Sexual-Assault Books

Thorough and well organized, See Sally... gives women the tools they need (attitude, awareness, avoidance, and action) to protect and defend their physical safety. Instruction also includes over 100 pictures demonstrating self-defense during a physical attack.

I especially like the section aimed at campus environments and the explanations of common date-rape drugs. A copy of this book should be sent with every girl/ woman departing to college. Five Stars.

I purchased this book for research purposes on a new Women's Self Defense Course I am developing. I am an instructor at a martial arts school. This is an invaluable book. All girls, teenagers, college students, mothers and any other woman should read this book. It is very comprehensive. My only complaint is that the author relied heavily on Aikido techniques, which seemed a bit complicated for the beginner. Self defense techniques should be easy to remember and easy to perform. I will not be using many of his grab escapes in my program. Besides that, it was easy to read and well organized.

I bought this as a gift for my sister, she escaped a near assault last year. I read most of the book before giving it to her . I really liked some of the common sense things women (and men) should look out for and be aware of their surroundings. For example it says that if a car is parked next to yours, and a person is sitting in the passenger seat - don't get in your driver side, slide in from the passenger side. This is so they can't grab you. After reading that I remembered 2 kidnapping cases that I have read about in the last year where this is exactly what happened.

Recommend for any woman or teenage girl.

What a useful book! As a retired college admissions director, I would recommend this book without any reservation. It is a must read for female college students and although the author lovingly dedicates the book to the women in his life (his wife and three daughters), there is such a breadth of information that anyone will benefit from this read.
What makes this book stellar: 1) the author is highly credible with two black belts in both tae kwon do and aikido. He is personally committed through his roles as husband and father, 2) the book is easy to read and understand - not always the case with self-protection books that show pictures of contortionists that attempt to explain how you, the average person, can also perform these feats in three easy steps, 3) the books covers the critical elements of Attitude, Avoidance, Awareness and Action (Mr. Vogt's 4 As) but also expands to touch on current issues including identity theft and international travel and finally, 4) the book is concise, clear and easy to read in 165 pages. It makes a great gift for the college-bound set, for the daughter moving away from home for the first time and, really, for anyone who needs to increase their awareness of their circumstances in these times.

Fred Vogt has written an excellent book on women's personal safety. Every woman will benefit from this easily read book. It is a very comprehensive book covering the many aspects of women's lives with numerous safety tips that can be easily incorporated into your daily life. While the book focuses primarily on prevention, there is a chapter on physical self-defense techniques which are illustrated with detailed pictures to simplify the learning process. I highly recommend this book. Buy one for yourself or your loved ones!

Finally, a personal account of PTSD specifically tailored for women sufferers. After years of reading and research into understanding my own struggle with PTSD, Lady's struggle revealed to me the starting point for survival. Her struggles and fears are felt so strongly while reading her life story. A book full of ah ha's for the women who feel so alone and fearful of their own emotions and behaviors. I praise Lady for her ability to provide the painful details of her own life so that others may find hope and healing in their struggles with PTSD.

"My Journey to Peace with PTSD" is a must have for any professional practicing in the field of mental health. It is necessary for women sufferers who find their own story too difficult to discuss to first feel a connection with another woman such as Lady. Only then can we release ourselves from a world of secrecy and shame to make an honest commitment to therapy and the prospect of healing. Lady's book has opened up a clearer pathway for my ability to speak about the details of my own traumas in therapy and with family. That is an amazing step in my own life, one filled with avoidance, and a step that has already provided fascinating results.

My Journey to Peace with PTSD has helped me connect with myself. Lady is a real Heroine. You have to be very Brave and Strong to expose yourself to others the way she has.

This book is an extremely vivid and authentic account of one woman's traumatic experiences, building up from sexual abuse during early childhood and culminating in a brutal rape while she was in the military - all of which remained suppressed until she experienced a breakdown in her early 60's. Throughout her life, Lady exhibited all the symptoms of a PTSD sufferer but no one seemed to notice, least of all herself. When the break-through moment came, she courageously looked at her life and asked for help. Then she turned around and asked, "How can I help others?" I was fortunate to walk with Lady as she recovered her memories and committed them to writing - intelligent, no-nonsense and compelling prose. If you have suffered trauma, or wish to help (or at least better understand) someone who has, please read this book. I promise you will be a changed person when you reach the last page. I was!

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/07)

In "My Journey to Peace with PTSD" Lady Cerelli tells her life story. She experienced a great deal of abuse in her life. It began with her stepfather raping her as a child, and her mother's refusal to acknowledge that it really happened. It continues on through her life where she continues to encounter men who brutally victimize her. Along the way, Lady tries to have a "normal" life, but finds herself drawn into inappropriate, self-defeating behavior. It seems like Lady was acting out so that the wounded child within her could be heard. Instead, she encounters more abusive types of people and continues a downward spiral.

Lady's behavior follows a pattern that is common for people with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). As an adult, she is finally diagnosed with this after she has some seriously traumatic memories surface. While getting help, Lady discovers how her behaviors have been caused by traumas that she has experienced. On the difficult road to recovery she begins making positive changes in her life. Her relationship with her husband also deepens. She learns about real love.

In many ways, it was difficult for me to read "My Journey to Peace with PTSD." It is always hard to read about a child experiencing abuse and not being helped. Lady did have a special older lady touch her life. This made me think about being more careful with the emotionally fragile students that I work with. If I can touch someone's life like she did, I can really make a difference. It was also hard for me to read because it drug up some painful personal memories of my own childhood. These were memories I buried. Lady helped me to understand a lot of my past and why I react like I do. She also provides information about exactly what PTSD is, and will help others determine if they have it and need help. She also answered a question that I had about why people who have been abused seem to attract abusers. This was really informative and thought-provoking.

"My Journey to Peace with PTSD" came into my life at the perfect time. Not the easiest time, but the perfect time. I am very grateful to Lady Cerelli for telling her story. I know that it couldn't have been easy. By doing so, she brings something good into something that was bad. In the six hours that her book has sat on my desk, she has touched three additional lives including my own because people have asked me about it and we start talking. I went to her website and discovered more useful information. This is a book for people who have abusive pasts and those that work with them. It will really open your eyes and help you understand who you are and what you can do to make a difference, either in your life or someone else's.

My Journey to Peace with PTSD is a gut-wrenching read. It is well written and easy to understand. It may act a textbook for anyone suffering from PTSD. It will let them know that they did not ask for or cause their personal trauma. It will let them know that they are not alone in their feelings of anger and despair. Reading this book will also
prove helpful to anyone close to a person suffering from PTSD. Ms Cerelli's first person story offers a glimpse of the pain and alienation
suffered by PTSD victims. It was an an act of courage for her to share her story with the world.

I saw Mike in person at my campus and thought he was totally awesome! Even though I have not read the book yet, I would totally recommend seeing him in person if you get the opportunity!

The most important issues facing our youth today have been addressed in this sensational book on dating and sexual assault awareness. The angles taken by Domitrz reach the inner most thoughts of all ages, giving the reader detailed solutions to the entire dating experience.
A must read!

May I Kiss You? by Michael J. Domitrz is a sexuality, and awareness guide focusing on the complex contemporary issues surrounding dating, intimacy, and above all, the importance of asking first. Stressing the importance of coming to a mutual understanding concerning the most private moments, and with a firm view of the problems of sexual assault and harassment, May I Kiss You? has the very highest recommendation for all anyone of any age who seeks to pursue a romantic relationship -- and should be readily available in every high-school, college, and community library in the country.

This is a must have for any high school or College student: man or woman. Parent's, this could save your daughters life! I recently had the opportunity to read this book as well as hear the author speak in a candid seminar on my college campus. We were enlightened so much with the information he has to share. The content provided in this book is priceless-and if you ever get a chance to hear the author speak-Don't miss it!!

A MUST HAVE!!!!

"I asked my friends, 'How do you date?' and soon learned that the average male's actions on a date were not far from the motivations of a serial rapist. Males were assuming what women wanted and then acting upon their own assumptions. Our society was teaching females to accept this unhealthy dating culture." ~Michael J. Domitrz

Michael Domitrz is a nationally renowned expert on dating. He travels the country teaching students, parents, educators and professionals about respect and sexual assault awareness. His life was changed when his sister was raped in the fall of 1989. He started to question how he viewed dating. Over the years he created a program to change the way people view dating, respect and sexual assault.

"May I Kiss You?" takes a look at more than sexual assault. This book asks challenging questions, provides thought provoking scenarios and presents dynamic solutions.

Whether or not you have decided to wait until marriage or think you could never be raped, this book will give you the insight you need to not only protect yourself, but to protect the person you are dating.

Michael Domitrz discusses body language and how unreliable it can be. He asks if you are sending the right messages to your dates. What is very interesting is how males and females read body language in a completely different fashion. While the male's reaction includes ideas about how the woman is very interested, the female's response will include statements reflecting her nervousness and how uncomfortable she is with a particular situation.

Recently while watching a movie, the man asked the woman if he could kiss her. How often does this occur? Should it occur more? The author thinks it should. I have to agree that women will find this romantic. Of course, I can't see that a guy would have to ask each time. As a relationship progresses into various stages, mutual respect and trust will guide more than questions. Right? The author doesn't seem to agree.

The author makes some interesting points about how you should receive consent or you could be acting under the parameters of a sexual assault. The emotional pain and trauma from a sexual assault can be intense. Victims can react in dramatic ways, drop out of school or want to move away from the area where the assault occurred.

"Sexual assault can happen when two good people are dating each other and one person acts with disregard for the other person's feelings and rights."

So what do you do if you feel you have been raped? Chapter five gives you the resources you need to take action. The author says that you always have the right to say STOP. Personally, I think you should think about what you are doing way before you need to say stop! If you don't want sex, then perhaps putting yourself in the position of being alone with a person is not a good idea. A Mob Mentality is however something to consider. Hanging around with the wrong types of people can be equally harmful.

The author also discusses "Weapons of Self-Defense" and shows how your body and clothes can be used as defense against an attack. He also explains how the body and mind shut down during traumatic experiences and shock can limit your ability to physically react to your assailant. Thinking ahead seems KEY. Going out with a group of ?good? friends on the first date seems a good idea.

The author gives excellent ideas on how to avoid being raped. Something as simple as selecting a different time of day for the date could save you years of trying to recover from a sexual assault. He discusses a variety of ways you can stay in control of your body. Even paying for half the date will give you more power or avoiding alcohol can help you remain in control. Date rape drugs are drugs everyone should be aware of so you can avoid this happening to you.

"May I Kiss You?" is not about whether you should have sex or not. This book does not discuss religious beliefs. It is about protecting yourself from having sex if you don't want sex in any given situation. It is about creating a safe environment in a world of potential predators.

Every parent should read this book and discuss it with their teenagers. No matter what your religious beliefs, this book has information that could save your life. This book deals with the realities of our modern world and will give teenagers and adults the information they need to protect their self-esteem and protect the people they love.

Highly Recommended for the Life Saving Information.

~The Rebecca Review

My forensic nurse colleagues have provided an outstanding resource for those of us who perform sexual assault exams and forensic evidence collection. The photographic documentation of cases and information in the Color Atlas have proved invaluable to me as a sexual assault nurse examiner. Our district attorney also purchased the book as a reference. I applaud the five authors of this text for a job well done. They have produced a professional work, accurately and well written,with outstanding photodocumentation of sexual assault cases.

This book is very complete, and has many pictures describing a variety of situations. Highly recommended.

You should also consider "Sexual Assault: The Medical-Legal Examination". This book has more information on the psychology of the assailant and the assailed, and on filling out legal forms during examination, but "Color Atlas" has more pictures.

This is a wonderful book for individuals who are examining patients who have been sexually assaulted. Shows normal anatomy and variations, including non-sexual injuries. As a Nurse Practitioner and a new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner I find this book to be an excellent reference. It had been recommended to me by the educational coordinator of the SANE course I took.

An excellent resource book for anyone working as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. I recommend this book to all nurses new to forensic nursing. A must have book!

Linda Sifuentes, RN CA-SANE
Austin Travis County Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Austin, Texas
procardia1@aol.com

Rae, Nancy. A Matter of Time. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. 2007.

This book is unique in that it is the story of a male victim of child sexual abuse written by a woman. It is unique in that we seldom hear much about the struggles men face who suffered the type of abuse many women face. To me this story was valuable because of the insight it offered to our male counterparts and also because it brought home, once again, the fact that there is no cure for PTSD but that we can live a meaningful life and that our symptoms can lesson, especially when we have and accept the support of our friends, peers and family.

Nancy Rae chronicles the fictional story of David who was victimized as a child and as an adult and his long struggle to accept himself, to understand himself and to understand he was not to blame for what he suffered. It also clearly portrays the importance of accepting love and support from those who want to reach out to us, the hurt when those we do love are not able to understand us, and the damage done when those we trust to help us, namely therapists, end up abusing our vulnerability and trust to their own ends.

Although this is a fictional story, one can see that the author is acquainted with those who have lived this struggle, and that she has done research on the subject of sexual abuse of males, a subject often overlooked because men are taught they have to be strong and that it is weak to ask for help.

I found this book touching and informative and I feel it is a story that needs to be told. I also feel this book would be a valuable addition to the libraries and a research tool for those interested in this subject. If you know a man who has suffered abuse, this book would make a great gift as a tool for reaching out to someone who may not open up in a face to face conversation.

Patricia Brown

This book addresses a subject most people would rather avoid. Even those who advocate for sexual assault victims.

The issue, sexual assault on males, has been a hands-off topic for many years because its hard to see men and boys as victims. When it HAS been discussed, its usually glossed over or very unsympathetic - much like sexual assault against women and girls was handled 50-odd years ago. Men in particular are stigmatized because, of course, men aren't supposed to be victims, or even talk about their pain. "A Matter of Time" attempts to remedy this, and does so admirably.

The author takes us on a compelling, dark journey of a man who has been dealing rather badly with the pain of a childhood rape. He does what most other men in this country do in this situation; block it out or drown it out. David pays a deep price for this refusal to properly cope repeatedly before deciding to take control of his life and successfully turning it around.

Sadly, this is a common story, easily rendered to cliche'. Ms. Rae soars above such triteness by getting into the emotion, the pain, David feels. Her writing brings us closer than we've ever been to what a man has to suffer through while coping with sexual trauma, and does so with a taut writing style that grabs you by the throat and demands to be read.

Some might say that a woman can't possibly know the emotional price a male victim pays for being victimized so imtimately. Perhaps that's right. Ms. Rae does the next best thing. For such a touchy issue, it's a great result. The book also happens to be a great read as well, and worthy of the hours you won't be able to avoid giving to it.

It's not the kind of book that I would normally read, but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I was really into all the characters, and had to keep reading to see what would happen next.

"A Matter of Time" by Nancy Rae is a powerful fictional account of how a man struggles to overcome the devastating psychological trauma of childhood rape and adult victimization. This book details the many twists and turns David takes as he learns to face his demons, shame, guilt, anger, and finally the road to becoming a mentally stable adult. David does not take this journey alone, he takes many people with him, including the reader, all wonders if he will ever find peace of mind. Whether he does is not revealed until the very end of the book. In the mean time hold on because you're in for the ride of your life!

This book is one of the best editted practical collections on rape and sexual assault that I have read. The book is ideal for activists, administrators, survivors, scholars, and anyone else who is interested in rape and sexual assault. I used many of the essays from the book for two completely different research papers. The book contains many great articles on the prevalence of rape on college campuses. It also contains some enlighting essays on rape law and the prevalence of rape myths.

This book is a compelation of some of the popular and well known studies. Being a rape survivor, i found this book to be very informing, and it really helped me to start processing what had happened. It is divided into sections, the first one being reflections and writings of rape survivors. This is followed by other sections about why rape occurs and what can be done about it. I highly recommend this book, not as an easy, enjoyable read, but as an excellent resource and guide.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PZFJBMRX9SUC Entombed In Silence: Our Little Hearts Beat No More

THIS book was NOT what i expected,it was way more.it was a book written to overcome the idea your not alone.if it's phisical,emotional,incest& mental abuse,the reading was great, poems&graphics wanda kelley

In his book 'I Have To Hurt You' Victor Farrell shows very good reason why people should not delve into areas of the paranormal that they are not completely familiar with!
There really are "more things in heaven and earth" and some of them are dangerous as hell! Mr. Farrell proves that by allowing a familiar, out-of-body, female entity to enter his life, only to become a victim at the mercy of a demonic fiend, which made his life a living nightmare!
There are succubus type entities, as depicted by the one in his book, just waiting for the foolhardy to open the door a crack. The story is well written. Read it and be warned!
Personally, I couldn't put the book down.

Reading this horrifying tale lived by the writer was a whole new experience for me. He was attacked by an astral entity over and over in many lude and disgusting ways, and almost lost his life to it in the years of struggle to be free of it. The scary thing is, this could happen to anyone at all, if they invite such a thing into their lives, even though it may seem friendly and benign in the beginning. Reading this book, I never will

This storyline complete with pictures has been useful to discuss potential touching problems without scaring a child. It makes logical sense using bathing suits as a way to introduce places someone should not touch without permission and then touching is allowed only with a very special reason. It gives children words to use with their assertiveness around privacy
I have a 1984 first printing copy which is now well-used and crayoned. In my therapy practice regarding sexual abuse, it has been helpful to have a book that makes sense to children and does not create more fears. Many children have requested it to be read again because it makes a serious subject fun and nonthreatening.
Another useful feature at the end of the booklet is the one page practical guidelines for an adult in case a child is sexually assaulted.
A highly-recommended nice book for parents to read with their child!

This storyline complete with pictures has been useful to discuss potential touching problems without scaring a child. It makes logical sense using bathing suits as a way to introduce places someone should not touch without permission and then touching is allowed only with a very special reason. It gives children words to use with their assertiveness around privacy
I have a 1984 first printing copy which is now well-used and crayoned. In my therapy practice regarding sexual abuse, it has been helpful to have a book that makes sense to children and does not create more fears. Many children have requested it to be read again because it makes a serious subject fun and nonthreatening.
Another useful feature at the end of the booklet is the one page practical guidelines for an adult in case a child is sexually assaulted.
A highly-recommended nice book for parents to read with their child!

This is THE book for those who believe abortion is the best option for a woman who is pregnant due to a rape or incest. These are the stories of the actually women and what they really want - not what abortion advocates proclaim they need. If you have any doubts, this book will clear them up for you. Proof that, once again, abortion is not the better choice, even in such difficult circumstances.

Kudos to the authors for exploring the topic of what happens to the "exceptions" (children born of rape). Rather than just giving statistics (you will note how usually, the pro-life or pro-choice movements merely make reference to us, as it furthers their own cause), the book gives real-life scenarios. Although the message is clearly that the children of these circumstances deserve life, it's nice to hear from some real people, rather than shadowy statistics. We do exist, and it's time people realize this!