Bracken: A Review Of “A Failure Of Civility”

Western Rifle Shooters Association ^ | February 24, 2013 | Matt Bracken

[Perseverando]

“A Failure of Civility” A Book Review by Matt Bracken

First, let me apologize for the poor writing quality of this review. Normally, I write an essay and spend days and days polishing it. Not this time. I’m currently in between my “pretty” essays, but this review is just pure business, like a claw hammer you picked up at Home Depot to bang nails. Pretty has nothing to do with it, so let’s get on with the job.

Second, let me apologize to the other very kind authors who have sent me their books to review over the past months. I have read them all, most of them are worthy of their own reviews, and I hope to get to them when I can.

A few months ago, I received a copy of the new book “A Failure of Civility,” by Mike Garand and Jack Lawson. It is subtitled “How to defend and protect you, your family, friends, neighborhood and America during a disaster or crisis.” Other than receiving this unsolicited book in the mail, a book I had never even heard of before that moment, I have no connection whatsoever to the authors or to the book.

“A Failure of Civility” grabbed my attention on the first page. It begins, “A few notes to our readers…. Consider reading this book as if the authors have parachuted into your backyard as special operations soldiers to assist you in forming a cooperative protection of your neighborhood. That’s one of the things that special ops soldiers are best at…covert insertion into isolated areas to train people in how to defend themselves against inequitable justice and malicious aggression. The authors’ combined life experiences, military and law enforcement, span 80 years. With this book, we give you the tools of knowledge to enable you

[S.O.S121.500]

BOOKbump

[sand88]

Matt, I read your review and some of the sample pages at the site. I ordered it.

Matt, you are a true Patriot and a treasure at Free Republic.

This book will be a very valuable resource. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

[Tammy8]

FR needs a “library” where people can list and discuss favorite books. This sounds like a book everyone needs to have.

[Tammy8]

FR needs a “library” where people can list and discuss favorite books. This sounds like a book everyone needs to have.

[SVTCobra03]

You can say that again.

[PLMerite]

Looks interesting.

But when I got to the page where they wanted my credit card information I didn’t have the little symbol that the link was “ultra secure” like they said.

I’ll wait for it to get to Amazon.

[Gritty]

Thanks for the review, Matt. I’ve sent it around to those on my email list I think might be interested.

[SaraJohnson]

Exactly. Neighborhood watch groups/leaders can and do approach the topic of such “what if” emergencies. We have discussed it and have a method to our madness. : )

I’m getting this book because Matt recommends it.

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[Marcella]

Thanks, Travis, for the heads up on the book. I’ll get the book for the information as to what an individual can do to have better self defense. I’m in a group of 61 townhomes with an entry gate. When power goes off that gate is left open.

Most of the people in here are elderly and when a hurricane comes through, family members come and take them away. At least half the townhomes are empty for that, for sure, all the widows are gone. In a major disruption for any reason, those people will also be gone. Yes, I’m elderly in years, too, but don’t tell me because I don’t know it.

It’s almost impossible to defeat my security, but if a zombie gets that door open, he will laugh at my PINK rifle pointed at him and that will his last laugh on earth. As far as being able to kill someone, I wouldn’t have a problem if he gets through my door (and he can’t get through my one window on the front). I’ve also got the high ground upstairs and windows there to see what’s going on.

There should be some elderly couples left in here and a few that aren’t elderly, and I think I’d become Joan of Arc to get the men together. Really, I have gone over and over such a scenario.

I’ll bet all the old men here were in some war or another, and bet they all have firearms (this is Texas you know).. There’s nothing tougher than an old veteran who wants to kill something. They aren’t going to have water and food. That’s a problem. Maybe that book will give me some ideas. We do have a 17,000 gallon swimming pool in here and I’ve got a Big Berkey water purifier.

[TEXOKIE]

I went to the web site and there was a link to a thing called “Diary of John Q Citizen.”

Can anyone tell me, is that an excerpt of the book reviewed by Matt? Is it another book? Or is it promotional fiction used to conceptualize how the info of the book reviewed would be useful?

http://afailureofcivility.com/Diary_of_John_Q.html

[Tainan]

LOL...+ 1 on the pic.

I caught that as well.
They're coming back for season 7...sometime this year...;)

[Doomonyou]

It’s not cheap – it costs $30. Let me just say that I would trade a dozen loaded AR-15 magazines for it and think I had gotten the better of the deal.

Have you seen the price of AR mags these days? :)

It's on order! Thanks Matt!

[rellimpank]

-—bttt-

[LucyT]

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“A Failure of Civility” - A Book Review by Matt Bracken

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[Tammy8]

Yes indeed, it seems I did say it again, not sure why some of my posts are repeating.

[MtnClimber]

Thanks for the great review. I forwarded to others that have massive ping lists, unlike me. I don’t care if some other site makes money off views. Free Republic does not and I try to recruit them here. Who cares if they go somewhere else too.

[dagogo redux]

Thanks, all. You’ve done a great service for us.

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for the ping- this book just went to the top of my “must have” list. Thanks also to Matt.

[Travis McGee]

It sounds like your gated subdivision would make a fine “walled village” when life gets medieval again! In all that I have read, you want more, not fewer, folks in your house and your community. They are more mouths to feed, but more importantly, they are more watch standers and if need be, trigger pullers. So you might slyly think of ways to hint to some of your stronger and younger relatives that if their area becomes dangerously insecure, they might want to relocate during "the troubles."