“Remarkably balanced…reportage…. A portrait of the deforming power of firearms in our lives builds steadily throughout the narrative.” — The New Republic
“Smart…. Overton, a former TV and print journalist who now works for a London antiviolence organization, reports from more than 20 countries. Some of his stops yield unforgettable details.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“Engrossing, multifaceted….. Overton’s insightful commentary includes the observation that imposing new gun control laws without an accompanying shift in attitudes isn’t going to be effective. This illuminating narrative about the life cycle of the gun is comprehensive, revealing, and timely.” — Publishers Weekly
“Investigates the world of firearms through gripping reportage that’s as disturbing as it is enlightening.” — GQ Magazine
“Every page is packed with emotional power and startling statistics.…Overton’s book takes the gun debate into impressive new territory.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“With ongoing and escalating discourse on Second Amendment rights and groundbreaking gun control legislation capturing national attention, Overton’s comprehensive study of an increasingly weaponized world provides timely and vital reading.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Intriguing.…This important book on the place of firearms in the modern era will attract readers interested in contemporary world affairs, U.S. gun rights and gun culture and their influence on other countries as well as the weapons industry.” — Library Journal
“Riveting . . . this book is more than just facts, it’s insight and revelation on a very human level.” — The Independent on Sunday
“A shocking book about the terrible realities of war and weapons.” — Sunday Mail
“Overton’s journalistic training gives him a discerning eye for detail. Even readers well-versed in the basics of the gun debate are likely to pick statistics and facts that are new to them….Vividly describe[d].” — BookForum
“A shocking investigation into our fatal love affair with the firearm.” — Newsweek
“Overton has checked his facts and his statistics thoroughly. . . . As a result his book is chilling . . . Relentlessly engrossing.” — The Spectator