Here’s a glossary of terms that might be helpful to people along their training journey.

Glossary of Terms

The Thinking Gunman’s Bookshelf

As a serious “student of the gun” for over fifty years, I have always sought out information on every aspect of armed self-defense. Sadly, I frequently encounter people who own guns, ostensibly for self-defense, but they have no knowledge of defensive shooting technique or equipment. Others know something about their handguns and may even be good shots, but have never actually considered the moral, ethical and legal ramifications of using a firearm in self-defense. Still others have some understanding of these issues but have no idea of the rich history of armed self-defense in this country, or the evolution of the techniques we take for granted today. If self-defense against dangerous criminals is your goal, some understanding of the criminal’s mentality could be very useful. Finally, some understanding of the wounding mechanisms of handgun ammunition and of human anatomy are important pieces of the puzzle. In my view, a well-rounded handgunner should have some basic knowledge and understanding in each of these areas of study.

Looking over my personal reference library, I found over three hundred and fifty books dealing with the topics listed above. Generally, they can be divided into two categories, “software and hardware.” The “software” volumes deal with such issues as developing a proper defensive mindset, understanding the criminal mind, and basic understanding of the legal issues involved in using force. The “hardware” books deal with handguns, holsters, and other equipment and with the specific techniques involved in using these tools efficiently. I’ll break these further into sub-sets based on content and make some recommendations for your reading list. Space constraints keep me from being able to give you a real book report on each but I’ll highlight why I think some of these books are important to you.

• Software
• Historical
• Hardware
• Women’s Issues in Firearms Training
• Gunshot Wounds
• Legal Issues
• Criminal Psychology

Software

The first book on my list should be required reading for every person who even thinks about carrying a handgun for self-defense. Principles of Personal Defense was written by Jeff Cooper in 1972 and is a very brief work outlining the seven guiding principles of personal combat. It is available in booklet form from Paladin Press. Jeff authored a number of books in his long career and many of them contain great insight into both shooting technique and mindset development. One of my favorites is Fireworks , a Gunsite Anthology.

Born Fighting, How the Scots-Irish Shaped America, by James Webb, has been described as “popular history at its finest” by the American Library Association. Webb traces the influx of Scots-Irish immigrants into the US and how their input shaped the American working class’s sense of fierce individualism, persistent egalitarianism and strong sense of personal honor.

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales is a vital description of the mental, emotional and character issues involved in surviving catastrophe, whether natural or man-made. Many years ago Jeff Cooper wrote that “the world is divided into two groups: copers and non-copers. The purpose of training and personal development was to become a coper.” According to Gonzales, it appears Jeff was correct.

The Deadliest Men, by Paul Kirchner is a fascinating look at some of the most skilled and successful warriors in history. Paul spent five years researching this material and has offered some real insights into the character and actions of some of the best known as well as some relatively unknown fighters. From well-known folk heroes like Sgt. Alvin York and James Bowie to some less well-known gunmen like Delf “Jelly” Bryce and Lance Thomas, Kirchner gives us a look at what makes real warriors.

Straight Talk on Armed Defense: What the Experts Want You to Know, edited by Massad Ayoob. This is a collection of chapters written by 14 different experts in the self-defense field, each with his own area of expertise. Contributors include Mas Ayoob, Craig Douglas, William Aprill, Dr. Alexis Artwohl, John Hearne, me, and others. The information covers all aspects of armed self-defense.

To this list I would add two more works dealing with the emotional and mental aspects of law enforcement involved deadly force incidents. Both offer a great deal of information on what you can expect during, and as importantly, after a defensive shooting. They are Deadly Force Encounters, Second Edition, by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren Christensen, and Into the Kill Zone, by David Klinger. Be sure you get the newer Second Edition of Artwohl & Christensen’s book. It is larger and much updated from the first edition.

Historical Background

Without comment, here is a good starting list for learning about the history and development of gunfighting in the US. Many are available as low-cost re-prints, or you can scour gun shows and estate sales for original copies.

• Fast & Fancy Revolver Shooting, by Ed McGivern
• Sixguns, by Elmer Keith
• Gunfighters, by Col. Charles Askins
• Shooting, by J. Henry Fitzgerald
• Textbook of Pistols & Revolvers, by Major General Julian Hatcher
• Legendary Lawman, The Story of Quick Draw Jelly Bryce, Ron Owens
• Gangster Hunters, John Oller

Hardware

These are current works dealing with modern, effective shooting and gunhandling techniques. Each represents current state-of-the-art technique, but because of the different backgrounds of the authors (law enforcement, special operations military) those techniques may vary slightly.

• Stay in the Fight!! Warriors Guide to the Combat Pistol, by Kyle Lamb, recently retired from US Army Special Operations.
• Handgun Combatives, by Dave Spaulding, recently retired from a long and storied law enforcement career.
• The Art of Modern Gunfighting, by Scott Reitz, recently retired member of LAPD SWAT, winner of several line of duty gunfights and experienced trainer.
• The CSAT Way, by Paul Howe Retired Delta operator, former police officer, owner of Combat Shooting and Tactics (CSAT), an excellent school located in Texas. Tons of real-world experience.
• Training at the Speed of Life, by Kenneth Murray. Murray is one of the pioneers in simulation based training and this book is the bible for force on force training.

Women’s Issues in Firearms Training

More and more women are entering the field of personal self-defense training, and they bring a unique set of challenges and needs to the modern firearms trainer. Here are some excellent works to help guide women and their trainers.

• Concealed Carry for Women, by Gila Hayes
• Teaching Women to Shoot, by Vicki Farnam and Diane Nichol

Gunshot Wounding

• Gunshot Wounds, by Dr. Vincent DiMaio, one of the most experienced and respected forensic medical examiners in the US
• Forensic Analysis of the April 11, 1986 FBI Firefight, Dr. French Anderson A detailed look at a historic shooting incident, including extensive information on the many wounds suffered by participants in this gun battle, and how those wounds affected the action.

Legal Issues

• In the Gravest Extreme, by Massad Ayoob is several decades old now, but still has a solid foundation of information on the legal aspects of self-defense.
• Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense, by Massad Ayoob. This 2014 release covers the legal issues involved in the use of lethal force in self-defense in great detail but in language the non-lawyer layman can easily understand. Highly recommended.

Criminal Psychology

• Inside the Criminal Mind, by Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D. (The Revised and Updated Edition). The original version of this book was published in 1984, and became a best-seller. The work was updated in 2004, after Samenow had an additional 20 years of experience in researching criminal behavior. John Douglas was one of the original profilers in the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit, and he had this to say about Inside the Criminal Mind: “Utterly compelling reading, full of raw insight into the dark mind of the criminal.”
• The Dark Side of Man, by Michael Ghiglieri is a thorough and detailed look at human aggression and violence from the unique perspective of a former combat soldier and longtime primate researcher, a protégé of Jane Goodall. The Dark Side of Man offers scientific explanation for behavior such as rape, murder and genocide. Not for the faint hearted.
• Why They Kill, by Richard Rhodes. A fascinating look at the research done by Lonnie Athens into why certain personality types are so dangerous.

So, this should keep you reading for a while. When you finish these, you’ll have a good basic working knowledge of the many topics that are involved in self-defense and hopefully, an appetite for more. Happy reading!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!