Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun by Paul Barrett

GLOCK: The Rise of America's GunFascinating. I started with only a pop-cultural familiarity with the Glock line, mostly from movies.

The narratives I found particularly interesting involved the humble beginnings of Gaston Glock, his unlikely entry into the gun industry, and his company’s ingenious (and often simply lucky) marketing techniques in the US during the 80s and 90s.

It was disappointing to see some of the debauched, unethical, and occasionally illegal activity that went on in the pursuit of profits, not to mention the lifestyle changes in Gaston Glock himself as he became filthy rich.

Barrett does a great job with objectively describing all facets of the Glock’s history. He clearly admired the capitalistic genius and success of the company, yet drew attention to its shortcomings and failures. He fairly portrayed the excess liberalism of gun-control activists alongside the occasional radicalism of an NRA more interested in fundraising than the real issues.

You don’t have to be a gun person to enjoy this book. I’m not, and I did.

Glock Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook

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