Don't Fight Back

<b>From a nationally recognized violence-prevention expert, an accessible guide that debunks the most pervasive myths about crime and offers evidence-based strategies that make us safer</b><br><br>A specific image of violence and how to avoid it lives in a lot of our imaginations. What some of us fear most is shaped not by the strongest evidence but by the most viral horror stories.<br><br>Meg Stone, a violence prevention expert, traces the origins of these myths and how they are used to scare us into submission. While political leaders and social-media influencers use myths about crime to divide us, this book equips readers with facts and concrete action steps.<br><br>Stone breaks down these myths into four parts:<br><ul><li>“How Attackers Behave: what the research shows about whether fighting back makes attackers more angry</li><li>“What (or Who) to Fear”: a treatise on the impact of media inaccurately reporting a “crime wave”</li><li>“What You Should Never Do”: including the myth that an attacker could grab your ponytail—very unlikely!</li><li>“What You Should Always Do”: should you really always trust your intuition?</li></ul>Each chapter offers practical strategies for people to keep themselves safer and how to contribute to social change that builds a safer world.<br><br>You don’t have to diminish yourself or restrict your life to avoid being attacked. Critical thinking, not following simplistic directives, is the real way to be “smart” about safety.