It then shows the weak areas of the body and explains how to attack those areas and how you should stand. The book has numerous illustrations to reinforce the self-defence techniques; there is also a section on defending yourself with everyday objects.
I love the simplicity of some of the moves they show you, these are things you would probably never think about in a confrontation. The undertone of the book is obviously to avoid confrontations when possible, but it will teach you the basics of how to defend yourself if you have no other option.
There are also chapters on protecting your home, protecting yourself whilst travelling around the world and protecting yourself against animals and insects. There is also a basic first aid section.
All in all I liked this book but bear in mind that a book this size only covers the basics, in many respects I think that could be enough for most of us.
This book is aimed at the reader who has an interest in gaining information which would be useful in self-protection, who is willing to spend a spare hour or two thumbing through a tiny book (the book is only about 3 inches by 5 inches).
Notwithstanding its size, the book is well illustrated with drawings and photographs which are surprisingly easy to see (even with my middle-aged eyes), and the text is also large enough to be legible.
Rather than set out five hundred specialized techniques requiring substantial amounts of practice, the author elects to protect his reader by 1) discussing the circumstances which may give rise to a need to exercise self-defense, and how to avoid them, 2) discussing the law with an emphasis on English Law concerning self defense, 3) discussing general principles and examples of self defense techniques, with appropriate illustrations.
In a sort of bonus, the author also briefly discusses securing the home against entry, self defense against environmental hazards (dogs, snakes, scorpions, and other sometimes troublesome visitors), and dealing with the aftermath of violent crime.
While the book is emphatically not written with the experienced or trained martial artist in mind, it is exactly what it purports to be: a basic self defense book with practical advice on how to avoid confrontation and techniques to deal with it if it can't be avoided.