I have known the author of The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry for about ten years now, and also know several of the people mentioned and pictured in this book. Reading through it felt like attending an extended lecture from one of Mas's classes at the Lethal Force Institute. I have personally taken a number of those classes and thought I would have a strong feeling of "been there, heard that" reading this book, but instead found myself either learning or remembering something important in almost every chapter. You might expect this book to feel like an advertisement for the latest whiz-bang product from some company advertising in a gun magazine. Not so. Rather, it is a compiliation of Mas's fifty odd years of carrying firearms for self protection, and over thirty years teaching this material to others. Reading it feels like sitting down for drinks and an extended Q&A session with the author.
The chapters are laid out in a logical fashion such that the reader should just start at page one and continue until the end of the book. Too often, books in this category are set out in a pick and choose format, where the reader needs to look at the table of contents or an index to find something relevant. With Concealed Carry, just start reading and continue learning until you hit the back cover.
Mas starts with why people carry firearms, and the lifestyle choices and changes that such a decision will require. Once he has helped get your mind right about the concept, he moves on to choosing firearms and ammunition for self defense. The firearms he recommends are those he has shot, or seen work in law enforcement, shooting classes, and competition. The primary need in a defensive firearm is reliability. Mas shows that you don't have to spend thousands on a custom firearm in order to achieve this. Most firearms shown are off-the-shelf items from your local gun shop with only tritium sights or laser grips added for night use. He only recommends those which work, and which he has used.
Once you have picked out a firearm, you'll need a holster. Mas goes through them by type, including strong side hip, inside waist band, cross draw, shoulder, pocket, and ankle holsters, among others. He goes through the advantages and disadvantages of each, and explains situations where one choice might be better than another. Just like with the firearms, Mas tells the reader which holsters he has used and which work for him. By virtue of having taught thousands of people over the years, Mas also explains what works for different body types that do not necessarily work for him. Many instructors fall into the trap of "what works for me must work for you too." Not Mas. He freely acknowledges that his style of carry may not work for women, large males, those who spend lots of time seated, etc. The holster chapters are extensive and well written. They also allow the readers to obtain information as to what will work best for them. I would advise anyone considering purchasing a "one size fits all" type nylon holster at a gun show to put that same money into this book and learn what works and what doesn't.
Once Mas has the reader squared away as to attitude, hardware, and holsters, he then moves on to the final two topics: clothing and practice. Those who carry learn how to dress around the firearm so as to keep it out of sight in public. Most people do not want to see non law enforcement officers carrying firearms openly in most states. Some hard headed gunnies refuse to acknowledge this. Mas explains the harm that can result from ignoring this fact. He has a whole chapter on clothing choices specifically designed to keep self defense firearms concealed. When you carry firearms for self defense, eventually you learn to dress around the gun. This book will jump start the process.
Most people who carry firearms for self defense will take only one training class, usually the one to get the license, if even that. Mas explains the perils which can befall someone who chooses to carry only some of the time, or not practice the skills needed to draw and reholster a firearm in a self defense situation. He is a big proponent of competition in order to help develop those skills, including IPSC/USPSA, NRA Action Pistol (Bianchi Cup), and especially IDPA matches. The irony of the situation is that those who carry on a daily basis, train with professional instructors, and regularly compete with firearms become less likely to need those skills the better they get.
I rank this book as a "must read" along with In The Gravest Extreme, by the same author. For about the same cost as a box of premium self defense ammunition (useful) or a gun show special holster (not useful), get this book and read it cover to cover. It answers lots of questions about concealed carry and is the next best thing to actually taking a class from Massad Ayoob.
