Setting the Standard for Women in Firearms | Training. Insights. Intelligence.

A Girl & A Gun Book Club​

Jump into books that you might not otherwise read and expand your window to the world by discussing important topics with women from around the country! The AG & AG Book Club gives you the chance to expand your literary tastes, gain knowledge from authors and others, and dive deeper into topics about self-defense, mindset, safety, violence, and strength.  Providing opportunities for intellectual growth is another example of how AG & AG is living the motto that “It’s More Than Shooting!”

Self Defense​

Expand your training off of the range with access to world renowned instructors.​

Mindset​

Gain confidence in your decision-making abilities by learning new concepts and contexts.​

Personal Growth​

Join in virtual discussions with AG & AG leaders and/or book authors about the monthly topics.​

Dates & Agenda​

Our Monthly Virtual Meeting takes place on the last Thursday of each month at 6pm Central Time.

Members can instantly join our discussion group and submit comments to the authors. Please log in to check your status or join today! If you are logged in with an active membership and are unable to see the download links, hit F5 on your keyboard (or cmd+R on a Mac) to refresh the page.

Book List

2026

  • January 2026 (Accepting): Insights by Lisa Pickl or With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham
  • February 2026 (Gracious): The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi
  • March 2026 (Impactful): Mental Toughness by Kyle Faber
  • April 2026 (Real): Without Conscience by Robert D Hare
  • May 2026 (Learning): Make It Stick by Peter C Brown
  • June 2026 (Adventurous): Gate of Fire by Steven Pressfield (fiction) or Victory Favors the Fearless by Darrin Donnelly
  • July 2026 (Noteworthy): Girls with Swords by Lisa Bevere (spiritual) or The Journey Inward by Janet Charbonneau
  • August 2026 (Determined): The Secrets of Women Who Never Give Up by Katja Lindemann
  • September 2026 (Adaptable): Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
  • October 2026 (Generous): Who Believed in You by David McCormick
  • November 2026 (Unselfish): The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
  • December 2026 (Necessary): One Second After by William Forstchen (fiction) or The Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph Alton

About Book Club

AG & AG Book Club is a way for members to grow intellectually in areas of self-defense, mindset, marksmanship, preparedness, confidence, and more. The Book Club serves as a community in which to participate virtually from your own home for a casual gathering to discuss relevant topics with like-minded women.

Book Club meetings are on the last Thursdays of every month at 6pm Central Time. Occasionally, Book Club will be rescheduled when the last Thursday conflicts with a major holiday, such as Thanksgiving, so watch for announcements. 

See “Dates & Agenda” section, above.

Yes, the Book Club is a perk of membership. Not a member? Join today!

AG & AG President & CEO Robyn Sandoval selects the books based on reputation, reviews, and recommendations. If you have a suggestion, you’re welcome to send it in to HQ.

Recorded Meetings

Book Club: The Secrets of Women Who Never Give Up

What does it really mean to be a woman who never gives up? This candid conversation goes far beyond resilience, exploring confidence, mentorship, authenticity, and the people who help shape who we become. Through honest stories about setbacks, self-doubt, hard-earned wisdom, and finding confidence both in life and on the range, these women uncover what determination really looks like. It’s the kind of conversation that may leave you thinking differently about your own journey, and the women walking it with you.

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Book Club: Strength Begins Within

A Girl & A Gun’s July 2026 Book Club meeting brought together two books that approach personal growth from different perspectives but ultimately arrive at a remarkably similar conclusion: true strength begins from within. The discussion centered on Lisa Bevere’s Girls with Swords and Janet Charbonneau’s The Journey Inward, exploring themes of courage, identity, self-discovery, faith, confidence, preparation, and becoming the woman you were created to be.

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Book Club: Victory Favors the Fearless

This month’s Book Club featured two recommended summer reads: Gates of Fire, a historical novel by Steven Pressfield, and Victory Favors the Fearless by Darrin Donnelly. While the group initially planned to discuss both books, most participants had the opportunity to read Victory Favors the Fearless, making it the focus of the evening’s conversation. Members shared candid stories about overcoming fear, managing competition nerves, building resilience, and developing the mental toughness that fuels success both on and off the range. Rather than simply reviewing the book, the discussion brought its lessons to life through personal experiences in shooting sports and everyday challenges, creating a conversation rich with practical wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor, a new shooter, or simply someone interested in personal growth, you’ll find relatable experiences and actionable takeaways that just might inspire you to join the next Book Club discussion.

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Book Club: Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

What if the best way to learn is not by making practice easier, but by making it harder? In this month’s Book Club discussion of Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, members explore the surprising science behind how skills are actually developed and retained. Through candid conversations about firearms training, aviation, healthcare, sports, and personal growth, participants discover why struggle, failure, reflection, and varied practice are often the keys to lasting improvement. Whether you’re a student, instructor, competitor, or lifelong learner, this engaging discussion offers practical insights that can transform the way you approach training, performance, and mastery.

Read More »

Book Club: Without Conscience

At this month’s A Girl & A Gun Book Club meeting, members came together to discuss the thought-provoking book Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare, a groundbreaking exploration into the minds and behaviors of psychopaths and individuals who lack empathy and remorse. What began as a conversation about psychopathy quickly evolved into a much broader discussion about situational awareness, personal safety, human behavior, and the responsibilities that come with firearms training and instruction. The book left many members both fascinated and unsettled, challenging deeply held assumptions about what danger actually looks like and how manipulation can appear in everyday life. Throughout the evening, women openly shared insights, personal experiences, and practical ways to recognize harmful behavior patterns while emphasizing the importance of awareness, emotional protection, and preparedness. More than just a book discussion, the meeting became an empowering conversation centered on personal growth, confidence, and building healthier relationships and safer communities. For women seeking meaningful dialogue, encouragement, and real-world insight in a supportive environment, this gathering proved to be both eye-opening and deeply valuable.

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Book Club: Mental Toughness

For the March Book Club Meeting, A Girl & A Gun members read Mental Toughness by Kyle Faber. Even though the book is not specifically about firearms training, it sparked a lot of meaningful reflection around resilience, mindset, and performing under pressure. Everyone found ways to connect it back to both shooting and everyday life. It didn’t just talk about mental toughness; it really put the idea to the test. What started as a simple conversation about “staying strong” turned into something much deeper. People opened up about emotions, self-awareness, and how they actually respond under pressure. There were a lot of honest moments, some unexpected insights, and plenty of real-life examples from the range, work, and relationships. It was the kind of discussion that makes you rethink how you handle stress and wish you had been there for all of it.

Read More »

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Past Book Lists

2025

  • January 2025 (Accepting): Brave Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
  • February 2025 (Gracious): The 15 Fundamental Laws of De-escalation by Brendan King
  • March 2025 (Impactful): How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
  • April 2025 (Real): The Safety Trap by Spencer Coursen
  • May 2025 (Learning): Gun Fight! by Richard Nance
  • June 2025 (Adventurous): Prone and Long-Range Rifle Shooting by Nancy Tompkins
  • July 2025 (Noteworthy): The Deadliest Men by Paul Kirchner
  • August 2025 (Determined): Practice Perfect by Doug Lemov
  • September 2025 (Adaptable): Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry
  • October 2025 (Generous): The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker (book review)
  • November 2025 (Unselfish): The Gift of Failure by Dan Bongino
  • December 2025 (Necessary): Minnehaha Falling by Mike Treat

2024

  • January 2024 (Accepting): Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman by Gail Evans
  • February 2024 (Gracious): Bastards & Brothers by Roger “Ajax” Trueblood
  • March 2024 (Impactful): Women’s Ways of Knowing by Mary Field Belenky et al
  • April 2024 (Real): The Anatomy of Violence by Adrian Raine
  • May 2024 (Learning): Training at the Speed of Life by Ken Murray
  • June 2024 (Adventurous): The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Gillebeau
  • July 2024 (Noteworthy): Measure What Matters by John Doerr
  • August 2024 (Determined): Serious Mistakes Gun Owners Make by Claude Werner
  • September 2024 (Adaptable): Survive the Unthinkable by Tim Larkin, Gun Curious by David Yamane
  • October 2024 (Generous): Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
  • November 2024 (Unselfish): Fundamental Handgun Mastery by Tyson Kilbey
  • December 2024 (Necessary): The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

2023

  • January 2023 (Accepting): The Power of Awareness by Dan Schilling
  • February 2023 (Gracious): How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • March 2023 (Impactful): The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
  • April 2023 (Real): The Safety Trap by Spencer Coursen
  • May 2023 (Learning): The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas
  • June 2023 (Adventurous): Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday
  • July 2023 (Noteworthy): Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
  • August 2023 (Determined): The Ranger Way by Kris Paronto
  • September 2023 (Adaptable): Sharp Woman by Kelly Sayre
  • October 2023 (Generous): The Two Hour Difference by Dru Wischhover
  • November 2023 (Unselfish): The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
  • December 2023 (Necessary): Sheep No More by Jonathan T. Gilliam
2022
  • January 2022 (Accepting): Spotting Danger Before It Spots You by Gary Dean Quesenberry
  • February 2022 (Gracious): Conflict Communication by Rory Miller
  • March 2022 (Impactful): Escape the Wolf by Clint Emerson
  • April 2022 (Real): The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
  • May 2022 (Learning): What Every Body Is Saying by Joe Navarro
  • June 2022 (Adventurous): Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Poumpouras & Creepology by Anna Valdiserri
  • July 2022 (Noteworthy): Strategies and Standards for Defensive Handgun Training by Karl Rehn & Free of Malice by Liz Lazarus (fiction)
  • August 2022 (Determined): Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • September 2022 (Adaptable): When Violence Is the Answer by Tim Larkin
  • October 2022 (Generous): A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
  • November 2022 (Unselfish): Selfish to Selfless: 5 Pillars to Fulfillment Through Purpose by Keegan Schaefer
  • December 2022 (Necessary): The Prepper’s Blueprint by Tess Pennington
2021
  • January 2021 (Accepting): Games People Play by Eric Berne
  • February 2021 (Gracious): DryFire Reloaded by Ben Stoeger
  • March 2021 (Impactful): Why Meadow Died by Andrew Pollack
  • April 2021 (Real): The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley
  • May 2021 (Learning): The Law of Self Defense by Andrew Branca
  • June 2021 (Adventurous): Choose Adventure by Greg Ellifritz
  • July 2021 (Noteworthy): Deadly Force by Massad Ayoob
  • August 2021 (Determined): Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales
  • September 2021 (Adaptable): Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life by Jason Hanson
  • October 2021 (Generous): The Gun Rights War by Neal Knox
  • November 2021 (Unselfish): Concealed Carry Class by Tom Givens (book review)
  • December 2021 (Necessary): Practical Shooting by Brian Enos
2020
  • August 2020 (Determined): The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker (book review)
  • September 2020 (Adaptable): Left of Bang by Patrick Van Horne (book review)
  • October 2020 (Generous): More Guns Less Crime by John Lott
  • November 2020 (Unselfish): The Cornered Cat by Kathy Jackson
  • December 2020 (Necessary): Violence of Mind by Varg Freeborn