Cooper's Books...Worth Reading?

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BerettaNut92

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I wanted to check out Art of the Rifle and Ride High, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth (?) but they were out of them at the bookstore yesterday, and I may just order them online.

Are they worth getting, or are they kind of...well...a series of blurbs like in the back of that magazine Cooper writes for?
 
I've read The Art of the Rifle, and to be honest, I was underwhelmed. It's not bad, but I don't think it's worth the ~$30 it goes for.
 
I have the Shoot Stra ight and some others , yes they are good books very interesting info ,well written.
 
LtCol. Cooper is a National Treasure. He is one of the very, very few firearms instructors to have killed someone - in his case 3 Jap soldiers with a .45 ACP.

His contribution to firearms training is immeasurable.

I like his books.
 
I have them both. 'The Art' is an excellent book on the fundamentals of riflery. 'To Ride' is plain old good storytelling, for the most part, especially if you like Cooper's writing style. Both good, but 'To Ride' is the one that I sometimes re-read.
 
The Art of the Rifle is a very good primer for someone who has never used one before (like me). It gave me a decent grounding in the basics.

If you are already competent with a rifle then you will find it as the others commented, nothing revolutionary.

I have not read the other one.
 
In general, good reads....

Skunk,
To Ride... is a good read that will make you think a bit. I loan my copy out to friends, and all seem to be happy they read it.

The Art of the Rifle is a slow dry book, but most instructional manuals are:rolleyes: If you want to learn to shoot a rifle.....I mean really hit stuff, this book is EXCELLENT. This is about engaging targets, not "hammering the 100 yard berm with your AK from the hip". The "Art" teachs fundamentals of position shooting, and how it pertains to field shooting, and ALOT more.

If you want to be a RIFLEMAN, even if you are already a good shot, you need to STUDY this book. I can think of no other reference piece that teacvhes riflery as well and as comprehensively as Cooper's The Art of the Rifle.

Edit,
Skunk, thanks for reminding me, I need to get my copy back from Lombardo:scrutiny:
 
If you want to be a RIFLEMAN, even if you are already a good shot, you need to STUDY this book. I can think of no other reference piece that teacvhes riflery as well and as comprehensively as Cooper's The Art of the Rifle.
Click to expand...

Thats exactly what I think of the book. I'm no novice with the rifle, but no master either, and I think it's an excellant book. I was reading it last night again.
 
I've got almost all the good Colonel's books, and recommend them highly. He's finally agreed to publish a book on his post-WWII exploits, including several rather secret trips to South America on behalf of the US Government. I don't know what the published title will be, but it's being discussed on the API List as "Sea Stories". It should be out toward the end of this year, God and the Colonel willing. Can't wait! :D
 
To Ride is excellent in places. I have another of his books, a little pamphlet titled Principles of Personal Defense, which is outstanding.
 
I know the man. He is controversial because he holds strong opinions and has never been hesitant in defending them. But most of them are based on personal experience that is far deeper then anything his critics can muster - who often nit-pick because they lack good arguments. Some of his books are better then others, but I never read one that I didn’t enjoy - and learn something. Jeff is a man of traditional values, and about as far away from being “Politically Correct†as you can get. Maybe that’s why I like him.
 
Old Fuff said:
Jeff is a man of traditional values, and about as far away from being “Politically Correct†as you can get. Maybe that’s why I like him
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That's why I very much enjoy his writing, too. And he CAN sure write.



matis
 
I have enjoyed all his books, and I believe there is only one that I don't own. I even have a copy of Principles of Personal Defense autographed by the Colonel and a picture of me next to him as he is signing it. :D
 
I have learned a LOT more from reading TFL and THR than from Art of the Rifle. I was expecting some sort of sacred knowledge, but it was all stuff you can get here.

I flip through it sometimes because I enjoy his quirky style, but that's about it. Really I should be spending the time at the range instead.
 
"I was expecting some sort of sacred knowledge, but it was all stuff you can get here. "

That might be the most important lesson in the book. The key to excellant shooting is no mystery, it is simply mastering the basics. Performing the basics of position, breathing, sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger squeeze. The sacred knowlege is that you will never be a good shot until you master these simple, basic concepts. The best shot in the world is simply doing these basics perfectly, every time.
I took a class at Front Sight and they are always talking about the three secrets.
The three secrets are sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger squeeze. Someone asked, why do you call that stuff a secret ? They said, to those people who don't shoot well, they are a secret.
 
I have "To Ride..." and find it very interesting. Many (well, probably all) of the stories are written in a literary style that goes back a few decades. In a way it reminds me of Louis Lamour's non-western stories. I think you will like it.

I am going to have to get "The Art of The Rifle" someday, I could probably use it.
 
Worth reading!? Worth reading!? Are you on crack!? They're Cooper books, of course they're worth reading! :D
 
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