5.0 out of 5 stars
Stay Sour!
By The Leveller on January 27, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The sequel to the immortal Paladin classic, The Logic of Force, this is the feel bad book of the decade. Unlike the other books in the series, LaFond has little advice or even any techniques to even try for you to study. This is where the martial arts focus of the earlier works give way to the writers current writing style. In many ways this was seen in the published work, a rare non liberal sociological examination of the failure of American society. In many ways, Jim, continues the oral storytelling tradition that was once a major source of information before mass media.
Its argument is essentially humans are predatory primates and this has always been and always will. Where the martial arts and even guns and ammo crowd get it wrong is that the focus of a 'encounter' is usually on the defender and his/her attributes and equipment. In reality, as one watching nature documentaries would see right away, the main driver of events is the Predator. Limiting risks and maximizing results is the same
on the asphalt as it is in the ocean or in the jungle. The numbers game, weapons and then adapting to legalities and even having State protection and blessings! Law Enforcement is having problems with these things as recent events show, so what the heck is a regular working stiff/nobody supposed to do?
You are supposed to be food, basically. The wildebeest on the edge of the herd sacrificed for the greater good of the metaphysical Herd aka the State. To say this is controversial is an understatement, are we not entitled to rights and protections of our country? No, this book argues. Sorry Libertarians!
Harrowing first person accounts of being the victim of predatory violence make this not for those easily depressed. Rarely is there a successful defense once the action pops off. What does work, the author argues, is basically conveying that you are not tasty. Too tough or too sour and not worth the effort. Too much trouble. They are many ways to do this and following James personal examples in the book and others is a good starting point for developing such a strategy yourself. Women would benefit from this book but in the end its main appeal will be to young men who are questioning why the society around them is utterly falling apart in slow motion.
The opening and closing personal accounts of the author are classic LaFond. Detailed, humorous and chilling. As he says at the end of the book: 'In the years since the publication of When You're Food, readers and fighters who I train have asked me to speak to the largely non-physical skill set used in avoiding the lethal levels of violence I have so often skirted by uncomfortably slim margins. The rub is, that margin must be uncomfortably slim in order to avoid the physical expression of this type of predatory violence. It is a double-edged encounter and it must be made uncomfortable.'
This society controls and enslaves one through comfort, and then leaves one fattened for the slaughter so to speak. Making the pursuit of comfortless and the pursuit of true manhood and honor paramount is possibly the greatest challenge for post modern non elite Americans, Europeans (and others).
Stay Sour!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very unique in places
By Tom in CA on February 3, 2016
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Good and sometimes a little different. This guy has a unique (as in different) outlook on life and on society. Some of it makes sense. I have read three of his book and would rate this book as the best one. Should you pay the money and get it? Yes, I think you should because there are concepts here that are new (at least to me) and I found that valuable. The writing is easy to read and the stories get right to the point.
Get this one first - then decide if you want more of this author.
Be part of the uplifting experience, via the link below, Yo!
