American Gun

The authors examine American history through 10 guns that have been important in our nation's development. The analysis covers the American long rifle (a rifled musket), the six-shooter of the Old West, the Tommy gun of the Roaring Twenties, and today's military rifle, among others. Far from a polemic on gun rights, the discussion shows how advances in technology shaped the country and its military. John Pruden offers a straightforward narration. He's believable as the authors when they interject themselves into the text. However, the periodic use of profanity, while easy to gloss over in print, can be a bit jarring when heard. Also, the book moves along in the historical sections but bogs down in the technical passages. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Starred review from June 17, 2013
Bestselling author Kyle (American Sniper) was putting the final touches on this discerning study of 10 firearmsâcompleted by his widow and Doyleâthat changed the course of warfare when he was killed at a gun range. Coupled with his goal of "talk history with the bullets flying," Kyle's picksâsurefire debate fodder for gun enthusiastsâmake for immersive reading as he recounts key battles during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and WWII. Kyle's enthusiasm for his subject is infectiousâeven for professed dovesâand his gift for narrative lends the stories the tension and drama they deserve. He brings to life the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral and the Battle of Cowpens during the American Revolution, recounting close calls, colossal errors, and the weapons that gave one side a key advantage over another. Thanks to his experiences as a Navy SEAL, Kyle is intimately familiar with the construction, key features, and upkeep of all the featured weapons, which adds to his credibility and enables him to tell his stories in greater depth. Regardless of one's views on guns, readers will gain a deeper respect for weaponry and the people tasked with using them.

December 1, 2012
Telling the American story with ten guns, from the American Long Rifle to the M16 Assault Rifle. Since Kyle's "American Sniper" has sold 400,000 copies in print and 180,000 ebooks so far, the 500,000-copy first printing is no surprise.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2012

Telling the American story with ten guns, from the American Long Rifle to the M16 Assault Rifle. Since Kyle's American Sniper has sold 400,000 copies in print and 180,000 ebooks so far, the 500,000-copy first printing is no surprise.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2013
A raucous and duly violent tour of American history through the sights of 10 famous weapons, from the Kentucky long rifle to the M-16. There's a touch of sadness to the second book by Kyle (American Sniper, 2012), given that Kyle--who co-authored this work with William Doyle--both became famous for his wartime sniper service and was himself gunned down by a PTSD-afflicted veteran he was trying to aid. The tragedy is compounded by the sheer likability of Kyle's ebullient, if hyperconservative, persona on the page. From his rural Texas upbringing and his experiences in war, Kyle came to believe that "[m]ore than any other nation in history, the United States has been shaped by the gun." He persuasively suggests that dramatic changes in firearms technology can be viewed as inextricable from the American Revolution, the closing of the Western frontier and, later, to American dominance on the world stage. Thus, he begins each chapter with a representational combat anecdote from the industrial and military narratives leading to each firearm's development, noting how often bureaucracy stood in the way of technologies that aided soldiers. Kyle is skilled at explaining complex combat scenarios, and he addresses the many strange ironies of American firearms' history with dry humor--e.g., regarding the "Tommy gun," which developed unsavory criminal connotations before its vital role in World War II: "[Inventor] Thompson personally didn't like the association, but few gangsters took the time to ask his opinion." Kyle's wry, relaxed tone is complemented by a foreword and afterword by his widow, who recalls a man who "had personality and character to spare." Will appeal to military buffs, conservative readers and, of course, firearms enthusiasts.

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