bscarlin's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.5
The book was written in 1993 but it’s frightening how little progress has been made in the last 30 years. Today, mass shootings are a regular occurrence with many people showing indifference or resigned belief that nothing will change. Would love to see an update of this book laying out where we are today.
samarakroeger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I respect the hell out of Erik Larson for writing this book, but respect aside, it's really weird to read a nearly 30 year old book about America's obsession with guns that uses the lens of a school shooting from the 1980s where only one person was killed (a very pre-Columbine book). It's kind of disconcerting how hopeful Larson was that things could change (although he does admit that his very sensible gun control suggestions had absolutely no hope of being passed), especially knowing that school shootings were about to become distressingly commonplace.
It's interesting as a piece of history and storytelling, but the information provided about gun regulations is 30 years out of date (obviously). I would have liked to have more information about the history of the NRA and the gun lobby, which I found to be by far the most interesting aspect of this book.
Also -- I think Richard Poe is a good audiobook narrator, but the fact that he used character voices for different people's dialogue was super weird and bordering on offensive at times (i.e., for all the inner-city/Black people). Accents are a weird thing to employ in a nonfiction audiobook, imho.
It's interesting as a piece of history and storytelling, but the information provided about gun regulations is 30 years out of date (obviously). I would have liked to have more information about the history of the NRA and the gun lobby, which I found to be by far the most interesting aspect of this book.
Also -- I think Richard Poe is a good audiobook narrator, but the fact that he used character voices for different people's dialogue was super weird and bordering on offensive at times (i.e., for all the inner-city/Black people). Accents are a weird thing to employ in a nonfiction audiobook, imho.
hughestheboss's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating book that is still relevant to today's troubles. Ending up reading it for class (right after the Newton shooting) and it helped me make sense of a lot of failings we have with our system. I think it is an absolute must read to truly understand how broken our system is
nimeneth's review against another edition
Review specific to the audiobook version narrated by Richard Poe. Sir, this is non-fiction. There is no need to do different voices for different "characters", especially considering at least two come across with poorly done, stereotypical "black" accents. I only got partway into the second chapter and honestly I can't keep going. I may try in the future with a print version because generally I like the amount of research and detail Larson puts into his works.
Edit 10/22/22, gave the print version a try and honestly kind of glossed over at the number of statistics and the moralizing Larson does in chapter 3. I suppose part of the problem is my picking up a book on guns from almost 30 years ago, because the climate for gun control seems to have shifted a little bit and this book doesn't really feel nearly as relevant as it probably was back when it was still new.
Edit 10/22/22, gave the print version a try and honestly kind of glossed over at the number of statistics and the moralizing Larson does in chapter 3. I suppose part of the problem is my picking up a book on guns from almost 30 years ago, because the climate for gun control seems to have shifted a little bit and this book doesn't really feel nearly as relevant as it probably was back when it was still new.
dommdy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.5
This book is disturbing and infuriating. Also informative.
bloodravenlib's review against another edition
4.0
I wrote these impressions of the book back then:
>>This book is the story of 16 yr. old Nicholas who brought to school and fired a Cobray M 11/9. Through the story, Larson carefully traces the travels of the weapon and convincingly demonstrates what is wrong with gun laws in the United States. I found the book both interesting and instructive. Before reading it, I had not idea of how easy it could be to buy a firearm (not that I would want to). Mr. Larson's conclusions are credible because of the experiences he acquired while researching the book from shooting excursions with the NRA to acquiring a firearms dealer license.<<
The interesting thing now, a bit over ten years since I read the book, is that school shootings seem to be so much more common. A sad fact.
>>This book is the story of 16 yr. old Nicholas who brought to school and fired a Cobray M 11/9. Through the story, Larson carefully traces the travels of the weapon and convincingly demonstrates what is wrong with gun laws in the United States. I found the book both interesting and instructive. Before reading it, I had not idea of how easy it could be to buy a firearm (not that I would want to). Mr. Larson's conclusions are credible because of the experiences he acquired while researching the book from shooting excursions with the NRA to acquiring a firearms dealer license.<<
The interesting thing now, a bit over ten years since I read the book, is that school shootings seem to be so much more common. A sad fact.
djk_read's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Lots of detail about guns. Made me sick to read about the gun culture in the US… but quite educational. Hard to get through this book… not the typical fast moving story that he usually tells