In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection
by Massad F. Ayoob

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Book Reviews of In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection

Book Review: If You Only Ever Buy One Gun Book, It Should Be This One
Summary: 5 Stars

Let's examine just one chapter to see why this book is so good for novice gun people. Chapter 1, Self-Defense and Lethal Force addresses the important question, "When can I pull the trigger?" The central premise of this chapter, indeed the book as a whole, is that which inspired the book's title: you may only use a firearm in self-defense when in the gravest extreme of immediate, unavoidable, deadly danger.

If I could level one criticism at In the Gravest Extreme, it's that the chapter on Women and Guns is extremely dated, and more than a little sexist. Ayoob's advice to women: choose a .22 for its light recoil, and "If you do work up to a .38, lean way forward into the recoil, unless you're a big girl." Oh, please. It's worth noting, these days Ayoob recommends things like 1911 .45 autos for the well-trained female shooter. I just wish this book reflected his awakened understanding of women's capabilities.

Many firearms instructors make reading In the Gravest Extreme a prerequisite to graduate from their course, or even factor providing the student a copy into the class fee. Anyone who contemplates owning or carrying a gun should have this book, and reread it frequently. In the Gravest Extreme demystifies the process of owning a gun, and replaces it with solid knowledge and hardheaded common sense. In the world of the defensive handgun this book occupies a unique place; it is THE definitive, indispensable beginner's text. If you only ever buy one gun book, it should be this one.

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