My Book review of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun

[dooga]

I am not sure this is the right place but I thought I would share a review I wrote about an upcoming book that I got a free review copy of. I was not paid in any way, Barrett found me on Twitter because I tweet about range time and stuff like that. This version is edited down. I removed the quotes from the book because of copyright issues that some forums have. The original is on my site:

Glock: The Rise of America's Gun is not the work of a Glock fanboy like many of these gun books are. It is the gun version of Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World. Of course it is an historically-accurate representation of the life and times of Gaston Glock and everything GLOCK, Inc., and its line of handguns.

It is also a complete history of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, a history of gun-related politics and policies, and also a very accurate and sober portrayal of America's love for and of guns.

In the same way you read Cod even though you're not into fish or fishing, you really should read Glock. If you're anti-gun, you'll learn both about the culture of firearms in America and how powerfull and intelligent -- savvy -- a force your enemy really is. If you're pro-gun, the Glock revolution will blow your mind, especially in contrast with how pathetically every gun manufacturer in the world performed against GLOCK, especially poor Smith & Wesson, a company that watched as GLOCK came in and single-handedly replaced every .38 Special revolver in every police station in America with not only a high-capacity, semi-automatic, magazine-fed pistol, but with a Glock 17.

I can keep on going. Each story is more amazing than the next. The chutzpah of Gaston Glock is only bettered by the cajones of his right hand man during the early days in Atlanta, Mr. Karl Walter, a man who turned the conservative and serious world of arms sales and arms dealing in America into a discoteque, into a circus, into a strip club, into a world of Hollywood action flicks, rap music videos, and an army of Glock devotees that is only bettered by those mad men and women who are obsessed with their 1911.

Let me explain why I know so much about this book and it's not even out yet. Well, I read an advanced Gally copy of the book. On November 4th, Paul Barrett contacted me to review his upcoming book, Glock: The Rise of America's Gun. He chose me because I guess I am pretty open about both my gun ownership and my attraction to Glocks. Though I have only been shooting for a year, I already have a pretty nice collection of three Glock handguns: a Generation 3 Glock 23 in .40 S&W, a 9mm First Generation Glock 17 -- the original -- a retiree from the DC police department, and my Generation 4 Glock 26, my Baby Glock, in 9mm.

So, in an exemplary blogger outreach campaign, Mr, Barrett sent me a Galley copy to read. And I read it. I consumed it and was mesmerized. I was mesmerized by how much I didn't know about these United States, about gun legislation, about gun bans and bans on high-capacity magazines. I was flabbergasted by the loopholes in these bans that were so big you could taxi a 747 through them,

I was not mesmerized by the typical fanboy depiction of their favorite gun and gun maker, I was mesmerized by a book writen by a in investigative journalist who dig into the GLOCK empire, and its ripple effects on not just Law Enforcement but popular culture, rap music, politics, television, and hundreds of movies.

I really didn't know anything about the history of firearms in America or how they're sourced and have been banned; how they're imported -- or, rather, sourced and then assembled -- and how they're marketed and sold.

And that's not even scratching the surface of all that is GLOCK, Inc, and its illustrious founder, Gaston Glock, an Austrian nerd who ended up developing, designing, and producing the most iconic pistol since the Colt 1911.

If you liked Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, Salt: A World History, The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell, Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World, or Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, you'll love Glock: The Rise of America's Gun by Paul M. Barrett.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[DoctorBob]

It's available as a 'pre-purchase' on Kindle. I have ordered one...

[CaptSmith]

Ok, content aside (Glock?) you have my attention, given the chance ,I will read Mr. Barrett latest effort...his SALT and Banana live on the boat, mainly because I never tire of reading them (again) real cyrstal clarity is a treat, total brain candy..... ....Barretts Salt should be required reading for all students of history and economics.................$.02

OK, got it....thx Doc

[dooga]

I am sorry, but Barrett didn't write those books, I don't think, but they're similar to his book in that they take something that is pretty much ignored in terms of their influence and effect on everything else and then show how important Cod was to Europe and and, in this case, how Glock has influenced politics, law enforcement, movies, TV, music, etc, in such profound ways. Maybe too profound. And yes, Glock is a lot about marketing. I am super glad that the Glock hype, IMHO, lives up to my experience with my three GLOCKs.

[BritishAgent]

Thought it was an Austrian gun.

[dooga]

Thought it was an Austrian gun.

That's what everyone says.

Glock is to guns as Arnold Schwarzenegger is to Governors. Both of them are actually born and raised in Austria but quickly outgrew their humble birthplace to become the darlings of the New World.

[PaulBarrett]

Dooga (Chris)'s review and follow-up commentary on my new book is exactly right. One of the things that's so fascinating about Glock is that an Austrian-designed firearm became America's gun. How did that happen? GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun tells the unlikely story. Thanks for your interest! All best, Paul M. Barrett, Author

My website: Glock | The Rise of America's Gun | By Paul M. Barrett

Amazon (where you can preorder at a nice discount): Amazon.com: Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (9780307719935): Paul M. Barrett: Books

[wmhawth]

Amazon (where you can preorder at a nice discount): Amazon.com: Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (9780307719935): Paul M. Barrett: Books

Done. Looks like a great read. I'm looking forward to receiving it in Jan.

[dooga]

Welcome, Paul! Thanks for finding me here! I am sure that they folks here will be blissed out that they have the author, himself, to chat with. You are so good at this -- so many authors suck at reaching out to online communities.

[PaulBarrett]

I'm glad to make myself available for online conversation about GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun.

You can order the book at a nice discount for delivery Jan 10 here:
Amazon.com: Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (9780307719935): Paul M. Barrett: Books

I'd also like to invite members of this web forum to upcoming book parties -- one in New York and one in Washington DC.

Jan 10 (Tues) @ 7pm at Book Court, 163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY (in the heart of Cobble Hill)
AND

Feb 4 (Sat) @ 6 pm at Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington DC

Friends, colleagues, and readers right off the street will be gathering to discuss GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun and lift a glass and have nosh. Please join Julie and me and all our wonderful pals at these two outstanding independent book stores.

All best & Happy New Year,
Paul Barrett
Author, GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun

[21bubba]

And now we have commercials disguised as threads...

[dooga]

Well, I guarantee you that I am here long-term. I don't intend to be a short-termer, but I do like the book. And guess what, you have the author here. He's been over on GlockTalk for a while, but I think Paul followed me here based on the post.

[Okemo]

I truly enjoy my Glock. I'll let you know about the book.

[retsupt99]

Just ordered the book, thanks!

[PaulBarrett]

Well, I guarantee you that I am here long-term. I don't intend to be a short-termer, but I do like the book. And guess what, you have the author here. He's been over on GlockTalk for a while, but I think Paul followed me here based on the post.

As Dooga, pointed out, I'm pleased to answer questions about my book: why I wrote it, how I wrote it, how defensive carry figured into the rise of Glock in America. Of course, every author wants you to buy his book. This author also wants to engage in what he hopes will be illuminating discussion with audiences that care deeply about the subject of the book. Thanks for your interest and happy new year to all. -- Paul Barrett, author, GLOCK: The Rise of America's Gun