Books cannot hurt but they are not the be all and end all. Real training as an extension, at least. of your CCWP training, is important. Followup in your own home with self defense preparedness via comments made in the book is also important. Reading this and other forums, particularly when the subject thread is self defense, gives you varied and interesting perspectives on what other forum members are doing. Put it all together and you can end up with at least a personal plan for your own situation.