Below I’ll give you my selections for the best Self Defense books by a few categories. I will cover these and other great books more in depth later.
- The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen (2016)
- 100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation (2015)
- Self-Defense: An Alex Delaware Novel (2013)
- Psychic Self-Defense: The Classic Instruction Manual for Protecting Yourself Against Paranormal Attack (2011)
- How To Be Your Own Bodyguard: Self Defense for men & women from a lifetime of protecting clients in hostile environments. (2017)
- Realistic Self-Defense for Parents, Children, and Adolescents: Learn How to Become Aware of Your Surroundings, Avoid Danger, Trust Your Intuition, and Use Physical Self-Defense Techniques to Stay Safe (2011)
- BECOME A WALKING WEAPON!: A Cheater’s Guide to Simple Skills, Practical Tactics and Other “Dirty Little Secrets” of Self-Defense You Can Learn, Use and Apply TODAY (2019)
- Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense (2014)
- The Ultimate Guide to Unarmed Self Defense (2014)
- The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work (1999)
- Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 250 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques (2016)
- Practical Karate 1: Fundamentals of Self-defense (1963)
- Krav Maga Combatives: Maximum Effect (2019)
The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen (2016)
The world is a dangerous place. That’s why you’re prepared to protect yourself and your loved ones. Now arm yourself for the legal battle that happens after an attack. The first fight is for your life – the second for your liberty. Andrew F. Branca, the renowned expert in self-defense law, teaches you how to make quick, effective, legally appropriate decisions in life-and-death situations. His easy-to-understand analysis thoroughly covers the laws of all fifty states.
100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative’s Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation (2015)
A hands-on, practical survival guide from retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson—adapted for civilians from actual special forces operations—to eluding pursuers, evading capture, and surviving any dangerous situation.In today’s increasingly dangerous world, threats to your personal safety are everywhere.
Self-Defense: An Alex Delaware Novel (2013)
Dr. Alex Delaware doesn’t see many private patients anymore, but the young woman called Lucy is an exception. So is her dream. Lucy Lowell is referred to Alex by Los Angeles police detective Milo Sturgis. A juror at the agonizing trial of a serial killer, Lucy survived the trauma only to be tormented by a recurring nightmare: a young child in the forest at night, watching a strange and furtive act.
Psychic Self-Defense: The Classic Instruction Manual for Protecting Yourself Against Paranormal Attack (2011)
After finding herself the subject of a powerful psychic attack in the 1930’s, famed British occultist Dion Fortune wrote this detailed instruction manual on protecting oneself from paranormal attack.
How To Be Your Own Bodyguard: Self Defense for men & women from a lifetime of protecting clients in hostile environments. (2017)
Now you don’t have to be rich enough to hire your own bodyguard.
Realistic Self-Defense for Parents, Children, and Adolescents: Learn How to Become Aware of Your Surroundings, Avoid Danger, Trust Your Intuition, and Use Physical Self-Defense Techniques to Stay Safe (2011)
Realistic Self-Defense For Parents, Children, and Adolescents is a comprehensive self-defense manual that is designed to teach children and adolescents how to avoid altercations and physically defend themselves. This book will teach children how to listen and trust their intuition, become aware of their surrounds, use their words to avoid an altercation, stay safe on the internet, and control their fear.
BECOME A WALKING WEAPON!: A Cheater’s Guide to Simple Skills, Practical Tactics and Other “Dirty Little Secrets” of Self-Defense You Can Learn, Use and Apply TODAY (2019)
Have you ever felt that twinge of doubt when thinking about what you would do should ever be attacked? Did you ever wonder if the martial arts classes you took would really work if anything, you know, ever “really” happened? Do you worry about your children, spouse or loved ones and their safety? There’s absolutely no need to feel insecure or embarrassed about this topic: they are the right questions to ask, because the ability to protect yourself is not a luxury; it’s a responsibility.
Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense (2014)
In a long-awaited update of the world's most authoritative work on the subject, Massad Ayoob draws from an additional three decades of experience to educate responsible firearms owners about the legal, ethical, and practical use of firearms in self defense–the armed citizens' rules of engagement.
The Ultimate Guide to Unarmed Self Defense (2014)
The Ultimate Guide to Unarmed Self Defense is a comprehensive guide to the most efficient and effective strategies, training methods, and techniques for functional self defense. Most self defense and martial arts books cover only one or two aspects of violent attacks and are typically unrealistic. The Ultimate Guide to Unarmed Self Defense covers every aspect of self defense, from awareness and prevention to exceptionally effective techniques.
The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work (1999)
For some employees, verbal abuse can be the everyday language of doing business. Defending yourself from these verbal abusers—calmly, professionally, and successfully—can be crucial to your on-the-job success. Nationally recognized linguistics expert and author Suzette Haden Elgin applies her acclaimed techniques for combating verbal attacks to common workplace situations.
Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 250 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques (2016)
“Darren Levine has my unqualified support and gratitude for his contributions to Krav Maga.” –Imi Lichtenfeld, founder of Krav MagaTHE TOP-SELLING GUIDE TO KRAV MAGA IN AN UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITIONAll the defense moves in Complete Krav Maga—from beginner Yellow Belt to advancedBlack Belt—are described in depth and il…
Practical Karate 1: Fundamentals of Self-defense (1963)
Learn karate and self defense
Krav Maga Combatives: Maximum Effect (2019)
BECAUSE NOT ALL KRAV MAGA IS THE SAME® This book is designed for krav maga trainees, security-conscious civilians, law enforcement officers, security professionals, and military personnel alike who wish to refine their essential krav maga combatives, improve their chances of surviving a hostile attack and prevail without serious injury. Combatives are the foundation of krav maga counter-attacks. These are the combatives of the original Israeli Krav Maga Association (Grandmaster Gidon).
Best Self Defense Books: The Ultimate Collection
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some self defense books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health, and Enlightenment (Tuttle Martial Arts)
Author(s): Wong Kiew Kit
ID: 3329954, Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, Year: 2022, Size: 220 Mb, Format: pdf
Inglorious, Illegal Bastards: Japan's Self-Defense Force during the Cold War
Author(s): Aaron Skabelund
ID: 3337986, Publisher: Cornell University Press, Year: 2022, Size: 6 Mb, Format: epub
Jewish Self-Defense in South America: Facing Anti-Semitism with a Club in Hand
Author(s): Raanan Rein
ID: 3372778, Publisher: Routledge, Year: 2022, Size: 6 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not errorless. Some books are absolutely best-sellers according to Los Angeles Times, others are drafted by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.