Unintended Consequences

Rating:
Summary: Overly long, but very powerful and worth reading
Review: Just finished Unintended Consequences after reading about it on talk.politics.guns and reading the many reader reviews here. It is a very powerful book about what can happen in a society that loses many freedoms over the years. For a basically political book, it has an interesting plot and fairly dynamic characters. It could have used a little more editing to bring it down a couple hundred pages, but it is definitely worth the read. There have been some reviews that have pointed out the graphic sex scenes. While the book does not pivot on their inclusion, it seems silly to not deal with them in a mature manner. Censorship is but another evil this book warns about. This book will obviously appeal more to pro-RKBA (Right to Keep and Bear Arms) people, but it is worth reading by anyone concerned about the loss of rights and freedoms.

Rating:
Summary: A necessarily historical approach
Review: Some few people will be put off by the great length, technical details, and detailed history. However, all are necessary to make the point of the book acceptably. The first four-fifths of the book contains a linear history of the gun culture from the early years of this century up to the present day. The last fifth takes place in the present day (it's implied that it's the next presidential administration after Clinton.) The last fifth contains ideas and imagery so shocking that they would be repudiated by most everyone, including most members of the gun culture, without the necessary introduction of 100 years of history. However, the first four-fifths completely explain - and to many people justify - the last fifth. Whether or not you're convinced of Henry Bowman's justification, _Unintended Consequences_ is powerful, and persuasive. I'd pay any liberal friend $100 who could read the book cover to cover and say truthfully their position on the gun-rights debate had not moved. (BTW, I started this book about 11pm one night, and finished it about 4pm the next day.)

Rating:
Summary: Very good, well written book. Scares the hell out of me.
Review: This book is very plausible. The things that happen in it could very well actually occur, although most likely not in the same way the book shows. I very much support the Constitution and gun ownership, but this book scared the hell out of me. I hope thing don't come down to what happens in the book. I learned several things while reading it, too, items of law I didn't know about. If you're a "gun person", read this book, you'll enjoy it. If you're an anti-gun person, I hope it opens your eyes....

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Book Ever Written
Review: this book is the ABSOLUTE best i've ever read! and the best ever written...

i personally thought the part about the warsaw ghetto was funny... liquifying the nazi loser's guts.

I also think that the ending was very fitting. And these are my reasons for this book being worth the money, moving, threatening to those running the US government, damaging to 'society' (thats's good).

Rating:
Summary: The novel inspired me to research the 2nd Amendment.
Review: I borrowed Unintended Consequences from a 3rd mate aboard a ship to have something to read. (I'm a merchant seaman). The novel was so well written in a literary style that I couldn't put it down until I finished it (in between my required 8 hours of work aboard ship). The novel inspired me to learn more about the Second Amendment and the gun rights debate. The more I researched, the more I learned. Which in turn, lead me to more research until I learned enough to put up my own personal Web Page with the theme "Defending Freedom" through legal knowledge. I enjoyed the novel I borrowed so much that I purchased two copies when I returned home. One copy for me and one for my daughter. The novel is the true spirit of American freedom. END

Rating:
Summary: Great Book! Fellow St. Louisian, MO resident loved it!
Review: John, my congratulations on your most stunning and revealing work. You have mastered the pro-gun argument in this most excellant novel of yours. Please do a sequel for us right-wing Gun Extremists. I especially liked the fact that it was written by an Author from my part of the country. I also work as a Firefighter for OLIN/Winchester in East Alton, and I felt the book was especailly personal to me and my fellow Firefighters that are now lined up to read this Marvelous book. Thanks John! Greg Kellerman [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: If there is one book that you must read it is this one.
Review: If you haven't read this book than do it know, before it is to late. This book has done the job of summing up the problem in this country. If you consider yourself a patriot than you must read this. After you have done this consider joining your local militia.

Rating:
Summary: A synthesis of the smoldering anger felt by many gunowners
Review: There are indeed parts of the novel that certain technicalities are belabored beyond the point of advancing the storyline. But it hardly matters: John Ross has, in my view, successfully managed to capture the sentiments of millions of gunowners and our growing frustration with political, media and legal institutions which refuse to acknowledge our culture. This the novel does very well. I can't imagine a more average gunowner than Henry Bowman. Some of the persons here have pointed out the book could have been better with a tighter storyline. I disagree: these 863 pages capture the emotions and views and sentiments of millions of legitimate, tax paying, law abiding citizens, military veterans and common folk. It's about time someone decided to sound off on the issue, and I can't imagine a better way of doing it than a cautionary tale set against the spectre of a government spinning out of control. If anything, the truths exposed here are painful truths.

TAKE THE TIME AND GET TOGETHER WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS. COLLECT SOME MONEY AND LET'S MAKE SURE EVERY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE GETS A COPY OF THIS. MAYBE THEY'LL RECONSIDER REFUSING TO HEAR A VALID SECOND AMENDMENT CASE NEXT TIME ONE COMES UP. I'm getting a copy for delivery to Justice Thomas the day before Independence Day, so scrap him from your list.

Rating:
Summary: I've read a lot of books, but this one is my favorite!
Review: Do you love freedom? Then buy this book and read it, then recommend it or give it to family and friends. Please do this immediately if not sooner!
Most Americans seem to be in denial about how far out of hand the federal government has gotten. UC cuts through the denial like a hot knife through butter.
I've read and loved most, if not all, of the Tom Clancy, Larry Bond, and Frederick Forsythe novels, and this has them all beat. Excellent reading!

Rating:
Summary: Every American should read this book
Review: Gun nuts will love this one. The novel carefully shows the progressive erosion of law-abiding citizens' rights. It shows how the federal government has created a situation where it very difficult for every american to be in compliance with every federal, state, and local law. Are you a criminal ripe for the picking at the government's choosing? Are you obeying ALL the laws? Do you know ALL the laws you might not be obeying? does 1/10th of an inch in the length of a shotgun barrel make you a federal criminal? Are your auto tags current? ...all your taxes paid up? Do you exceed 55? Take a good look at this book. It may change your life... The 6 million jews that died during WWII???? if they had been armed, had they had the will to fight, the holocaust might never have happened... Why do we have the 2nd amendment? This is a thinking person's book, it will make you think of things that only happen in other countries...