Self Defense Books

Showing 1-50 of 1,613
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence (Paperback)
by (shelved 55 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.18 — 52,396 ratings — published 1997
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Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence (Paperback)
by (shelved 36 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.33 — 1,885 ratings — published 2008
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Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected (Paperback)
by (shelved 30 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.25 — 1,043 ratings — published 2011
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The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 18 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.63 — 431 ratings — published 2013
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When Violence Is the Answer: Learning How to Do What It Takes When Your Life Is at Stake When Violence Is the Answer: Learning How to Do What It Takes When Your Life Is at Stake (Hardcover)
by (shelved 15 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.25 — 1,451 ratings — published
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Principles of Personal Defense Principles of Personal Defense (Paperback)
by (shelved 14 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.52 — 864 ratings — published 1972
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Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques (Paperback)
by (shelved 13 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.10 — 460 ratings — published 2007
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In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection (Paperback)
by (shelved 13 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.28 — 404 ratings — published 1980
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On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace (Paperback)
by (shelved 13 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.29 — 4,546 ratings — published 2004
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Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps' Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 11 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.97 — 3,178 ratings — published 2014
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Deadly Force - Understanding Your Right To Self Defense Deadly Force - Understanding Your Right To Self Defense (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 11 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.60 — 560 ratings — published 2014
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ConCom: Conflict Communication A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication ConCom: Conflict Communication A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 9 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.23 — 382 ratings — published 2014
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Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision Making Under Threat of Violence Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision Making Under Threat of Violence (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.41 — 172 ratings — published 2012
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Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons: A Down and Dirty Book on Streetfighting and Survival Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and Other Lessons: A Down and Dirty Book on Streetfighting and Survival (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.22 — 110 ratings — published 1989
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The Little Black Book Violence: What Every Young Man Needs to Know About Fighting The Little Black Book Violence: What Every Young Man Needs to Know About Fighting (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.06 — 351 ratings — published 2009
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Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, and Live Fearlessly Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, and Live Fearlessly (Hardcover)
by (shelved 8 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.14 — 9,650 ratings — published 2020
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How To Be Your Own Bodyguard How To Be Your Own Bodyguard (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.10 — 143 ratings — published 2011
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On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.11 — 12,352 ratings — published 1995
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Knives, Knife Fighting, and Related Hassles: How to Survive a Real Knife Fight Knives, Knife Fighting, and Related Hassles: How to Survive a Real Knife Fight (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.05 — 105 ratings — published 1990
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Violence, Blunders, and Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques and Street Etiquette Violence, Blunders, and Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques and Street Etiquette (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.16 — 45 ratings — published 1992
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Violence of Mind: Training and Preparation for Extreme Violence Violence of Mind: Training and Preparation for Extreme Violence (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.26 — 486 ratings — published
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Dirty Ground: The Tricky Space Between Sport and Combat Dirty Ground: The Tricky Space Between Sport and Combat (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.67 — 36 ratings — published 2013
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Dead or Alive: The Choice is Yours - The Definitive Self-Protection Handbook Dead or Alive: The Choice is Yours - The Definitive Self-Protection Handbook (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.86 — 125 ratings — published 1997
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How to Win a Fight: A Guide to Avoiding and Surviving Violence How to Win a Fight: A Guide to Avoiding and Surviving Violence (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.74 — 76 ratings — published 2011
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The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.27 — 141 ratings — published 2002
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A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy (Hardcover)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.94 — 63,275 ratings — published 1645
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The Art of War The Art of War (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.94 — 582,904 ratings — published -500
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Strong on Defense Strong on Defense (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.33 — 93 ratings — published
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The Fence: The Art of Protection The Fence: The Art of Protection (Nook)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.05 — 92 ratings — published 1998
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The Truth About Self Protection The Truth About Self Protection (Mass Market Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.21 — 106 ratings — published 1983
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Tao of Jeet Kune Do Tao of Jeet Kune Do (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.36 — 8,520 ratings — published 1975
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The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.23 — 392 ratings — published 2008
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Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.83 — 6,896 ratings — published 1993
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Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.92 — 143 ratings — published 2000
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The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 3.78 — 733 ratings — published 1980
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Get Tough! How to Win in Hand-to-Hand Fighting, As Taught to the British Commandos, and U.S. Armed Forces Get Tough! How to Win in Hand-to-Hand Fighting, As Taught to the British Commandos, and U.S. Armed Forces (Paperback)
by (shelved 6 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.22 — 176 ratings — published 1942
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Training for Sudden Violence: 72 Practice Drills Training for Sudden Violence: 72 Practice Drills (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 5 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.20 — 105 ratings — published
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In the Name of Self-Defense:: What it costs. When it's worth it In the Name of Self-Defense:: What it costs. When it's worth it (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 5 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.33 — 48 ratings — published 2014
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Stressfire, Vol. 1 (Gunfighting for Police: Advanced Tactics and Techniques) Stressfire, Vol. 1 (Gunfighting for Police: Advanced Tactics and Techniques)
by (shelved 5 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.23 — 82 ratings — published 1986
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Bouncer's Guide to Barroom Brawling: Dealing with the Sucker Puncher, Streetfighter, and Ambusher Bouncer's Guide to Barroom Brawling: Dealing with the Sucker Puncher, Streetfighter, and Ambusher (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.05 — 66 ratings — published 1990
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Kill Or Get Killed: Riot Control Techniques, Manhandling, and Close Combat for Police and the Military Kill Or Get Killed: Riot Control Techniques, Manhandling, and Close Combat for Police and the Military (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.09 — 138 ratings — published 1976
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SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.25 — 5,666 ratings — published 1986
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Safe in the City: A Streetwise Guide to Avoid Being Robbed, Raped,Ripped Off, or Run over Safe in the City: A Streetwise Guide to Avoid Being Robbed, Raped,Ripped Off, or Run over (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.04 — 27 ratings — published 1994
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Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 4 times as self-defense)
avg rating 4.28 — 65 ratings — published 2012
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Christopher Hitchens
“Remaining for a moment with the question of legality and illegality: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1368, unanimously passed, explicitly recognized the right of the United States to self-defense and further called upon all member states 'to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the terrorist attacks. It added that 'those responsible for aiding, supporting or harboring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of those acts will be held accountable.' In a speech the following month, the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan publicly acknowledged the right of self-defense as a legitimate basis for military action. The SEAL unit dispatched by President Obama to Abbottabad was large enough to allow for the contingency of bin-Laden's capture and detention. The naïve statement that he was 'unarmed' when shot is only loosely compatible with the fact that he was housed in a military garrison town, had a loaded automatic weapon in the room with him, could well have been wearing a suicide vest, had stated repeatedly that he would never be taken alive, was the commander of one of the most violent organizations in history, and had declared himself at war with the United States. It perhaps says something that not even the most casuistic apologist for al-Qaeda has ever even attempted to justify any of its 'operations' in terms that could be covered by any known law, with the possible exception of some sanguinary verses of the Koran.”
Christopher Hitchens, The Enemy

“Raff,' Katsa said, 'your problem is that your heart's not in it. We need to find something to strengthen your defensive resolve. What if you pretended he's trying to smash your favorite medicinal plant?'
'The rare blue safflower,' Bann suggested.
'Yes,' Katsa said gamely, 'pretend he's after your snaffler.'
'Bann would never come after my rare blue safflower,' Raffin said distinctly. 'The very notion is absurd.'
'Pretend he's not Bann. Pretend he's your father.”
Kristin Cashore, Bitterblue

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