Before It Happens - Eyes, Hands, Direction of Travel

This episode features a standalone chapter from the book Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell.

In Chapter 8 – Eyes, Hands, Direction of Travel, David reveals one of the most powerful threat-detection tools you’ll ever carry: the ability to read human behavior before violence starts.

Whether you’re walking a quiet parking lot or standing in a crowded store, people don’t just “snap.” They leak intent. Through their eyes, their hands, and their direction of travel, would-be attackers send subconscious signals long before they act.

From war zones to city streets, David shares stories and insights that teach you how to:

• Recognize predatory eye behavior (from target fixation to glance patterns)
• Spot the hidden danger of concealed or fidgeting hands
• Understand how the direction of travel reveals true intent
• React early by trusting social pattern disruptions
• Avoid danger—not through paranoia, but presence

This chapter isn’t just about avoiding a fight—it’s about winning the encounter by seeing it before it starts.

This is a single chapter from the full-length audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts, available now on Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.

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