In this brief but engaging book, Kalashnikov's story is told in an engaging and colloquial style. It is a fascinating portrait of a man of ingenuity and vitality in the context of the harsh and often brutal Russia of the twentieth century. Against what appears to be the effort of the publishers (or at least whoever designed the book sleeve), this is not a text for serious firearms or military enthusiasts. Despite the title, this book is less a story of the AK-47, and more the story of its designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov.
The autobiography of Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the renowned AK-47 assault rifle, recounts a far more interesting story than his most famous invention. In it, he shares his life story for the first time: his deportation to Siberia with his family while still a child; his time as a soldier in a tank regiment; his invention of the world's most famous weapon and his experiences of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev and Yeltsin.
I enjoyed the rambling style of narration, and as a reader, you really do feel as if you are in a room with the man himself as Kalashnikov tends to drift away from any chronological narrative thread and present his views on history, politics, and most of all, people he likes and dislikes. Rich in small details (such as the personal foibles of Khrushchev and Brezhnev), it does offer a fascinating tale of a man of humble beginnings who managed to achieve much in his life. I enjoyed it, and managed to knock it off pretty quickly. Definitely worth a thumbs up.
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