Buy used:
$47.76
FREE delivery May 12 - 17
Or fastest delivery May 12 - 15
Used: Good | Details
Sold by The Virtue Vendor
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Inside text/images are crisp and clean. Outer cover is clean, but does show normal signs of wear and tear. Binding is tight. Prime shipping!

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jeff Cooper
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Principles of Personal Defense Paperback – January 1, 2006

by Jeff Cooper (Author), Paul Kirchner (Illustrator), Louis Awerbuck (Foreword)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,731 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
Jeff Cooper was perhaps the nation's foremost authority on defensive weaponcraft. He was renowned not only for his practical instruction on firearms marksmanship, mechanics and safety but also for his groundbreaking ideas on proper defensive mental conditioning. This final edition of Cooper's classic Principles of Personal Defense with a fitting tribute by firearms expert Louis Awerbuck and all-new drawings by renowned illustrator Paul Kirchner presents his timeless theory of individual defensive behavior clearly, concisely and practically. All free people who aspire to stay that way should read, study and share the wisdom found within these pages. Considered by many to be one of the greatest books on combat mindset and proper defensive mental conditioning ever written, it deserves a place of honor in every library. Jeff Cooper was one of the true pioneers of weaponcraft in the United States. His numerous accomplishments include founder of Gunsite Ranch, editor at large of Guns & Ammo magazine, winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner award in 1995, Rangemaster Emeritus of the U.S. Practical Shooting Association and long-time member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    79 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Paladin Pr
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    8.3 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1581604955
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1581604955
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paladin Pr; Revised edition (January 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 79 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1581604955
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1581604955
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,731 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jeff Cooper

Jeff Cooper

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jeff Cooper was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1920. He was educated at Stanford University and took his advanced degree from the University of California. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1941 and served throughout World War II in the Pacific, achieving the rank of Major. Recalled to active duty for the Korean War, he moved up one rank to Lieutenant Colonel before leaving the service.

Cooper became a shottist at the age of eleven. In 1958 he originated the sport of practical pistol competition. From this activity he formulated the Modern Technique of the Pistol, now generally observed throughout the world. For the next thirty years he was active in teaching the new method throughout the Western World.

In 1976 Jeff Cooper founded the International Practical Shooting Confederation. In 1977 he founded the American Pistol Institute at Gunsite in Arizona, where he lived until his death in 2006.

He served as editor-at-large of Guns and Ammo magazine, for which he wrote a monthly column. After having served many years as a director of the National Rifle Association of America, he was elected to the Executive Council.

Jeff Cooper spent a long and active life reading, shooting, hunting, fighting and teaching. Internationally respected as the “Gunner’s Guru,” Jeff Cooper is a philosopher, moralist, and political commentator — a true modern Renaissance man. It is to the benefit of his many readers that he developed the passion at an early age to write it all down.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
1,731 global ratings
Review - Principals of Self Defense by Jeff Cooper
5 Stars
Review - Principals of Self Defense by Jeff Cooper
Principals of Self Defense by Jeff Cooper is a classic booklet on self defense. It is a must read for anyone concerned with defending themselves from random and ruthless violence. It is a classic because it clearly and briefly outlines basic principles which any defense student must understand and adopt for effective defense in almost any threatning situation. In brief, this book prepares you for the possible fight for your life some day which could mean the difference between your living or dying. You must read this book with a pen, then you must read it again and again. This book gives you the mental preparation you need for a fight as well as principles to apply to survive. If you have never been in a drag out fight you may not appreciate the points outlined in this book immediately. However, just think of someone trying to seriously hurt or kill you or your family while you read this little book and it's value will become clear. The Principals of Self Defense by Jeff Cooper is a must read for every self defense student - GET IT, READ IT, KEEP IT and READ IT AGAIN. If anyone tells you different, run from them. Effective Self Defense for Average People ....
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Matthew M Nowak
5.0 out of 5 stars Ageless teaching
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Strong, well founded and carefully written. COL Cooper 's wisdom is as applicable today as it was when first published. Truly wisdom to help one survive in our degrading society.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
ABBA's Fernando
5.0 out of 5 stars attitude detremins success
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Mental preparation is critical in survival situations. These principles could well preserve your life while under attack from criminal intent
Helpful
 Report
Shang Chi
5.0 out of 5 stars Short, sweet, and to the point
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
This short book is concise, clearly laying out the principles of self defense in a manner that is accessible and sensible. Anyone interested in self defense should read this book, and use it as a springboard for further study and training.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
KyrozuDesoya
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for self defense.
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Blunt concise and full of very practical information regarding defense your own life and the lives of others. Absolutely essential reading in our world in 2024. Which is very very sad.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Ack
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy and quick to read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
The book is a quick and easy read. I read other reviews that that the book was not worth the money and the artwork at each chapter did not connect. The principles are presented clearly and concisely. One does not need a bunch of fluff clouding his/her mind in the act of defending one's self. I felt the artwork that many were critical of prefaced each chapter well. I use the book as a reference tool to keep sharp on the principles.
Helpful
 Report
Shawshank
5.0 out of 5 stars Of all the books I've read, this is an absolute must read for everyone.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
When I was thinking of what type of person should read this book, I really struggled to ID a "type" of person. Then it struck me - everyone needs to read this. There are some people who area already geared up and thinking along these lines. I am one of those persons who tries to maintain situation awareness where ever I go, but Col. Cooper really put my mind in the game. He covers the full mental spectrum of personal defense. Listen, it doesn't matter where you carry concealed or not, it doesn't matter if you ven support the act of carrying concealed. This book isn't about that. This book is about you coming out on the other end of a personal attack alive, able to go home to you family. Able to see you kids another day. Able to see your wife or husband another day (Hopefully you want that...) able to see your brother or sister, mother or father again. This world we live in today isn't like it was 60 years ago. Today people will take from you because they believe they can. Today people don't have a respect and love for human life - other human life. So in light of that truth you should get this book. Yes, I'm talking to you. On the fence, still wanting to believe that "nothing could happen to you". Well I thought that myself and in a small town in a big state I was proven wrong, when a man with a disregard for human life took my mother's life. I wonder how she would have fared had she had the mind that Col Cooper shared with us. Maybe the result would have been the same maybe it would not have been, I will never know. But what I do know is that this world, even small little towns have people with evil intent in their hearts. What will be your response when your path crosses theirs? Here is another fact, your chance for survival increases exponentially when you do counter-attack with surprise, speed, and violence of force, the chances of you seeing those you love another day do increase. This is the area Col. Cooper covers. He doesn't talk about the "How", he talks about the state of mind you need to be in to protect yourself and those you love.
52 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Irene
5.0 out of 5 stars amazingly still on point
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Cleanly written without jargon or bravado it quickly and carnot summirises the subject of self defense and the mindset needed.
Helpful
 Report
Tamra F.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great short read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this in an afternoon, and it is concise. Simple as that. Make no mistake, criminals are not expecting you to have these principles in mind!
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Mentalidade de protagonismo (mindset)
Reviewed in Brazil on November 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Um livro que foca na mentalidade e no protagonismo que devemos ter. Leitura obrigatória!

A book about mindset and protagonist. It should be an obligatory reading!
Report
Manuela Bonissi
1.0 out of 5 stars PREZZO ESORBITANTE
Reviewed in Italy on August 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Pagine totali 79 (inoltre sono quasi più le pagine bianche che quelle scritte)
One person found this helpful
 Report
Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Tango 1
Reviewed in France on February 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
Exactly what you would expect , pearls of wisdom.from Jeff Cooper.
A small book filled with a life time of experience.
Report
Waldschrat
5.0 out of 5 stars Be alert- be prepared!
Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
The book will not give you the combat technique to defend yourself, but it is a great book to prepare your spirit, to prevent an attack, which is the best way to fight. It gives you also the right mind-set, if a fight cannot be avoided. If you are looking for kicking and punching tricks do not read it, if you want to know how you can prepare your brain for survival in a more and more merciless surrounding - it is may be the best book you can buy. You will develop a 360 degree alertness after reading it. A first step to your safety is to know that it can HAPPEN!! A good book also for people who travel alot and meet people they do not want to meet...
Report
Brent L
5.0 out of 5 stars What needs to be said...
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
It is one of the seminal works of Jeff Cooper. It is a reissue, done later, but no less good.

It is basic, but direct and thought provoking.

If you ever plan to, or think you may ever need to, defend yourself from hostility then you MUST read this book as part of your preperation for that eventuality. Personally, I believe anyone in a line of work where conflict may occur, and anyone who in their everyday life may encounter violence, HAS TO read this book.

It is not going to tell you how to do what you will need to do, but the thought provoking nature of it will certainly help you toward the mental preps needed to act if and when a horrible time comes.
3 people found this helpful
 Report