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The Gun (A History of Weapons and Warfare)

Description:

In a tour de force, prize-winning New York Times reporter C.J. Chivers traces the invention of the assault rifle, following the miniaturization of rapid-fire arms from the American Civil War, through WWI, Vietnam, to present day Afghanistan when Kalashnikovs and their knock-offs number as many as 100 million, one for every seventy persons on earth.

At a secret arms-design contest in Stalin’s Soviet Union, army technicians submitted a stubby rifle with a curved magazine. Dubbed the AK-47, it was selected as the Eastern Bloc’s standard arm. Scoffed at in the Pentagon as crude and unimpressive, it was in fact a breakthrough—a compact automatic that could be mastered by almost anyone, last decades in the field, and would rarely jam. Manufactured by tens of millions in planned economies, it became first an instrument of repression and then the most lethal weapon of the Cold War. Soon it was in the hands of terrorists.

In a searing examination of modern conflict and official folly, C. J. Chivers mixes meticulous historical research, investigative reporting, and battlefield reportage to illuminate the origins of the world’s most abundant firearm and the consequences of its spread. The result, a tour de force of history and storytelling, sweeps through the miniaturization and distribution of automatic firepower, and puts an iconic object in fuller context than ever before.

The Gun dismantles myths as it moves from the naïve optimism of the Industrial Revolution through the treacherous milieu of the Soviet Union to the inside records of the Taliban. Chivers tells of the 19th-century inventor in Indianapolis who designs a Civil War killing machine, insisting that more-efficient slaughter will save lives. A German attaché who observes British machine guns killing Islamic warriors along the Nile advises his government to amass the weapons that would later flatten British ranks in World War I. In communist Hungary, a locksmith acquires an AK-47 to help wrest his country from the Kremlin’s yoke, beginning a journey to the gallows. The Pentagon suppresses the results of firing tests on severed human heads that might have prevented faulty rifles from being rushed to G.I.s in Vietnam. In Africa, a millennial madman arms abducted children and turns them on their neighbors, setting his country ablaze. Neither pro-gun nor anti-gun, The Gun builds to a terrifying sequence, in which a young man who confronts a trio of assassins is shattered by 23 bullets at close range. The man survives to ask questions that Chivers examines with rigor and flair.

Throughout, The Gun animates unforgettable characters—inventors, salesmen, heroes, megalomaniacs, racists, dictators, gunrunners, terrorists, child soldiers, government careerists, and fools. Drawing from years of research, interviews, and from declassified records revealed for the first time, he presents a richly human account of an evolution in the very experience of war.
Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“… one of the finest war correspondents of his generation…" —The Wilson Quarterly

"...bold history... ...Mr. Chivers the enthusiast and expert shares the page with Mr. Chivers the historian and journalist — the expert dealing well with the detailed mechanics of his subject, the journalist at other times brilliantly illuminating the book with highly effective vignettes of human courage, ingenuity and, mostly, suffering." —The New York Times

"...magisterial..." —The Atlantic

"...succeeds admirably by putting the gun into its social, historical and technological context in an evocative narrative." —The Washington Post

"...a compelling perspective on 20th-century warfare..." —Slate.com

"...for disciplined and devoted scholars of the history of modern war, politics, and ideology, and how the automatic weapon has forced the transformation of the essence of combat... ...a colossal effort... ...appears to have created a history-laced masterpiece." —Marine Corps Gazette

About the Author

C.J. Chivers is a correspondent for The New York Times and a writer-at-large for the New York Times Magazine. His magazine story “The Fighter” won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing. In 2009 he was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for coverage from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Chivers served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War and on peacekeeping duty during the Los Angeles riots. He is the author of The Gun and The Fighters.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars AK-47

0. · February 2, 2011

Sudan/2002 & 2007-08;Uganda/2008 & 2011;Afghanistan/2003;Iraq/2005;Bosnia/1996-98The book provides a unique insight to one of the world's most famous (and perhaps the most reliable) weapon made to date. What was particularly troublesome was the background of the early days of the introduction of the M-16 which was supposed to be the answer to the AK-47's use in Vietnam. The bottom line is that the USG sought to introduce a weapons which was far inferior to the AK-47..in part, due to the malfunction of the weapon because of design and manufacturing deficiencies.Military history of years 1965 through late 1967 in Vietnam tell of horrific stories of Marines and Soldiers found dead with their weapons broken down in an effort to clear a jam. The dead as a direct result of the in-efficiencies of product development and testing are not well documented...but, only in the visual context of those who say their buddies dead...with the weapon close-by. Or, in the course of the close quarters battle with NVA or VC, the M-16 was used a club rather than a weapon.Frankly, our government at that time failed us..in an effort to field a weapon to compete with the AK-47, so many decisive faults occurred with the Army procurement system..and as a direct result, many of our Soldiers and Marines died needlessly. Even after almost 50 years, we use the M4 which is a modified version of the original M-16 weapon with the basic design unchanged.As this is written (02 Feb 2011), according to the Army Times, the Army will be testing new weapons to replace the M4 and M-16. (Note: Most of the Reserves/Guard called to active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan were deployed with the M-16A2..and not the modified M4).Having spend alot of time in both Sudan and Uganda..the AK is the weapon of absolute choice. Virtually everyone carries an AK-47; and yet, in Sudan with the SPLA or in Uganda with the UPDF..I have never seen (emphasis added) a cleaning kit, nor seen anyone cleaning a weapon.And lastly, while in Afghanistan in 2003..and on the road in those Toyota HyLux trucks bumping around Paktia, Khost and Ghazni Provinces, I decided to field a short stock (hand grip only) AK-47 while in the vehicle. Easy to access, plenty of take down power, very easy to clean (yep, I cleaned it every night..about 30 or less seconds to break down)..and I knew absolutely it would not fail. (Note: I fired full auto several times to test the weapon prior to implementation).Checking the barrel stamp after procuring the weapon courtesy of the OGA compound nearby...the date stamp indicated my AK-47 was manufactured in the year 1969. Enough said...Emphasis on the new weapon to replace the M4 and M-16A2 should exclude political emphasis..or other which detracts from the objective to provide our military the absolute best weapon..as we now move into the 10th year in Afghanistan.Chivers provides in-depth insight to some of the comments above as his experience in the Marines and an award winning journalist reinforces the historical context of the AK-47 and other infantry weapons. Many like Chivers remain active in the field in Afghanistan and earlier in Iraq providing a proof source to the comments supported directly from thos "trigger pullers" who walk the walk..everyday in arms way.Randy Hampton

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Source for Global Historical Contextualization

A.S.P. · December 13, 2011

C.J. Chivers does an excellent and thorough job of contextualizing the global impact of the AK-47. A quick Google search (even a search of available texts on the topic on Bolo) will lead to a gratuitous amount of sources. I am currently working on a project for my History 499 course (Senior Seminar) at California State University, Long Beach and my topic is the "AK-47, Redefining the Weapon as a Cultural Symbol". Quite frankly, it has been a topic largely ignored by historians (thus giving me some originality); there are myriad sources regarding the AK-47 available. Many of these sources offer little to no original argumentation or presentation of facts and they are frustrating to sift through. They simply attempt to capitalize off of the Kalashnikov brand.Chivers' work is a refreshing break from the norm. It offers a history of the development of automatic weaponry and places the story of Kalashnikov's invention in that historical context. It also offers a micro-history of Kalashnikov's own chronology in development of the weapon. This book is an excellent read from cover to cover and does not get boring; I recommend this work to anyone that wants to learn something about an important feature of the modern day world (the AK-47).Furthermore, if anybody is interested in relating Chivers' work to other authors' work, it would be worth your while to acquire a copy of M.T. Kalashnikov's autobiography, "The Gun that Changed the World."Overall, Chivers' book is of outstanding quality and highly informative--a much needed break from the repetition and dogma of other authors' presentation of the AK-47. I recommend this, highly.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good overall

M.V. · February 14, 2017

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. The author's style is very readable, and he manages to tell a complex story in a short span.Some of the minor details are incorrect, such as those regarding restrictions on Germany's arms production, but I always cross-reference other sources when reading a book like this, and they are admittedly minor errors. The early chapters regarding the Gatling and Maxim guns did become tedious after awhile, but the writing does pick up afterward.My final complaint is that the author states in the beginning that he will not make an attempt to moralize for or against the weapons mentioned in the book, yet at times he does exactly that, albeit in an offhand way.Still, it was a pleasant read, and fairly informative while simultaneously being entertaining. I enjoyed the way in which the author provided glimpses into the personalities and feelings of many of the individuals presented. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a crash course introduction to the history of automatic weapons in war.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work

P.F.E.J. · November 12, 2024

Very well researched and, more importantly, well written. I learned a lot, and while Chivers is not a "gun guy," I recommend this book to any gun guy who is interested in the AK pattern, or even a general history of automatic weapons.

Good read

A. · March 25, 2019

Informative and exhaustively written

Superb piece of research.

A.C. · August 22, 2011

On the face of it the AK47 is an enigma. Careful examination of one will reveal just how ingenious its simple design is, the return spring carrier serving as the top cover catch is just perfect. Firing one is a different matter, accuracy was obviously never the main concern. Had this gun been made in Belgium, no one would have ever heard of it. So how come just about everyone on the planet recognises an AK, why is it so famous? This book tells why.Stalin wanted an assault rifle. and boy did the Russians obey, they made them, and then made more. They gave the design away and they built more. Estimates 80 to 120 million, many of which found release in Africa, the Middle East and South America. And being tough as old boots they just keep on going, some will probably be around in the next Century.The AK47/AKM/AK74 and their clones are the most important rifle ever made, and probably ever will be, this book will tell you why.If you want to strip one down or tell a Type from Type 3 look elsewhere, buy something else - and then buy this book.The only let down, more pictures would have been nice.JoeF

a damned good read

A.K. · April 12, 2014

C J Chivers comes from a distinguished active military background and writes with authority in this book. In the introduction he lays out very clearly what he does and does not aim to achieve and then produces a very concise and readable book which is far more authoritative than any other previously published on the subject

Extrem spannend geschrieben - und nicht nur das!

B. · November 19, 2023

Eine sehr gründliche geschichtliche Analyse der Entstehung nicht nur der AK 47, sondern aller automatischen Waffen.Dabei wird der Nimbus um die "Friedenswaffe" und dem sowjetisch-russischen Propagandarummel um die Person Kalaschnikows durch Fakten nüchtern zerlegt.Man gewinnt umfassendes Hintergrundwissen um die böseste Verbrecher-Waffe der letzten Jahrzehnte...

The definitive text on AK

C.i.O. · March 19, 2021

Far more than merely an excellent book on the AK, this is an excellent history of firearms development from Maxim and Gatling to-date. The section on the Vietnam war era problems with the M-16 is particularly well done. An excellent text, even for those familiar with these topics.

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The Gun (A History of Weapons and Warfare)

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4.5

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Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

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Visit the Simon & Schuster Store

The Gun (A History of Weapons and Warfare)

Product ID: U0743271734
Condition: New

4.5

The Gun (A History of Weapons and Warfare)-0
Type: Paperback

AED11842

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

In a tour de force, prize-winning New York Times reporter C.J. Chivers traces the invention of the assault rifle, following the miniaturization of rapid-fire arms from the American Civil War, through WWI, Vietnam, to present day Afghanistan when Kalashnikovs and their knock-offs number as many as 100 million, one for every seventy persons on earth.

At a secret arms-design contest in Stalin’s Soviet Union, army technicians submitted a stubby rifle with a curved magazine. Dubbed the AK-47, it was selected as the Eastern Bloc’s standard arm. Scoffed at in the Pentagon as crude and unimpressive, it was in fact a breakthrough—a compact automatic that could be mastered by almost anyone, last decades in the field, and would rarely jam. Manufactured by tens of millions in planned economies, it became first an instrument of repression and then the most lethal weapon of the Cold War. Soon it was in the hands of terrorists.

In a searing examination of modern conflict and official folly, C. J. Chivers mixes meticulous historical research, investigative reporting, and battlefield reportage to illuminate the origins of the world’s most abundant firearm and the consequences of its spread. The result, a tour de force of history and storytelling, sweeps through the miniaturization and distribution of automatic firepower, and puts an iconic object in fuller context than ever before.

The Gun dismantles myths as it moves from the naïve optimism of the Industrial Revolution through the treacherous milieu of the Soviet Union to the inside records of the Taliban. Chivers tells of the 19th-century inventor in Indianapolis who designs a Civil War killing machine, insisting that more-efficient slaughter will save lives. A German attaché who observes British machine guns killing Islamic warriors along the Nile advises his government to amass the weapons that would later flatten British ranks in World War I. In communist Hungary, a locksmith acquires an AK-47 to help wrest his country from the Kremlin’s yoke, beginning a journey to the gallows. The Pentagon suppresses the results of firing tests on severed human heads that might have prevented faulty rifles from being rushed to G.I.s in Vietnam. In Africa, a millennial madman arms abducted children and turns them on their neighbors, setting his country ablaze. Neither pro-gun nor anti-gun, The Gun builds to a terrifying sequence, in which a young man who confronts a trio of assassins is shattered by 23 bullets at close range. The man survives to ask questions that Chivers examines with rigor and flair.

Throughout, The Gun animates unforgettable characters—inventors, salesmen, heroes, megalomaniacs, racists, dictators, gunrunners, terrorists, child soldiers, government careerists, and fools. Drawing from years of research, interviews, and from declassified records revealed for the first time, he presents a richly human account of an evolution in the very experience of war.
Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“… one of the finest war correspondents of his generation…" —The Wilson Quarterly

"...bold history... ...Mr. Chivers the enthusiast and expert shares the page with Mr. Chivers the historian and journalist — the expert dealing well with the detailed mechanics of his subject, the journalist at other times brilliantly illuminating the book with highly effective vignettes of human courage, ingenuity and, mostly, suffering." —The New York Times

"...magisterial..." —The Atlantic

"...succeeds admirably by putting the gun into its social, historical and technological context in an evocative narrative." —The Washington Post

"...a compelling perspective on 20th-century warfare..." —Slate.com

"...for disciplined and devoted scholars of the history of modern war, politics, and ideology, and how the automatic weapon has forced the transformation of the essence of combat... ...a colossal effort... ...appears to have created a history-laced masterpiece." —Marine Corps Gazette

About the Author

C.J. Chivers is a correspondent for The New York Times and a writer-at-large for the New York Times Magazine. His magazine story “The Fighter” won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing. In 2009 he was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for coverage from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Chivers served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War and on peacekeeping duty during the Los Angeles riots. He is the author of The Gun and The Fighters.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars AK-47

0. · February 2, 2011

Sudan/2002 & 2007-08;Uganda/2008 & 2011;Afghanistan/2003;Iraq/2005;Bosnia/1996-98The book provides a unique insight to one of the world's most famous (and perhaps the most reliable) weapon made to date. What was particularly troublesome was the background of the early days of the introduction of the M-16 which was supposed to be the answer to the AK-47's use in Vietnam. The bottom line is that the USG sought to introduce a weapons which was far inferior to the AK-47..in part, due to the malfunction of the weapon because of design and manufacturing deficiencies.Military history of years 1965 through late 1967 in Vietnam tell of horrific stories of Marines and Soldiers found dead with their weapons broken down in an effort to clear a jam. The dead as a direct result of the in-efficiencies of product development and testing are not well documented...but, only in the visual context of those who say their buddies dead...with the weapon close-by. Or, in the course of the close quarters battle with NVA or VC, the M-16 was used a club rather than a weapon.Frankly, our government at that time failed us..in an effort to field a weapon to compete with the AK-47, so many decisive faults occurred with the Army procurement system..and as a direct result, many of our Soldiers and Marines died needlessly. Even after almost 50 years, we use the M4 which is a modified version of the original M-16 weapon with the basic design unchanged.As this is written (02 Feb 2011), according to the Army Times, the Army will be testing new weapons to replace the M4 and M-16. (Note: Most of the Reserves/Guard called to active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan were deployed with the M-16A2..and not the modified M4).Having spend alot of time in both Sudan and Uganda..the AK is the weapon of absolute choice. Virtually everyone carries an AK-47; and yet, in Sudan with the SPLA or in Uganda with the UPDF..I have never seen (emphasis added) a cleaning kit, nor seen anyone cleaning a weapon.And lastly, while in Afghanistan in 2003..and on the road in those Toyota HyLux trucks bumping around Paktia, Khost and Ghazni Provinces, I decided to field a short stock (hand grip only) AK-47 while in the vehicle. Easy to access, plenty of take down power, very easy to clean (yep, I cleaned it every night..about 30 or less seconds to break down)..and I knew absolutely it would not fail. (Note: I fired full auto several times to test the weapon prior to implementation).Checking the barrel stamp after procuring the weapon courtesy of the OGA compound nearby...the date stamp indicated my AK-47 was manufactured in the year 1969. Enough said...Emphasis on the new weapon to replace the M4 and M-16A2 should exclude political emphasis..or other which detracts from the objective to provide our military the absolute best weapon..as we now move into the 10th year in Afghanistan.Chivers provides in-depth insight to some of the comments above as his experience in the Marines and an award winning journalist reinforces the historical context of the AK-47 and other infantry weapons. Many like Chivers remain active in the field in Afghanistan and earlier in Iraq providing a proof source to the comments supported directly from thos "trigger pullers" who walk the walk..everyday in arms way.Randy Hampton

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Source for Global Historical Contextualization

A.S.P. · December 13, 2011

C.J. Chivers does an excellent and thorough job of contextualizing the global impact of the AK-47. A quick Google search (even a search of available texts on the topic on Bolo) will lead to a gratuitous amount of sources. I am currently working on a project for my History 499 course (Senior Seminar) at California State University, Long Beach and my topic is the "AK-47, Redefining the Weapon as a Cultural Symbol". Quite frankly, it has been a topic largely ignored by historians (thus giving me some originality); there are myriad sources regarding the AK-47 available. Many of these sources offer little to no original argumentation or presentation of facts and they are frustrating to sift through. They simply attempt to capitalize off of the Kalashnikov brand.Chivers' work is a refreshing break from the norm. It offers a history of the development of automatic weaponry and places the story of Kalashnikov's invention in that historical context. It also offers a micro-history of Kalashnikov's own chronology in development of the weapon. This book is an excellent read from cover to cover and does not get boring; I recommend this work to anyone that wants to learn something about an important feature of the modern day world (the AK-47).Furthermore, if anybody is interested in relating Chivers' work to other authors' work, it would be worth your while to acquire a copy of M.T. Kalashnikov's autobiography, "The Gun that Changed the World."Overall, Chivers' book is of outstanding quality and highly informative--a much needed break from the repetition and dogma of other authors' presentation of the AK-47. I recommend this, highly.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good overall

M.V. · February 14, 2017

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. The author's style is very readable, and he manages to tell a complex story in a short span.Some of the minor details are incorrect, such as those regarding restrictions on Germany's arms production, but I always cross-reference other sources when reading a book like this, and they are admittedly minor errors. The early chapters regarding the Gatling and Maxim guns did become tedious after awhile, but the writing does pick up afterward.My final complaint is that the author states in the beginning that he will not make an attempt to moralize for or against the weapons mentioned in the book, yet at times he does exactly that, albeit in an offhand way.Still, it was a pleasant read, and fairly informative while simultaneously being entertaining. I enjoyed the way in which the author provided glimpses into the personalities and feelings of many of the individuals presented. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a crash course introduction to the history of automatic weapons in war.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work

P.F.E.J. · November 12, 2024

Very well researched and, more importantly, well written. I learned a lot, and while Chivers is not a "gun guy," I recommend this book to any gun guy who is interested in the AK pattern, or even a general history of automatic weapons.

Good read

A. · March 25, 2019

Informative and exhaustively written

Superb piece of research.

A.C. · August 22, 2011

On the face of it the AK47 is an enigma. Careful examination of one will reveal just how ingenious its simple design is, the return spring carrier serving as the top cover catch is just perfect. Firing one is a different matter, accuracy was obviously never the main concern. Had this gun been made in Belgium, no one would have ever heard of it. So how come just about everyone on the planet recognises an AK, why is it so famous? This book tells why.Stalin wanted an assault rifle. and boy did the Russians obey, they made them, and then made more. They gave the design away and they built more. Estimates 80 to 120 million, many of which found release in Africa, the Middle East and South America. And being tough as old boots they just keep on going, some will probably be around in the next Century.The AK47/AKM/AK74 and their clones are the most important rifle ever made, and probably ever will be, this book will tell you why.If you want to strip one down or tell a Type from Type 3 look elsewhere, buy something else - and then buy this book.The only let down, more pictures would have been nice.JoeF

a damned good read

A.K. · April 12, 2014

C J Chivers comes from a distinguished active military background and writes with authority in this book. In the introduction he lays out very clearly what he does and does not aim to achieve and then produces a very concise and readable book which is far more authoritative than any other previously published on the subject

Extrem spannend geschrieben - und nicht nur das!

B. · November 19, 2023

Eine sehr gründliche geschichtliche Analyse der Entstehung nicht nur der AK 47, sondern aller automatischen Waffen.Dabei wird der Nimbus um die "Friedenswaffe" und dem sowjetisch-russischen Propagandarummel um die Person Kalaschnikows durch Fakten nüchtern zerlegt.Man gewinnt umfassendes Hintergrundwissen um die böseste Verbrecher-Waffe der letzten Jahrzehnte...

The definitive text on AK

C.i.O. · March 19, 2021

Far more than merely an excellent book on the AK, this is an excellent history of firearms development from Maxim and Gatling to-date. The section on the Vietnam war era problems with the M-16 is particularly well done. An excellent text, even for those familiar with these topics.

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