This major biography explores the life of John Moses Browning, a visionary inventor often referred to as "the Thomas Edison of guns." Born in 1855 and raised as a Mormon in the American West, Browning was the creative force behind many groundbreaking firearms that shaped American military history and culture. Despite his towering intellect and humble demeanor, Browning remained largely unknown until his sixties. His innovations include the design that underpins nearly all modern pistols, popular hunting rifles and shotguns, and machine guns that played crucial roles in World Wars I and II, as well as many other military conflicts. Author Nathan Gorenstein vividly brings Browning to life, illustrating his self-made genius and unique ability to think in three dimensions—he never used blueprints. His creations, ranging from the iconic Winchester "30-30" to effective machine guns used by American forces, were pivotal in battles such as the Battle of Britain. This sweeping and engaging narrative highlights both the positive and negative aspects of Browning's inventions, positioning him alongside other American legends like the Wright Brothers and Henry Ford.
