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AMERICAN GUN
The True Story of the AR-15
“[A] magisterial work of narrative history and original reportage."
—The New York Times Book Review
“A riveting exploration of the cost of the nation’s fascination with an iconic weapon.”
— Kirkus starred review
“[R]iveting history....This book is not to be missed." —Esquire
“An indispensable read.”—THe Guardian
American Gun Blog


The National Book Review Picks American Gun as one of its "Five hot Books"
The National Book Review, an online journal about new books with leading journalists and critics as contributors, has chosen American...
Nov 8, 2023
Lewiston Shooter used an Ar-10 rifle, similar to the AR-15 and also invented by Eugene Stoner
The perpetrator of the horrific mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, does not appear to have used an AR-15 in his attacks, but instead an...
Nov 1, 2023


Guardian interviews McWhirter + Elinson about American Gun
Abené Clayton interviewed Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson, authors of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, about the gun and...
Nov 1, 2023


McWhirter Interviewed about American Gun by Jimmy Malone on iHeart Media Cleveland
Cameron McWhirter, co-author of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, spoke with well-known Cleveland personality Jimmy Malone on...
Nov 1, 2023


"Skipped History" Podcast talks with McWhirter + Elinson about American Gun
Thanks to Ben Tumin, host of the excellent podcast "Skipped History" (See recent NYTimes profile) for having McWhirter and Elinson on to...
Oct 27, 2023


Upstate NY Public Radio interviews Elinson and McWhirter about American Gun
Joe Donahue, host of "Round Table" on WAMC, Northeast Public Radio in Albany, New York, interviewed Zusha Elinson and Cameron McWhirter...
Oct 27, 2023


Colin Dickey in The New Republic: American Gun is a "lucid,""Well-Researched and -reported work."
Colin Dickey, author of Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places and other excellent books, has penned an insightful review of...
Oct 23, 2023


New York Times Book Review Picks American Gun as an "Editor's Choice"
The New York Times Book Review has chosen American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 for its "Editors' Choice" list. "This masterly feat...
Oct 19, 2023


New Yorker: American Gun is one of the "Best Books We've Read in 2023 So Far."
The New Yorker chose American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 for its running list of the best books of 2023. Editors wrote: "One of the...
Oct 19, 2023


The Secret Deal to place a rifle in a videogame
How did a real rifle become one of the most popular guns in Call of Duty? Through a secret deal with the videogame maker, according to...
Oct 16, 2023


American Gun discussed on C-Span's BookTV
Historian/author Paul Barrett sat down with McWhirter and Elinson for C-Span's BookTV to talk about American Gun: The History of the...
Oct 15, 2023


Apple News podcast talks with McWhirter and Elinson about American Gun
On the "Apple News In Conversation" podcast, host Shumita Basu sat down in a New York studio to talk with Cameron McWhirter and Zusha...
Oct 5, 2023


McWhirter speaking Oct. 12 at the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta
McWhirter will speak Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta. The event is free and open to the...
Oct 2, 2023


Amazon picks American Gun for "Editors' Pick: Best History" list
Amazon has chosen American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 as one of the top history books this month.
Oct 2, 2023


Washington Post declares the new Book American Gun "Deeply reported, engrossing."
Mark Follman, author of Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America, reviewed Amercian Gun for the Washington...
Sep 26, 2023


Bloomberg News picks American Gun for its "Fall's 10 most Anticipated New Books"
James Tarmy of Bloomberg News picked American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 as the top nonfiction book on his list of "This Fall's 10...
Sep 25, 2023


Associated Press: American Gun "well-reported" and "vital"
Andrew DeMillo of the Associated Press reviews American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 and declares, "The well-reported book is vital...
Sep 25, 2023


New York Times Book Review calls American Gun "a magisterial work"
Mike Spies, a senior staff writer at the Trace reviewed American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 for the NYTBR. He declared the book "a...
Sep 25, 2023


Thanks to the National Writers Series
Thanks to the hundreds of people who listened to McWhirter and Elinson's first public discussion about American Gun at the City Opera...
Sep 20, 2023


New York Times picks American gun for September reading list
The New York Times has chosen American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 for its select reading list of new books being published in...
Aug 30, 2023
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