"Surviving Violence" | A Practitioner’s Playbook for Safety
A realistic, actionable guide to navigating life’s most dangerous moments.
This is not just a book—it’s a lifeline. Nikki Burgett has faced violence, navigated the challenges, and come out the other side. This powerful guide delivers hard-earned lessons and actionable insights you can trust. Dive in, and prepare to emerge stronger.
Earlier this year, I had the chance to read an advance copy of Surviving Violence before its publication and provide that endorsement. I’ve been meaning to recommend it here ever since, because this isn’t just another “safety tips” book. It’s a thoughtful, experience-driven roadmap for anyone who wants to take ownership of their personal safety.
Nikki Burgett writes from a place of deep expertise. As a behavioral threat assessment specialist with decades in security, law enforcement, and counterterrorism, she has seen the realities of violence up close. More importantly, she understands what works to prepare for it, prevent it, and respond to it. That perspective comes through in every chapter.
Don’t just take my word for it—there’s a reason the book also carries endorsements from Joe Navarro, Dave Grossman, and Terry Vaughan. These are professionals who know what’s at stake, and they recognize the value of what Nikki has put together.
Several themes stood out to me as I read:
A holistic approach. Many people think about violence only in terms of reaction and what to do in the moment. Nikki’s framework is different. She builds around the triad of Prepare, Prevent, and Respond. Preparation and prevention aren’t just preliminary steps; they’re central to lowering your risk and increasing your options when it matters most.
Mind and body together. Surviving Violence doesn’t treat safety as purely physical. Nikki blends mental readiness with physical skills, explaining how our minds and bodies react under threat and how to train both to work together under stress.
Performing under pressure. One of the most useful threads throughout the book is the focus on managing stress and avoiding the freeze response. In high-stakes moments, clarity and speed matter—and Nikki provides tools for building the confidence and composure to act decisively.
Protecting more than yourself. The book isn’t just about surviving, though. It’s also about helping others do the same. Nikki shows how to extend your awareness and preparedness to protect loved ones and even your community, making safety a shared responsibility.
What I appreciated most is that Nikki is not just a theorist or commentator. She is an active practitioner in violence prevention, and her advice reflects the lessons learned from real-world cases. The result is a book that is credible, practical, and immediately useful.
Surviving Violence is not about living in fear. It’s about living with confidence—knowing that you’ve done the work ahead of time to recognize danger, respond effectively, and take care of the people who matter to you.
If you want a resource that is both insightful and actionable, this one belongs on your shelf. It's on mine.
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