From a nationally recognized violence-prevention expert, an accessible guide that debunks the most pervasive myths about crime and offers evidence-based strategies that make us safer

A specific image of violence and how to avoid it lives in a lot of our imaginations. What some of us fear most is shaped not by the strongest evidence but by the most viral horror stories.

Meg Stone, a violence prevention expert, traces the origins of these myths and how they are used to scare us into submission. While political leaders and social-media influencers use myths about crime to divide us, this book equips readers with facts and concrete action steps.

Stone breaks down these myths into four parts:

• “How Attackers Behave: what the research shows about whether fighting back makes attackers more angry
• “What (or Who) to Fear”: a treatise on the impact of media inaccurately reporting a “crime wave”
• “What You Should Never Do”: including the myth that an attacker could grab your ponytail—very unlikely!
• “What You Should Always Do”: should you really always trust your intuition?

Each chapter offers practical strategies for people to keep themselves safer and how to contribute to social change that builds a safer world.

You don’t have to diminish yourself or restrict your life to avoid being attacked. Critical thinking, not following simplistic directives, is the real way to be “smart” about safety.