So you want to learn more about self-defense, but you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford a professional firearms training class right now. What to do? In addition to this website and to books I’ve written (Lessons from Armed America with Mark Walters, and The Cornered Cat: A Woman’s Guide to Concealed Carry), you also want to get your hands on any or all of the following books. It will not take the place of in-person training from a qualified instructor, but it’s a darn sight better than nothing!
The books are not listed alphabetically, nor by author. They are listed in the order in which I would purchase them if I were starting out as a new gun owner today.
The Cornered Cat: A Woman’s Guide to Concealed Carry by Kathy Jackson
Yup — I’m going to recommend you start with my own book first. After all, you’re already reading this website and you’ve gotten far enough into it to get to this page, so you must like my style all right. There’s a lot of material in the book that hasn’t made it to the web. And besides, if you’ve enjoyed the website at all you probably want a way to do something nice for me in exchange, so why not buy one of my books? (Thanks!)
What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law by Marty Hayes
There’s no excuse not to read this slim, streamlined booklet about self defense law from one of the leading experts in the field. It provides the basic outline of legal knowledge every armed citizen needs to know, and makes a handy little reference for people thinking about buying a gun for self defense. You can download this free booklet from the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network here.
In the Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob
An oldie now, but still the definitive before/during/after the shooting book. Most firearms books deal only with what you might need to know during a deadly force situation. This one explores the decisions you must make beforehand, the tactics and techniques you may need during the attack, and the fallout you may experience afterward. Essential information for the well-prepared citizen.
Personal Defense for Women by Gila Hayes
Written by a woman for women, this book walks someone who is thinking about getting a gun for self defense through the mindset, talks about making The Decision, discusses firearms and equipment selections, nomenclature, ammunition, grip/stance/sight picture, and more. Probably the best overview of the “deciding to be a gun owner” process out there, and the mindset discussion is particularly sane and well-directed toward ordinary human beings who are not wannabe warriors.
Gunproof Your Children by Massad Ayoob
A must-read if you have kids at home, whether you own firearms or not. It also makes a good gift book for dubious relatives who might otherwise worry about your children’s safety when you decide to purchase a firearm.
The Concealed Handgun Manual by Chris Bird
This thick book (over 500 pages for the most current edition) provides an amazing treasure trove of information about concealed carry. It’s a good read, too, because the author includes dozens of true life accounts and encouraging stories about people deciding to protect themselves. Those stories really pull you through the pages and help you grasp the reasons the author makes the recommendations he does.
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry by Massad Ayoob
A giant treasure trove of information, this large book—it’s in 8×11 format—provides detailed pictures of concealed carry methods and the products that make those methods work. Understandably since the author is male, the book doesn’t provide a lot of detail about “stuff for women,” but it provides so much good general material that it’s worth picking up anyway.
Principles of Personal Defense by Jeff Cooper
This classic little book discusses seven foundational principles without which a defender is unlikely to prevail. It is written in plain speech, with the Colonel’s charmingly old-fashioned style. Many other personal protection books deal with the details and outward flourishes of firearms or defensive tactics. Cooper’s little book is unusual because it cuts right to the heart of the issues, and instead discusses the foundational principles behind every successful defensive plan. Instead of giving the how of personal defense, this tiny volume explains why to select one defensive tactic rather than another.
Into the Kill Zone: A Cop’s Eye View of Deadly Force by David Klinger
This book is a heavy dose of sober reality as it appears to dozens of police officers who have killed people in the line of duty. Klinger draws a few conclusions, but mostly lets the officers tell their stories in their own words. While this is not light or easy reading, it promotes honest thought and provides a good and necessary reminder of exactly what it is you intend to happen when you pull the trigger. Not a good first book, but perhaps a necessary one for honest balance once you have accepted the burden of being armed for self-defense.
Deadly Force Encounters: What Cops Need To Know To Mentally And Physically Prepare For And Survive A Gunfight by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren W. Christensen
Don’t let the word “cop” in the title fool you—this book is as relevant to you as an armed citizen as it is to law enforcement officers. In it, you’ll find crucial information about the effects of sudden stress on the human body, and learn ways to use that stress to help you fight and win against a determined attacker.
More Books
Just to be clear, I don’t agree with every word in every book below. However, every one of these books has helped me become a better shooter, more alert and aware for self defense, and a better firearms trainer. The books below are listed more-0r-less alphabetically within their categories, and some books fall into more than one category.
About Crime and Avoiding Crime
Defensive Living – Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding
Emotional Vampires – Albert Bernstein
Facing Violence – Rory Miller
Fighting Smarter – Tom Givens
Force Decisions – Rory Miller
Inside the Criminal Mind – Stanton Samenow
Into the Kill Zone – David Klinger
Lessons from Armed America – Mark Walters and Kathy Jackson
Meditations on Violence – Rory Miller
Safety for Stalking Victims – Lyn Bates
Scaling Force – Rory Miller and Lawrence Kane
Strong on Defense – Sanford Strong
Surviving a School Shooting – Loren Christensen
Terror at Beslan – John Giduck
The Ayoob Files – Massad Ayoob
The Gift of Fear – Gavin DeBecker
Verbal Judo – George Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins
Without Conscience – Robert Hale
About Concealed Carry
Armed Response – David Kenik
Concealed Carry for Women – Gila Hayes
Concealed Carry Fundamentals – Michael Martin
The Concealed Handgun Manual – Chris Bird
The Cornered Cat: A Woman’s Guide to Concealed Carry – Kathy Jackson
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry – Massad Ayoob
The Insanely Practical Guide to Holsters – Tom McHale
About Shooting Skills
Combat Shooting – Massad Ayoob
Combat Focus Shooting – Rob Pincus
Defensive Handgun Training Drills – Michael Seeklander
Defensive Use of Firearms – Stephen Wenger
Handgun Combatives – Dave Spaulding
Practical Shooting, Beyond Fundamentals – Brian Enos (competition oriented)
Shoot! – Julie Golob (competition oriented)
Stressfire – Massad Ayoob
Surgical Speed Shooting – Andy Stanford
The Farnam Method of Defensive Handgunning – John Farnam
The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 4th Ed. – Chuck Taylor
About Guns and Gear
The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry – Massad Ayoob
The Gun Digest Book of the Revolver – Grant Cunningham
The Gun Owner’s Handbook – Larry Lyons
The Insanely Practical Guide to Holsters – Tom McHale
The Insanely Practical Guide to Reloading Ammunition – Tom McHale
The Rookie’s Guide to Guns and Shooting – Tom McHale
The Snubby Revolver – Ed Lovette
Stories of Survivors
Deadly Force Encounters – Alexis Artwohl and Loren Christensen
Deep Survival – Laurence Gonzales
From Luby’s to the Legislature – Suzanna Hupp
God, the Gunman, and Me – Jeanne Assam (for Christians)
Jim Cirillo’s Tales of the Stakeout Squad – Paul Kirchner
Lessons from Armed America – Mark Walters and Kathy Jackson
Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self Defense – Charl Van Wyk (for Christians)
Thank God I Had a Gun – Chris Bird
The Concealed Handgun Manual – Chris Bird
The Deadliest Men – Paul Kirchner
Mindset
A Time to Kill – Greg Hopkins (for Christians)
Campfire Tales from Hell – edited by Rory Miller; multiple authors
Deep Survival – Laurence Gonzales
Defensive Living – Ed Lovette and Dave Spaulding
Defensive Use of Firearms – Stephen Wenger
Extreme Fear – Jeff Wise
Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights – Jim Cirillo
In the Gravest Extreme – Massad Ayoob
Into the Kill Zone – David Klinger
Leadership and Training for the Fight – Paul Howe
On Combat – Dave Grossman
On Killing – Dave Grossman
Principles of Personal Defense – Jeff Cooper
Strong on Defense – Sanford Strong
The Ayoob Files – Massad Ayoob
The Invisible Gorilla – Christopher Chablis and Daniel Simons
The Survivor Personality – Al Siebert
The Unthinkable: Who Survives when Disaster Strikes, and Why – Amanda Ripley
Of Historical Interest
Armed and Female – Paxton Quigley
Blue Steel and Gunleather – John Bianchi
Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights – Jim Cirillo
Jim Cirillo’s Tales of the Stakeout Squad – Paul Kirchner
No Second Place Winner – Bill Jordan
Sharpening the Warrior’s Edge – Bruce Siddle
Shooting to Live – Fairbairn and Sykes
The Complete Book of Modern Handgunning (1961) – Jeff Cooper
The Deacons for Defense – Lance Hill
To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth – Jeff Cooper
Triggernometry – Eugene Cunningham
Recommended for Instructors
Ask for It – Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
Blink – Malcolm Gladwell
Deadly Force Encounters – Alexis Artwohl and Loren Christensen
Fighting Smarter – Tom Givens
Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton
How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
Into the Kill Zone – David Klinger
Leadership and Training for the Fight – Paul Howe
Louder Than Words – Joe Navarro
Motor Learning and Performance – Richard A. Schmidt and Craig Wrisberg
Public Speaking for Dummies – Malcolm Kushner
Talent is Overrated – Geoff Colvin
Teaching Women to Shoot – Diane Nicholl and Vicki Farnam
The Invisible Gorilla – Christopher Chablis and Daniel Simons
Training at the Speed of Life – Ken Murray
Traumatic Stress – Bessel van der Kolk, Alexander McFarlane, and Lars Weisaeth
Verbal Judo – George Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins
What Every Body is Saying – Joe Navarro
Women Don’t Ask – Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
Especially for Women
Concealed Carry for Women – Gila Hayes
Gun Women – Mary Zeiss Stange and Carol K. Oyster
Personal Defense for Women – Gila Hayes
Safety for Stalking Victims – Lyn Bates
Shoot! – Julie Golob
Taking Your First Shot – Lynne Finch
Teaching Women to Shoot – Diane Nicholl and Vicki Farnam
The Cornered Cat: A Woman’s Guide to Concealed Carry – Kathy Jackson
Women Learning to Shoot – Diane Nicholl and Vicki Farnam
Political and Social
Black Man With a Gun (Reloaded!) – Kenn Blanchard
From Luby’s to the Legislature – Suzanna Hupp
Gun Women – Mary Zeiss Stange and Carol K. Oyster
Guns Across the Border – Mike Detty
Mass Murder in the United States 1900-1999 – Grant Duwe
More Guns, Less Crime – John Lott
The Deacons for Defense – Lance Hill
