What do you do if you are traveling in a foreign country and find yourself in a strange situation? Although not every situation you may find yourself can be covered in a single book, former Navy SEAL operator Clint Emerson highlights 100 skills that may save your life in an emergency. In today’s world, it has become extremely important to follow a few basic rules to be prepared and not be caught wishing you had bought and read this book!

“The author and publisher disclaim any liability from any injury that may result from the use….” I thought this was a curious way to introduce the book but in today’s world of litigation, I can understand it completely after reading further into the skills that Emerson suggests to “entertain while simultaneously imparting a body of knowledge that may come in handy…”

Emerson breaks the 100 Deadly Skills into nine parts that tie the individual skills together. He provides both a concept of operation (CONOP) and bottom line up front (BLUF) for each skill and starts out with a few basic tasks, which a “Violent Nomad” should do to be prepared for the skills that follow in the book.

One of the basics that I believe is important: preparing your kit. What do you have in your pocket, car, or house that is ready in the event of a violent situation or even a natural disaster? Remember NCIS Special Agent Gibb’s Rule #9? “Never go anywhere without your knife!” In today’s world, however, a Violent Nomad travels with an everyday carry weapon or two!

After each tragedy, the news media seems to find the person that stares into the camera and says, “I didn’t know what to do, I just froze!” You do not want to be that person!

Does a person need to turn into a warrior to find this book useful? No, Simple exercises that he mentions, such as knowing and planning your exit, could be valuable when the fire alarm goes off while staying at a Las Vegas hotel or an active shooter interrupts the latest Star Wars movie!

In the notes to readers , Emerson states, “ When confronted with unexpected danger, in many cases the safest course of action is escape. In the face of an active shooter, the first option is to run — and the last is to fight. If a thief wants your valuables, hand them over. If the end of the world truly comes to pass …. well then all bets are off.” Besides, a law enforcement friend that I discussed the book with said, “run, a moving target is hard to hit!”

100 Deadly Skills is a must read, especially in today’s world and a great stocking stuffer!

Note: This book was submitted, reviewed and approved by the US Department of Defense prior to publishing.

Dave Mattingly is a writer and national security consultant. He retired from the U.S. Navy with over thirty years of service. He is a member of the Military Writers Guild, NETGALLEY Challenge 2015 and a NETGALLEY Professional Reader.