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10 Books for Hunters, Veterans, and Gun Lovers That Make Great Christmas Gifts

by Richard Baimbridge

If there’s two things in this world you can never have enough of, it’s books and guns. So, what could be better than books about guns? Writers have long inspired young minds with tales of the outdoors, from Jack London’s Alaskan adventures in “Call of the Wild” to Ernest Hemingway’s big-game safari hunting tales in Africa.

While our list is by no means a comprehensive guide to the books that every hunter, veteran, and gun lover should have, it includes some great books that span from hunting to true battlefield stories to gun history, and cookbooks. Most are fairly recent, and all of them make wonderful Christmas gifts for friends and family members, whether they’re interested in guns, hunting, delicious food, or tales of courage and valor. Enjoy – and happy reading!

Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter – Steven Rinella is one of the most thoughtful and prolific nature writers of our time. This book is a beautiful ode to the life of hunters and to the vanishing frontier that skillfully grapples with the ethics of killing in a world that’s lost its connection to how food finds its way to our tables. 

Scars and Stripes: An Unapologetically American Story of Fighting the Taliban, UFC Warriors, and Myself -- Tim Kennedy is a Green Beret, decorated Army sniper, and UFC fighter who has jumped out of airplanes fighting the Taliban. But at the same time, his life is spinning out of control. In this inspiring memoir, Kennedy reveals that failure is the first step towards the best version of yourself, no matter how badly you screw things up.

The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating – You probably won’t find this book on any other lists for hunters. But it should be, because not only does it offer some amazing recipes, it also celebrates the ethos of eating the whole animal that you harvest, without wasting anything. Author Fergus Henderson runs a world-class London restaurant known for cuisine "on the wild side.” Recipes include Rabbit Wrapped in Fennel and Bacon and Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad. Check out my article on why you should be eating venison organs to learn more.

The Guns of John Moses Browning – Known as "the Thomas Edison of guns," John Moses Browning was an incredibly visionary inventor, responsible for the modern handgun and many of the firearms that armed American troops in WWI and WWII, and which are now integral to American culture. The book also gives some insights into his family, friends, and life outside of guns.

The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers -- Fans of sniper books will love The Reaper – a well-written memoir of Special Operations Sniper Nicholas Irving, the 3rd Ranger Battalion's deadliest sniper. Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary military career, including his deployment to Afghanistan. His teammates and chain of command labeled him "The Reaper," and his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend. This book has some really tense moments that will keep you up at night if you’re a bedtime reader.

The Illustrated History of Firearms, 2nd Edition – From the curators at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia, this beautiful hardbound work of art boasts full-color photos of over 1,700 guns, with detailed captions walking you through the history of virtually every type of firearm ever created. From hand cannons dating back to 1350 to the sporting rifles of the 21^st  Century, this 2^nd  edition covers it all.

American Gun -- This book was being written by the legendary sniper and Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, when he was shot and killed in 2013 by a veteran with PTSD and schizophrenia. Kyle’s wife Taya, finished the book with the help of author William Doyle. It covers 10 firearms selected by Kyle for their historical significance, from the American long rifle, to the Colt .45 revolver, and finally the M16 rifle Chris himself used in combat.

Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun – Like the AR-15 for rifles, Glocks are “America’s Gun.” Gaston Glock introduced the pistol to America just in time for the explosive rise of hip hop and crack cocaine. Author Paul M. Barrett tells the fascinating story Gaston Glock got into the firearms business, the struggles he faced (including a failed assassination attempt), and how the Glock came to be the top-selling handgun in the world.

The MeatEater Outdoor Cookbook: Wild Game Recipes for the Grill, Smoker, Campstove, and Campfire – Steven Rinella takes the kitchen outdoors with a book of open-air wild game cooking. Each chapter covers a different method—grilling, smoking, cooking over coals. Recipes are tagged for backyard, camping, or backpacking. Over 100 easy-to-follow recipes include Stuffed Game Burgers, Bulgogi Backstrap Lettuce Wraps and Hot-Smoked Trout. It also explains how to build the perfect outdoor kitchen and maintain a good fire.

Whitetail Savvy: New Research and Observations about America's Most Popular Big-Game Animal – Most hunters know surprisingly little about the creatures they spend so much time pursuing. This book will change that and give you deep insights into the minds and behavior of whitetail deer. Written by wildlife expert Dr. Leonard Lee Rue (author and photographer of over 30 books on whitetail deer), the book combines his lifetime of experience with the latest scientific research, in addition to over 250 gorgeous color photographs.

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