Book Review: American Gun

American gun is the last book Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was working on before he was murdered eight years ago. His family, friends, and publisher went through great lengths to help and sew everything together and get the book finished in a manner that they believe would make the man proud. This is a book about how the history of America, good and bad, was shaped by 10 guns. 

WHO IS THE BOOK FOR?

This book is a great book for absolutely anybody who is into history and/or guns. You don't have to be a collector or a weekend tactical ninja to be interested in what this book has to offer. This book is actually quite clean and would be a terrific book for just about anyone who is interested in firearms. If you are well versed in history, a few small details here and there may make you raise an eyebrow from knowing better, but overall anyone can enjoy this book and the stories that help tell the story.

WRITING STYLE

History can be a very dry and boring subject with all the facts, numbers, stats, etc making for a yawn-worthy read. Chris did an amazing job of divulging all important connections, predecessors, and successors to each gun, as if in a history class, but in a way that keeps the reader engaged. He used short layman terms to describe things and then used stories that illustrated how the gun made an impact on people, and ultimately the course of history, periodically adding in his own experiences. The way Chris wrote the stories made it seem, to me, like story time around a campfire with how much you wanted more. Chris was able to put together all the stories, with all the details, in a way that engages and entertains, which really enhances the learning experience. The stories are full of quotes, but they are neatly laid out stories that have power that the reader can feel. You can feel impact the gun made on our history by the loss and survival of both the good and bad people who relied on these tools.

If you have ever watched the History Channel on TV, you probably know about Tales of the Gun. This was where they picked a gun, or a line of guns, and told the history about it in a cut and dry way. Some of the historians would come on and try to add a flair of entertainment and excitement, but it never really moved past being more than the equivalent to a schoolhouse documentary. American Gun on the other hand is a very engaging read that will definitely get you excited about firearms, at least in a historical sense. You may find yourself tempted to get into checking out some of the guns in this book, just to feel what some of the people in these stories felt when they had to use these tools. 

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Chris always reminds the reader that it is the person using the gun that decides whether that tool is used for good or bad, much like a baseball bat or a kitchen knife. Also, he points out that it is the user of these 10 tools that were equally as amazing as the tools themselves. Chris illustrates with words how firearms have forced us to grow/change technologically, socially, and even morally. Chris makes the case that without some of these firearms getting into the hands of certain people, history would most likely have played out quite different, for better or worse. 

CRITIQUES

I can say that there were a few times that I rolled my eyes throughout the book, but not in the sense that the author was wrong. I simply disagreed with a few descriptions that Chris had for things and people. These opinions he had are not uncommon opinions. And they are just that....opinions, so with that, I cannot think of a formal disagreement or critique with the book. The ten firearms he chose did segue into each other and did indeed seem to translate in a marked change in our history and/or culture.

WRAPUP

I am saddened that Chris couldn't have continued to write and teach. He had a way with words that I feel could have made a huge mark in our culture. Hell, I think that he could have done some great work getting future generations interested in firearms, history, and wanting to be a positive influence. But I am glad that he was around long enough to leave this treasure for us to learn from. My best advice is to get a copy of your own. You gun lovers won't be disappointed.