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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

Dec 31, 2024
Nieman Reports picks 1st-person essay on American Gun as one of the best of 2024
Nieman Reports, the magazine for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University , chose Cameron McWhirter's first-person...

Mar 12, 2024
Nieman Reports: McWhirter on the writing of American Gun
In the latest issue of Nieman Reports, Cameron McWhirter writes about why he and co-author Zusha Elinson, both U.S. news reporters for...

Mar 10, 2024
Thank You Tucson Festival of Books
Crowds of eager, thoughtful readers, fascinating authors working in a wide range of genres, and wonderful weather -- all unfolding in...

Mar 6, 2024
McWhirter @ Tucson Festival of Books this weekend
Looking forward to this weekend's Tucson Festival of Books! On Saturday morning (March 9), at 10 a.m., I'll join a panel w/ Jennifer...

Feb 28, 2024
American Gun shortlisted for a J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize
We're thrilled that American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 has been shortlisted for a J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. The prize is given...


Feb 21, 2024
American Gun is a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 has been chosen as a finalist for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize. McWhirter and Elinson are...


Feb 20, 2024
American Gun authors on "Burned By Books" podcast
Chris Holmes, chair of the English department at Ithaca College and host of the popular "Burned By Books" podcast, had Zusha Elinson and...


Feb 11, 2024
THANK YOU, LAGRANGE
Thanks to Pretty Good Books, a great bookstore in beautiful building (an old church and former funeral home) in downtown LaGrange,...


Jan 7, 2024
#OTD in 1959, Colt buys rights to the AR-15
On January 7, 1959, the firearms maker Colt acquired manufacturing and sublicensing rights to the AR-15 and AR-10 rifle's gas...


Jan 6, 2024
Jan. 6 and the AR-15
#OTD The Jan. 6th riot took place at the nation's Capitol in 2021. As described in American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, the AR-15...


Dec 16, 2023
Library Journal reviews Audiobook of "meticulously researched" American Gun
Library Journal has reviewed the audiobook of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, read by Roger Wayne, declaring the work...

Nov 26, 2023
American Gun sighted in bookstores across the country
Thanks to everyone sending photos of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 sighted on the shelves of bookstores across the country,...


Nov 19, 2023
Kirkus Reviews picks American Gun for its list of the best nonfiction of 2023
The prestigious Kirkus Reviews has chosen American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 as on of the top ten nonfiction books of 2023....


Nov 16, 2023
McWhirter talks American Gun on C-SPAN BookTV panel at Texas Book Festival
Cameron McWhirter spoke at the Texas Book Festival on a panel with author/journalist Jeff Sharlet and Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief...


Nov 10, 2023
Vietnamese propaganda photo shows M16 (military AR-15)
This photograph from 1972 shows a woman Vietnamese Communist fighter carrying a U.S.-made M16, the military select-fire version of the...

Nov 10, 2023
C-SPAN creates American Gun educational material
McWhirter and Elison spoke with author Paul Barrett on C-SPAN's BookTV about American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15. You can watch it...

Nov 8, 2023
McWhirter at Texas Book Festival on Nov. 12 in Austin
Cameron McWhirter, co-author of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, will join prominent author/journalist/professor Jeff Sharlet...

Nov 8, 2023
Five key insights from American Gun for "Next Big Idea Club"
Panio Gianopoulous over at the Next Big Idea Club asked McWhirter and Elinson to present five key insights from American Gun: The True...


Nov 8, 2023
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 1, 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...
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