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.

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.

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.

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.

This month, our Book Club dove into Insights by Lisa & Bernhard Pickl and With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham, two powerful reads that challenge us to master ourselves under pressure and stop hoping for better results in favor of programming them. Our discussion brought these ideas to life, connecting elite mental strategies to real-world training, competition nerves, confidence slumps, and those moments when pressure feels overwhelming. Members shared honest breakthroughs, hard-earned lessons, and practical tools you can apply immediately, whether you’re chasing podiums, personal bests, or simply greater consistency.

This month the A Girl & A Gun Book Club read and discussed Minnehaha Falling: A Memoir of the 2020 Minneapolis Riots by Mike Treat and had the unique opportunity to speak directly with the author and his wife (and AG & AG member) Brenda Peterson. Their firsthand accounts of living through the Minneapolis riots brought powerful context beyond headlines and soundbites, grounding the events in real human experience. Our discussion explored lessons on preparedness, leadership, personal responsibility, and the importance of community when civil order breaks down. Hearing from the author deepened our understanding of the complexities surrounding those days and challenged us to think critically about resilience, accountability, and the role individuals play when systems fail.

At our latest AG & AG Book Club, we dove into The Gift of Failure by Dan Bongino, and the conversation was powerful. Together we unpacked Bongino’s blunt but inspiring message about grit, resilience, and why embracing our setbacks is the fastest route to personal growth and stronger leadership. Members shared personal “failure to success” stories, debated Bongino’s toughest lessons, and explored how his principles apply to training, competition, and everyday life. In this recording, you’ll catch up on the discussion and walk away encouraged, empowered, and maybe even ready to rethink the way you define success.

This month the AG & AG Book Club had a thoughtful and engaging conversation about The Gift of Fear, Gavin de Becker’s insightful exploration of intuition and personal safety. In this video, we unpacked how listening to our instincts can help us navigate danger, set boundaries, and build confidence in our everyday lives.