The Gun Book For Boys
Silvio Calabi is the author of The Gun Book For Boys.
What was the idea behind The Gun Book for Boys and how did it come about?
Many kids now grow up in families that have little or no meaningful experience with guns or shooting. Furthermore, they’re bombarded by TV, movie, digital and online content that presents guns incorrectly and often glorifies violence. We want to give kids the “true gen” about guns—and cartridges, different forms of shooting, gun laws, history, hunting and even careers that involve guns—without being political or preachy.
Tell us about the book. What can boys expect to find inside?
When a reader finally puts the book down, he will understand gun safety and how to get into shooting; what sorts of guns are appropriate and why, and how to take care of and store those guns. He’ll know far more than most adult shooters about the technology of guns and ammunition, and why what he sees on TV and in the movies is usually wrong. He’ll even have the big picture of how guns fit into American history and culture. If he takes the book to heart, he will be a safe, responsible and very knowledgeable shooter.
Books aren’t the most popular things with most young boys. What makes this book standout? How have books taken to it thus far?
Our ‘target’ reader is a smart, inquisitive kid between, say, ages 10 and 18—obviously, not one who is put off by a book. The language and style are age-appropriate, but not at all dumbed-down. Readers of all ages have told us that they really enjoy the book and that they learned a heck of a lot. Older ‘boys’ tell us they wish they’d had this book when they were kids.
The Gun Book for Boys says it’s “kid-tested and mother-approved.” What does that mean?
We asked parents (who knew nothing about guns) and kids (who are interested in guns) to read significant portions of all three titles—The Gun Book for Boys, The Gun Book for Parents and The Gun Book for Girls—as we were working on them. We incorporated their comments and suggestions as the books took final shape.
Is the book “only” for boys or will girls get something out of it? (Feel free to promote the other two books)
We’re just now finishing the manuscript for The Gun Book for Girls, which will be out this summer. To the technical, history, factual and safety content of the boys’ book, it adds information on subjects that girls especially are curious about: recoil, gun fit, self-defense, and role models in the shooting sports and the shooting and gun trades. Somewhat to our surprise, the girls’ book winds up being about empowerment. Again, though: not political, not preachy, age-appropriate but not dumbed-down. Girls of all ages will appreciate it.
Final note: It’s likely that everything in these books is available somewhere on the Internet—but where? And how to separate the important factual information from the trainloads of irrelevant and incorrect B.S. on the Web? This is the function of a good book, and this is what we’ve attempted to do.
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What a great idea
Very good information. Lucky me I came across your site by accident (stumbleupon).
I have bookmarked it for later!
Hi there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the
images aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking
issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.