A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (P.S.) - American Gun

Really great book. Interesting take on history. Nothing too new or earth shattering but a very conversational take on history. Great supporting stories from Chris Kyle's life that add some color to the book. Love the idea of looking at history from a different angle (great guns rather than great men/women).

Once you start you just can't stop reading. Amazing detail of time line and events really pulls you in. Loved all of it and everything about except the end, so said beyond words. Chris survived four tours of heroic duty only to be taken from us by someone he was trying to help. God speed Chris and THANKYOU for your service!

Well written and entertaining historical piece on the effects iconic firearms have had on our national evolution. I have read both his books and it saddens me that an author of his ability is no more. He spoke of the ideals and principles that many of us hold dear.

A great book by an American Hero about the "American Gun" that have defended the American pioneers throughout American history. A number of military rifles are listed such as my favorite the M-1 Garand. Rest in Peace Chief Chris Kyle!

Very interesting history of the ten guns Kyle selected to be the greatest guns in US history. Very readable. Sad that it came out after his murder by a firearm used by someone he was trying to help...another veteran. Firearms help to create this country & are part of our legacy.

Chris has written an interesting book explaining how guns have shaped battles since Revolutionary War days. I bought this book for my brother and my son, both gun owners, but I am enjoying reading about the history of the evolution of personal and military weapons.

It is sad that Chris' life was taken - he had so much to offer, and gave so much for his country.

Most everyone reading this review will be familiar with the late author, Chris Kyle. He is the current record holder for sniper kills in the US military. Having left the service after 11 years with the Navy SEAL as a Chief Petty Officer, he started his own sniper/precision shooting school Craft International.

This book cover the gamut of firearms history and how they have affected American history. From the Kentucky Long Rifle to the M16 he covers the ten most influential in his opinion. And then he lays out the reasons why. They book is full of fun historical facts and stories about history and the part the firearm design played in them. He covers the evolution of the model as well. For example when talking about the 1873 Colt Single Action he starts with the Paterson Colt and through the Walker, 1851 and 1860 Colt before getting to the SAA.

Having read American Sniper I know Chris is rather found of the old western American guns and the sections pertaining to them I found to be the best in the book. I enjoyed the book, its not a be all of history of the weapon or hidden tech data, but an overview of them and key moments in history. Its a great book and its a shame Chris was killed, I would have loved to read more from him.

I originally bought Chris Kyle's other book, " American Sniper", and it turned out to be a fascinating read. I chose "American Gun" because of the author's expertise and unique perspective on the firearms that shaped American History.

I really enjoyed American Sniper so I decided to read this book as well. I really liked this unique view on US history. The book has a lot of awesome and interesting info on the various guns and history discussed. Highly recommend this book, sad Chris Kyle was gone too soon.

Most everyone reading this review will be familiar with the late author, Chris Kyle. He is the current record holder for sniper kills in the US military. Having left the service after 11 years with the Navy SEAL as a Chief Petty Officer, he started his own sniper/precision shooting school Craft International.

This book cover the gamut of firearms history and how they have affected American history. From the Kentucky Long Rifle to the M16 he covers the ten most influential in his opinion. And then he lays out the reasons why. They book is full of fun historical facts and stories about history and the part the firearm design played in them. He covers the evolution of the model as well. For example when talking about the 1873 Colt Single Action he starts with the Paterson Colt and through the Walker, 1851 and 1860 Colt before getting to the SAA.

Having read American Sniper I know Chris is rather found of the old western American guns and the sections pertaining to them I found to be the best in the book. I enjoyed the book, its not a be all of history of the weapon or hidden tech data, but an overview of them and key moments in history. Its a great book and its a shame Chris was killed, I would have loved to read more from him.

I originally bought Chris Kyle's other book, " American Sniper", and it turned out to be a fascinating read. I chose "American Gun" because of the author's expertise and unique perspective on the firearms that shaped American History.

I really enjoyed American Sniper so I decided to read this book as well. I really liked this unique view on US history. The book has a lot of awesome and interesting info on the various guns and history discussed. Highly recommend this book, sad Chris Kyle was gone too soon.

But not a tech manual with pressures and muzzle speeds.

Wonderful book with an easy-going tone that explores ostensibly 10, but actually over 20 firearms and their impact on tactics and American History.

It is like sitting down with a shooting expert and fine historian to chat about firearms and history.

It appears the authors did an exemplary job of researching their topic. The book is filled with anecdotes of individuals who helped make each of the subject firearms memorable. While an entirely different story than Kyle's first book, it is an interesting read that illustrates the role firearms have played in our history.

Chris Kyle wrote this prior to losing his life while doing a good deed trying to help another former warrior. I read his first book American Sniper and had to read this one. I am sure happy I did. He tell's some great stories from history about the guns that have
played a part in the history of America from it's beginning. The National Rifle Association magazine American Rifleman, July 2013
issue has an article about the American long rifle that is excerpted from this book.

A very entertaining book. I've been into firearms for 50 years and have shot everything from .22 CB caps to .458 Win. Mag. It is a well thought out and informative book. Any level of firearm interest will get something out of this book. It touches on history, politics, technical and tactical information. It was a satisfying fun read that I highly recommend to anyone.

This book gives the history of the American Gun in an entertaining and easy to read page turning fashion. Several turning points in American History are noted and effected both the use and development of firearms.

Being familiar with Chris Kyle’s exploits as a sniper, I initially wrote off AMERICAN GUN as being nothing more than an expansion of his first book “American Sniper” … I was wrong. Instead, Kyle put his expertise and passion for firearms to use and offers a lively, different perspective of American history. He selects ten American guns he believes were pivotal in the evolving of this country, from the Revolution to present day, and illustrates their role in that history. The finished product is an entertaining and vibrant lesson on how firearms are as American as apple pie and baseball.

AMERICAN GUN proved to be an enjoyable need and a showcase of Kyle’s talent as a storyteller. While the ten guns chosen (American Long Rifle, Spencer Repeater, Colt Single-Action Army Revolver, Winchester 1873 Rifle, M1903 Springfield, M1911 Pistol, Thompson Sub-machine Gun, M1 Garand, .38 Special and M16) are sure to be a source of argument (why one firearm was chosen over another), Kyle justified his choices with plenty of stories/accounts of the guns in action. Each chronologically sequenced chapter represents a particular firearm. Details of each gun are provided, along with an explanation of why they were so important, how they were effectively used and what led to them being replaced by the gun in the following chapter. The accounts of the guns “in action” are entertaining and fun to read; Kyle adds emphasis throughout the book with personal asides/opinions to further illustrate the historical references he cites. The end result is an easy, fast read. I personally enjoyed reading the chapter on the “Wild West” and detailed account of the infamous shootouts and the guns associated with them. The chapters covering the twentieth century are obviously heavily associated with US involvement in World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam and many of the accompanying story-lines are Medal of Honor citations.

AMERICAN GUN provides a different view of American history, not the run-of-the-mill recap of a timeline. The book provides constant action and it keeps the pace going from beginning to end. It is easy to sense the enjoyment and passion Kyle had writing this book as it is evident throughout.

This book is written well and provides informative and knowledgable information of 10 firearms that helped shape America.
Several fascinating historical stories of each firearm gives the reader insight to how and why they formed our nation.
American Gun on it's own would be a great "reading list" book for educators of American History and World History.

I am used to reading higher level historical pieces by many scholars but I have to say this was just a very enjoyable read. The character and insight of CK comes through loud and clear. He was a true American hero in every sense.

This book is easy to read and takes an interesting perspective on American history. Of course, if you are a gun guy or gal, this book is full of gun facts and figures. Also, you learn a little about the type of person Chris Kyle was and you can see why so many people liked and admired him.

I thought Chris Kyle's book was a very interesting read and contained some interesting historical stories that I had never read before. It was interesting to explore US history from this unique perspective that was a very easy read and I was very sorry when I was finished reading it.

This was a wonderful book tracing the history of some this nation's iconic firearms. I loved learning new facts about how these firearms came to be developed. I especially enjoyed how Chris interspersed stories throughout the book about the men and women who used and fought with these guns.

Unlike many countries the History of America can be defined by its firearms. Many history books have firearms as only a tool that was used, not the main actor. As the firepower of our firearms increased Americans explored further and fought tougher enemies.

After hearing about Chris' death I felt compelled to read this book. I read American Sniper and it made me proud to be an American, knowing that Chris and others like him would take such risks and put themselves in danger to allow Americans to be free and live how we want. No one pushes us around. I recommend this book and American Sniper to any real American or human in general that ever questions the use of deadly force for the benefit of a country or another human being. American Gun is a very well written book.

Chris Kyle and his wife Tanya sacrificed and he died for this Country, even if he was not in uniform at the time of his death. This book lays out not only the history of the gun, but our history. Even the anti-gun idiots should feel like idiots if they read this book (few will). As a working men and women in the middle of America, we try to vote only for whomever we feel are best for the working class. Many are surprised that we also do not support those who would take our guns. It is not just right wing conservatives that support our right to bear arms. Chris Kyle was and is an American Hero and those that called him a coward are not only despicable cowards, they threaten our freedom and way of life. If you do not believe that, read this book, but remember it was not the left that killed Habeas Corpus. Step up and buy American Gun. Not only will you enjoy it, but you will also help the families of those who made the sacrifices necessary to maintain the few freedoms we still enjoy. It is a great read and our history comes to life as you read it. Not the typical dry tech book about guns.

A fun walk through military history with an expert shooter. Nice relaxing writing style – it was more like the guy was having a conversation with you, Handing you each individual rifle to inspect and giving you a story about The type a soldier who owned it and how it was used.

The person this was purchased for really enjoys this book. He says that you can pick up the book and at any point in the book if you open a page there is always something interesting to read. Recommended for anyone who likes or collects guns.

This is a wholly adequate guide to the influence of ten of the most influential guns in American history. In my opinion the amount of history coupled with the level of detail is suitable for a primer in gun history.

Written with the wit and wisdom of an American hero in the truest sense of the word. As much about the people and the times as the guns. Exceptional combination of history and the love of the guns that helped make it.

Chris Kyle's history of America through ten famous firearms ought better to be known as the history of modern firearms through ten examples that rise above the rest. Chris' knowledge of the field and obvious affinity for his material makes this a delight to read, but where it really shines is the way in which Chris uses each of the weapons selected for examination to examine whole classes of weapons. His narrative structure is colloquial and anecdotal and for that reason easily accessible, even to those unfamiliar with the weapons he is discussing. His humanity and military background ground and inform his narrative and serve to keep things from becoming lost in theory or engineering. All in all, this text is an outstanding introduction to its subject matter and a suitable legacy for its author.

Mr. Kyle's conversational manner shines through, this book is not your stogy academic tome. If you want figures, if you want an analytical argument this is not your book. It is a book written in the vein of a man passing on to his son these stories while sitting under the stars around a camp fire. Mr. Kyle obviously did his due diligence, just look to the appendix for his research sources. But he also uniquely had access to current and former Law enforcement and Military members. Most Gun writers seem to be caught up in the data. Ever read the book "Death from Above" about the FG42? How about "The Gun" by C.J. Chivers? Quite honestly Mr. Chivers work is a nice book end to Mr. Kyle's.

American Gun is approachable, detailed without being dry, and above all, you clearly get a feel for Mr. Kyle's voice. He passed far too early.

From an American Hero, who shot people for his Country. A brave man, who died in bizarre circumstances.

But you have to have a threshold interest in armaments to enjoy this book. If you are anti-gun, anti-field sports, don't bother.