: $16.00
Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected ImageFacing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected
by Rory Miller
YMAA Publication Center; Published: 2011-05-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.46
Price in other shops: $18.95
Warrior Mindset ImageWarrior Mindset
by Dr. Michael Asken, Loren W. Christensen, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Human Factor Research Group; Published: 2010-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.25
Price in other shops: $22.95
On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society ImageOn Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
by Dave Grossman
Back Bay Books; Published: 2009-06-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: $16.99