On its original publication in 1975 this book was instantly recognised as a classic, an unique and wholly original work that showed how social and economic forces interacted with technological developments to, first, produce, then largely ignore, and finally to deploy with murderous effect, a new and devastating weapon. It was no accident that the pioneering machine-gun makers - Gatling, Maxim, Lewis and Browning - were American: the manufacture of the new weapons relied upon a use of machine tools that was alien to the ...
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On its original publication in 1975 this book was instantly recognised as a classic, an unique and wholly original work that showed how social and economic forces interacted with technological developments to, first, produce, then largely ignore, and finally to deploy with murderous effect, a new and devastating weapon. It was no accident that the pioneering machine-gun makers - Gatling, Maxim, Lewis and Browning - were American: the manufacture of the new weapons relied upon a use of machine tools that was alien to the craft traditions of European gunmaking. What was surprising was that both the European and American military establishment largely ignored the machine gun - to the military elite inventors and industrialists represented an inferior and threatening class whose inventions could well destroy their cherished traditions. The Europeans, however, did accept that machine guns had a role in colonial warfare, which could now be conducted much more economically. But the fact that the guns proved highly effective in massacring rebellious native populations from Matebeleland to the Sudan was not taken as evidence that it could be effective in a European context - until, of course, 1914, when it became clear that the machine gun had made existing methods of warfare obsolete. The result was a new callousness that led generals and politicians to accept that modern war would require casualties to be counted by the hundred thousand and that morale and individual gallantry counted for very little when automatic fire swept the battlefield. Today, of course, the machine gun - in the form of the automatic assault rifle - is ubiquitous, but its history still has much to teach us about how easy it becomes for people to kill each other en masse when the process is impersonalised and automated.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Very Good-with No dust jacket as issued. 0394731247. A clean, tightly bound softcover copy with small hole in cover, tanning pages and curling card cover corners showing light shelf wear.
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Very Good. Text may contain some highlighting. Order shipped same day if if rec'd by 1PM CST, otherwise ships the next business day. Great Customer Service.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
