Why I don't read books

Last summer I went to Maine for a vacation. While I was there, I went to a bookstore. At the store was a book called "Weapon" filled with all sorts of weapons man has used to kill one another over the centuries. There was a whole section devoted to firearms.

"Gee whiz" I thought. "These pictures are really bright and colorful. Yet, there are many errors and inaccuracies that disgust me."

Even though the book was only 9.99$ (Telling by the content, I could see why), I didn't buy it.

"They'll probably end up releasing a firearms only section of this book. They'll probably also correct all the mistakes they made in the last one."

Well guess what? They did release the book except it wasn't what I expected.


This year for Christmas, my mother bought me a book called "The Gun" which was all about the history of the AK-47 (of which I knew most of it) and some of the M16 (which I also know the history of). I told her this and she said she would return it and maybe exchange it for something else. While browsing, I found the book I was looking for. Gun: A Visual History was the part of the previous book plus even more gun related facts.

"Excellent" I said to myself "I'll have my mother return the other book and buy this one"

Today, I got the book. I had it for maybe 5 minutes before I told her to return it. Not only was it filled with worse errors and mistakes than previously (they even got stuff they had right before wrong) it was probably the absolute worst piece of literature I have ever read on firearms. I'm just gonna give you a short list of errors the book made plus the correct facts:

- Beretta 92FS has a 13 round magazine

It in reality has a 15 round magazine. The only model that has a 13 round magazine is the Beretta 92FS Compact

- 8x22 Nambu was only made for Nambu Type 14 pistols and was a "powerful" caliber

The 8x22mm Nambu was also chambered in the Type 94 pistol and the Type 100 SMG. It is widely considered "underpowered" and completely out matched by its main counterpart during the war, the .45 ACP.

- The Desert Eagle is an Israeli made firearm that is chambered in .5 Action Express

The Desert Eagle was first designed and made in the United States by Magnum Research. It is not chambered in .5 Action Express but in .50 Action Express.

I didn't notice these because after seeing those obvious errors, I was too disgusted to go on. These 2were taken from the Amazon Customer Reviews.

- The Colt Thunderer is a .44 caliber firearm

The Colt Thunderer is in fact a .41 caliber firearm

- This is the ejection port on a Winchester 94 carbine

The arrow was pointing at the loading gate where the cartridges are inserted into the under barrel tube magazine.

Its like the book was written by some CoD kid using basic and incorrect firearm knowledge. Just the fact he called them "Weapons" was wrong. They are not weapons, they are firearms. Weapons denotes purpose. I could write a book about cars and call it 'Weapons". Aren't cars just as easily turned into weapons as firearms? Its absolute garbage as a reference book and there's probably a bunch more errors I didn't notice but I won't bother trying to find them.


Now, the pictures themselves were quite pretty good quality, but I don't buy books for their pictures and I haven't since I was 5. I was with my mother on the metro when I read the book and told my mother to return it and use the money for a 2 year subscription to "Handguns" which I actually read and isn't rife with inaccuracies. Thank you for taking the time to read this and remember, BOOKS R EVIL.

Oh you and your guns! If you ever need some extra $$$, maybe YOU should write a book about guns. I'd buy it.

Monkey, go to Chapters and buy a novel called "Beat the Reaper". I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will love it.

Hardline Pro wrote:Oh you and your guns! If you ever need some extra $$$, maybe YOU should write a book about guns. I'd buy it.

1) Very few people would buy it because it would be seen as "Too complex" and too "in detail".
2) I don't have the writing skills or patience.

Patty wrote:Monkey, go to Chapters and buy a novel called "Beat the Reaper". I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will love it.

I think I'll watch the Leonardo DiCaprio movie when it comes out.

They are making a movie? That will be awesome.


Dude, read the book. Trust me.

Patty wrote:They are making a movie? That will be awesome.


Dude, read the book. Trust me.

It sounds like an interesting story, but I rarely have the time to read books. When I do buy things I plan on reading like G&A or Shooting Illustrated, I can't read them for more than 5 minutes between things I have to do. If I were to buy a novel, I wouldn't finish it until 2014 by which time I'll have completely forgotten most of the story and will just read the end asking myself "WTF? When did X and Y happen?" when its clearly explained in the book. If I ever have a long, long vacation, I probably would read all the magazines that are backlogged on my desk before even attempting to go for a novel.

Know why I don't read books? Illiteracy.

L4MB wrote:Know why I don't read books? Illiteracy.

Says the guy typing sentences.

Patty wrote:

L4MB wrote:Know why I don't read books? Illiteracy.

Says the guy typing sentences.

Pow! Take that you Mexican Internet wasp!

Patty wrote:

L4MB wrote:Know why I don't read books? Illiteracy.

Says the guy typing sentences.

Nah, I am just really lucky that sometimes my words work. For the other side of the coin, see wsxdas.

L4MB wrote:

Patty wrote:

L4MB wrote:Know why I don't read books? Illiteracy.

Says the guy typing sentences.

Nah, I am just really lucky that sometimes my words work. For the other side of the coin, see wsxdas.

Wait, how do you type with hooves?

THE BOOK HAS NOW BEEN RETURNED.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR DAILY LIVES.

But checking this thread has become my daily life...

L4MB wrote:But checking this thread has become my daily life...

I'd say that's sad, but its actually more than I have to look forward to each day. Leaving early, coming home after I'm sleeping, I don't even see her anymore. If it weren't for Kate Beirness, I wouldn't even wake up every morning. DEPRESSION IS FUN!