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feredatc's review against another edition
2.0
This is a book for a certain audience. If you want a piece of literature written at an opinionated , 10000 foot view of the topic that glosses over the bad and overhypes the good - this is the book for you. If you want to really enjoy this book, it also helps if you’re a red blooded America can-do-no-harm patriot.
I can tell a lot of research went into this book and while we get nuggets of information the overall shallow depth of explanation and tone less approach to historical events really left a bad taste in my mouth.
I can tell a lot of research went into this book and while we get nuggets of information the overall shallow depth of explanation and tone less approach to historical events really left a bad taste in my mouth.
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Chris Kyle's brief foray into the history of ten firearms significant in the history of the United States. Kyle did a nice job of blending occasional stories of the uses of these firearms with brief overviews of their histories and development. For example, he begins the chapter on the Colt model 1911 by briefly relating the story of Corporal Alvin York's (World War II) use of his model 1911 to singlehandedly take 32 German machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers, and capturing 132 others. Then there was the stories of Wild Bill Hickock and the Earp brothers using the Colt Peacemaker sixgun, and others with the Winchester rifle, the M-16, and others.
After mustering out of the military, Chris Kyle spent a considerable amount of his discretionary time trying to help returning veterans re-adjust, and sometimes overcome significant challenges with PTSD and other issues. Nearing the completion of this book, tragically he was killed by an unstable veteran he was trying to help. While his book is not an in-depth historical account, it is nonetheless a good read from a true American hero. I recommend it.
After mustering out of the military, Chris Kyle spent a considerable amount of his discretionary time trying to help returning veterans re-adjust, and sometimes overcome significant challenges with PTSD and other issues. Nearing the completion of this book, tragically he was killed by an unstable veteran he was trying to help. While his book is not an in-depth historical account, it is nonetheless a good read from a true American hero. I recommend it.
creechance's review against another edition
3.0
I love the subject of this book, but can only give the book three stars. I'm not a fan of the writing style and I feel like there is very little here that is not already widely known. This book would be an excellent choice for a 13 year old boy but offers little to anyone who has studied history.
jesibear's review against another edition
4.0
4.5. Very well written and easy to understand mostly for someone still a novice in the gun world like myself. I enjoyed the historical aspect and learned a lot.
roseybot's review
3.0
I really don't know how to review this book.
Here's what I will say about it -- I suppose it's not much of a surprise to find out that people who see danger around every corner are the same people who want everyone to carry a gun are the same people who see the world changing and hate where we have gone as a society (oh those good old days, they always seem to be saying).
Anyways, I did find this interesting. I don't know that I agree with his version of America, but it doesn't make the book less interesting.
Here's what I will say about it -- I suppose it's not much of a surprise to find out that people who see danger around every corner are the same people who want everyone to carry a gun are the same people who see the world changing and hate where we have gone as a society (oh those good old days, they always seem to be saying).
Anyways, I did find this interesting. I don't know that I agree with his version of America, but it doesn't make the book less interesting.
collegecate's review against another edition
3.0
This book scratches the "thing-ology" itch for me. It's a history of the guns used by the American military in a series of conflicts. It doesn't really get into gun violence in the US, but it wasn't trying for that. A comprehensive history of firearms in America would be really long, so this is ok. The author is clearly comfortable with and liked guns and I don't know many people like that. Read for Read Harder: books published posthumously.