Kidnapping Survival — the book
What would you do if you were kidnapped? A practical survival manual for people at risk, for those who have been through the ordeal, and for trainers.
While the precautions in this book will reduce the risk, you could still be assaulted. And while there are books that discuss kidnapping risks and how to protect ourselves, the following elements are largely missing:
- How to stay calm when assaulted
- The mind-set you need to survive
- The daily and long-term challenges of captivity
- How to avoid or get out of trauma
- How to relate to angry and violent kidnappers
- How to influence the kidnappers to your advantage
The last element stands out: it may hold the key to survival and is probably the most neglected element in survival training. No one should die or be mistreated because they lack basic knowledge of influence psychology. A discussion of the Stockholm syndrome and how to relate to it is included, as is a comprehensive chapter on recovery and handling trauma after release. The book is full of practical, easy-to-understand advice for a wide variety of situations.
Available on Amazon and orderable from any major bookstore. For discounted purchase (minimum ten books), contact us at info@kidnappingsurvival.com.
Find it on AmazonPraise for the predecessor, Surviving Kidnappers
Reviews of the new edition are currently invited.
I am travelling widely and have increasingly felt the need for a book like Surviving Kidnappers. In clear, information-filled pages Olav Ofstad has provided everything I wanted. I owe him my genuine thanks, and so will other readers.Robert B. CialdiniAuthor of Influence and Pre-Suasion
This book provides an indispensable guide to the risks of travelling and living in unsafe areas. It gives a detailed account of the preventive measures that can be adopted, and explains how to survive with body and soul intact should the worst occur.Gregory M. ReichbergResearch Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo
While there are many organisations that offer hostile environment awareness training, there is no truly authoritative insider's guide on preparing frequent travellers and workers in high-risk areas ahead of the specific risk of kidnapping. Surviving Kidnappers is now the first such publication.Tim CurtisManaging Partner, The Security Cooperative
Easy to read, logically structured and built around a variety of scenarios, Surviving Kidnappers can be used for individual requirements just as much as a reference guide for professionals. Certainly a utility tool that stays true to its promise.Colonel Peter LindqvistThe Norwegian Army
Olav Ofstad has assembled the necessary research, education and experience to create a survival mindset for the reader by providing the mental preparation of living through an unthinkable situation.Michael FarrowCEO, Protective Intelligence Concepts, LLC
If you live in a country where kidnapping is a likely possibility, then you must read this book. It tells you how to handle different situations and what to do depending on the kind of kidnapping. Excellent resource!Lectus Read
What really blew me away was the variety of kidnappings he was talking about — from boat to car to plane to jungle and more. The author quotes real-life kidnapping experiences, which really helped break apart the amount of information I was taking in.Teleri Rees
An essential handbook for anyone who might be at high risk of kidnapping. I enjoy knowing how to handle what-if situations and how psychology can work for you.Audrey Adamson
Excellent! I've long had an interest in survival. Thorough, easy to read. Highly informative.Jenny Quinlan
An easy read and written in a very interesting way. Nobody would ever want to be in the situation to use what is covered in the book, but it's very useful to have this knowledge in the back of your head.Larissa Lio
The practical way it was written, sans drama, was engaging and presented in a logical order. I had the feeling I was attending a presentation by a speaker who knew how to maintain his audience's attention.Schizanthus Nerd
An interesting book with great advice for lots of situations. Well set out under different headings.Jayne Davies
This is no gung-ho, wannabe special forces survival manual, rather a serious study gleaned through interviews with victims of kidnapping combined with insights from the psychological literature. An appreciation of social psychology and how to influence others can be beneficial to anyone whose job leads them to interact with others.James Pierson
I think this book offers great tips on how to avoid being a victim!Jennifer Ornelas
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