AMERICAN GUN

A first of its kind history of the AR-15 assault rifle. This book reveals America at its worst and its best.

Veteran Wall Street Journal writers McWhirter and Elinson weave together the polarizing history of what my be the most controversial item in the world. The AR-15 is a weapon that has become symbolic of America's tolerance of violence and death, yet also, ironically, the story of the gun's success is a classic underdog tale. Before it was ubiquitous and synonymous with school shootings, the weapon struggled to get accepted by the traditional gun world.

How a small bunch of backyard hobbyists turned the gun world on its head is one part of the story. The unsurpassed killing power is another. AMERICAN GUN is the indispensable and definitive account of this divisive weapon. In their analysis, McWhirter and Eilnson attempt to understand the cycle of horror and tragedy brought on by mass shootings. But they also show us why there is always resistance to change.

Cameron Mcwhirter is a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal, based in Atlanta, GA. He covers regional politics and news

Zusha Elinson is a national U.S. news reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering the gun industry and criminal justice, and is based in North Carolina.