Reviews for Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It

The average rating for Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-02-04 00:00:00 Ryan Rice Parts are better than the sum total This is not a technical history about the Gatling gun. It's more of an extended essay about America in the 19th century and how inventors and creativity flourished during this century. The author uses Gatling's invention as a prime example of how America was turning out inventions that literally changed the way Humans do everything and how many of those inventors still effect us. In particular how war is waged which is probably one of Humanity's largest and most dramatic undertakings whether one likes it or not. It's a fast read and feels more like an extended op-ed piece rather than a full length book. However according to Julia Keller's biography she is an essayist so that explains much. Her style is very readable and high energy,but this isn't enough. The main problem with this book ,and one that has been pointed out by other reviewers, is there are several times that the writer repeats herself. Sentences and paragraphs are recycled word for word. I found the exact same quote by Niall Ferguson twice for example. The book could easily be a few chapters less. All in all it needed a good editor. I'm still giving it 3 stars because ,despite the weaknesses, it kept me turning the pages and held my interest. Perhaps the better way to describe "Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel" is the parts are better than the sum total. Not a terrible book ,far from it, but it should have received a little more attention before it was printed and shipped to the bookstores.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-11-04 00:00:00 Gerarda Garcia A very well researched book about this machine gun and its inventer.