Something like a phonebook would be great, but I'm pretty sure it's a myth that a phonebook can stop a bullet. Is that true of pretty much any reasonable kind of bullet, traveling at any speed, even if it's not a direct hit? Is there anything else similarly low-tech that would deflect a bullet?
I've done some Google searches with terms like "makeshift bulletproofing," but I haven't turned up anything that works. Any help would be MUCH appreciated. Thanks in advance!