American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15

Name: American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15
Price: 21.13 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (31 reviews)

4.2 of 5 Stars: History - American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15

$21.13

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Book Synopsis: "A magisterial work of narrative history and original reportage . . . You can feel the tension building one cold, catastrophic fact at a time . . . A virtually unprecedented achievement." ―Mike Spies, The New York Times Book ReviewOne of The New York Times's 33 Nonfiction Books to Read This Fall | One of Esquire's best books of fallNamed a most anticipated book of the fall by The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and BloombergAmerican Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 presents the epic history of America's most controversial weapon.

In the 1950s, an obsessive firearms designer named Eugene Stoner invented the AR-15 rifle in a California garage. High-minded and patriotic, Stoner sought to devise a lightweight, easy-to-use weapon that could replace the M1s touted by soldiers in World War II. What he did create was a lethal handheld icon of the American century.

In American Gun, the veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson track the AR-15 from inception to ubiquity. How did the same gun represent the essence of freedom to millions of Americans and the essence of evil to millions more? To answer this question, McWhirter and Elinson follow Stoner―the American Kalashnikov―as he struggled mightily to win support for his invention, which under the name M16 would become standard equipment in Vietnam. Shunned by gun owners at first, the rifle's popularity would take off thanks to a renegade band of small-time gun makers. And in the 2000s, it would become the weapon of choice for mass shooters, prompting widespread calls for proscription even as the gun industry embraced it as a financial savior. Writing with fairness and compassion, McWhirter and Elinson explore America's gun culture, revealing the deep appeal of the AR-15, the awful havoc it wreaks, and the politics of reducing its toll. The result is a moral history of contemporary America's love affair with technology, freedom, and weaponry.

Includes 8 pages of black-and-white images.

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American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 is a groundbreaking book that delves into the epic history of America's most controversial weapon. Written by veteran Wall Street Journal reporters, Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson, this magisterial work of narrative history and original reportage will leave you captivated from start to finish. Explore the origins of the AR-15 rifle, invented by the brilliant Eugene Stoner in a California garage during the 1950s. Its lightweight design and ease of use were meant to revolutionize the field of firearms, but little did Stoner know the profound impact it would have on American culture and history.

Uncover the deep appeal of the AR-15 to millions of Americans, and at the same time, the essence of evil it represents to millions more. McWhirter and Elinson meticulously follow Stoner's journey as he faced numerous challenges to gain support for his creation, which would eventually become the standard equipment in the Vietnam War under the name M16. Witness how this weapon initially faced rejection from gun owners, only to gain widespread popularity through the efforts of a renegade band of small-time gun makers.

But American Gun doesn't shy away from the dark side of the AR-15's legacy. As the weapon of choice for mass shooters in the 2000s, it ignited intense debates surrounding gun control and the Second Amendment rights. McWhirter and Elinson navigate these contentious issues with fairness and compassion, uncovering the awful havoc the AR-15 can wreak and delving into the politics of reducing its toll.

Immerse yourself in this moral history of America's love affair with technology, freedom, and weaponry. With 8 pages of black-and-white images interspersed throughout the book, you'll have a vivid visual experience alongside the powerful storytelling. Don't miss out on this highly anticipated book that The New York Times Book Review hails as "a virtually unprecedented achievement". Grab a copy of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 and embark on a truly enlightening and thought-provoking journey through America's gun culture.

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