The Way of the Gun

A Bloody Journey into the World of Firearms

By: Iain Overton

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

We live in the Age of the Gun. Around the globe, firearms are ubiquitous and define countless lives; in some places, it's even easier to get a gun than a glass of clean water. In others, it's legal to carry concealed firearms into bars and schools. In The Way of the Gun, Iain Overton embarks on a remarkable journey to understand how these weapons have become an integral part of 21st century life, beyond the economics of supply and demand.

Overton travels through more than 25 countries around the world and meets with ER doctors dealing with gun trauma, SWAT team leaders, gang members, and weapons smugglers. From visiting the most dangerous city in the world outside a war zone to the largest gun show on earth, his journey crosses paths with safari hunters and gun-makers, paralyzed victims and smooth-talking lobbyists. Weaving together their stories, Overton offers a portrait of distinct yet deeply connected cultures affected by the gun and from them draws out powerful insights into our weaponized world. Ultimately, he unearths some hard truths about the terrible realities of war and gun crime, and what can be done to stop it.

Eloquent and accessible, infused with compassion and humor, The Way of the Gun is a riveting expose about guns and human beings that offers an eye-opening portrait of our time.

©2016 Iain Overton (P)2020 Tantor

Very Biased View of Guns in the World

The author starts off making an attempt to be unbiased in his report, but spent the entire book discussing the negative aspects of gun use, by criminals, by cops, and by military as a source of power. The author failed to interview anyone who used a gun to lawfully defend themselves or anyone who trains to. He fails to mention that females and minorities are accounting for a majority of the growth in the industry, and simply focuses on reinforcing stereotypes rather than attempting to remove his own bias.