Respect and Reputation: On the Doors, in Prison and in Life [Hardcover]

Robin Barratt and Charles Bronson have teamd up to call for us all to adopt a peaceful future! Respest and Reputation takes a look at what respect really mean, how to eart it and whether a reputation is a help or hindrance. --The Weekley News

A fascinating insight into the minds of the Men In Black. This book shows how Britain s small army of club security men think about their job, their punters and themselves, with an emphasis on respect and decency. It s a long way from the popular stereotype of bouncers as knuckle-scrapping nutters who punch first and ask questions later --Garry Bushell, Daily Star Sunday

A riveting book written by two men who are eminently qualified to do so. Robin Barratt and Charles Bronson are both graduates from the University of Hard Knocks, and understand the crucial relevance of "respect and reputation" in the worlds they inhabit. Brutal, honest, wickedly funny at times and even shrewdly philosophical, Respect & Reputation provides a fascinating insight into lives that few of us could accurately imagine and are even less likely to experience. Not to be missed. --Mike Hallowell, The Shields Gazette

In this increasingly violent and troubled world, people demand to be respected. But what is exactly is respect? Is it learned or earned? How do you go from being a 'nobody' to a 'somebody'? How do you respect others and equally how can you get other people to respect you? Can you only be truly respected if you have a reputation? There is probably no one more qualified to talk about respect and reputation in prison than Charles Bronson. Tagged one of the most violent prisoners in the UK, Charlie has spent over thirty years in solitary confinement, is respected by both prisoners and wardens alike and has a fearsome and frightening reputation. In complete contrast, although he has spent much of his life surrounded by violence, former bouncer and bodyguard Robin Barratt would now prefer to take a passive path away from any conflict. In this fascinating book, Barratt and Bronson examine in detail respect and reputation including how to behave in prison, how to treat other prisoners, how to be a great door supervisor, when to show respect, how to gain the respect of others and ultimately how to develop an awesome reputation both in prison, on the doors and in life generally. With lots of real life anecdotes as well as contributions from many other hard men (and a few women), this gripping book takes its reader into the psychology of a world rarely explored.

Robin Barratt: Robin started his career in security and protection in the 1980s on the doors in his home town of Norwich. He then attended a six-week Close Protection training course in Hereford and ended up travelling the world looking after the rich (but not so famous). He eventually became the International Director of Training for The WFB up until the year 2000 when it was sold in to an Icelandic subsidiary of Securitas. A few years later he founded, and was President, of the British Bodyguard Association (BBA). The BBA was passed onto new owners at the end of 2008 and has become the biggest association of its kind in the world. He started writing books in 2002 and published his first book Doing the Doors , which is now a genre best-seller. Confessions of a Doorman , Maria s Story and Bouncers and Bodyguards followed. For a while he also published and edited Protection News for the close protection community, The Circuit on-line magazine for the BBA and On The Doors - the only quality magazine in the world dedicated exclusively to Door Supervision. Charles Bronson: Charles Bronson (born 6 December 1952) is the adopted name of Michael Peterson, a British criminal. Bronson was born in Aberystwyth, before moving to Merseyside, and later Luton, which is often referred to as his home town. Bronson states on his website that contrary to reports frequently made in the press, his name was changed by his fight promoter in 1987 and was not a choice he made in relation to the actor, Charles Bronson. Bronson has been in prison since the age of nineteen, for various offences. Initially jailed in 1974 for robbery, his sentence has been repeatedly extended and he has spent only three months out of custody. He has served 30 years of his time in prison in solitary confinement due to repeated attacks on prison staff and inmates, including a number of hostage situations and rooftop protests. His dangerous behaviour has meant that he has spent time in over 120 different prisons. In 2000 he received a discretionary life sentence (with a three year tariff) for a hostage-taking incident. His appeal against this sentence was denied in 2004. In 1999 a special prison unit was set up for Bronson and two other violent prisoners from Woodhill (HM Prison), to reduce the risk they posed to staff and other prisoners. In 2001 Bronson married Saira Rehman, who had seen his picture in a newspaper and began writing to him. Rehman had visited Bronson just three times prior to their wedding. Bronson converted to Islam (Rehman is a Muslim) and was also known as Charles Ali Ahmed. However he and Rehman have since divorced and Bronson has reportedly renounced Islam and the Ali Ahmed name. While in prison he has developed an extreme fitness regimen and regularly performs 2,500 press-ups a day. In 2002 he published a book Solitary Fitness, detailing an individual training process with minimal resources and space. For the past ten years Bronson has occupied himself by writing poetry, producing pieces of art and has published ten books. Chaz, as he is known to his many friends and supporters, is still a "Category A" prisoner and is currently being held at HM Long Lartin prison.