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nickbyers's review against another edition
5.0
I'm pro gun control, so this was more a read to make sure I am properly educated on the most prevalent gun used in mass shootings.
This is a very thorough history of the creation of the AR-15, Armalite-15. But it is also a look at the repercussions of the commercial availability of Ar-15 style firearms to the civilian population.
This is a very thorough history of the creation of the AR-15, Armalite-15. But it is also a look at the repercussions of the commercial availability of Ar-15 style firearms to the civilian population.
amandamarieger's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
gillthequill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
If you want a comprehensive look on why American today, circa 2024, has such a mass shooter problem, this book offers an easy to read, engaging, and well written account. Weaving both smaller stories, such as AR-15 inventor Stoner's life story and individual accounts of mass shootings, with bigger picture narratives, such as the Vietnam War, this book offers a clear through line of how we got here today. It was an excellent read, one that had me consuming easily 150 pages in the first day of reading alone. A depressing read, but a necessary one if you want to understand how exactly we got here. My only critique was perhaps a deeper dive into the history of the NRA was warranted, but otherwise good read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, and Medical trauma
kaebirdie's review against another edition
5.0
Without knowing any more than (some of) the historical events in which this gun was involved, I can't say if anything was missed, but I felt like this book covered relevant events, and I appreciated the inclusion of technical aspects, even though I don't have any knowledge of gun construction or engineering. It made the book feel more grounded in the discussion of the gun than simply a history of traumatic events. The audio was well done, too.