****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Paul Barrett's book arose out of a series of articles that had been written for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. It is a fascinating dive into the history of a company that has come to virtually dominate the handgun landscape within the law enforcement community of the United States. The book doesn't focus so much on the firearms themselves as it does the colorful cast of characters that helped make the Glock the dominant pistol that it has become.No story of Glock the company would be complete without a look at Gaston Glock, the man. One of the things that Barrett does well is chronicle the process by which Gaston Glock came to create the iconic pistol and how he put the right team in place to take advantage of the change that was brewing withing law enforcement. It gives us new insight into Gaston Glock's eccentricities (swimming nude in front of subordinates takes the cake), his resilience (he survived an assassination attempt on his life), and his ruthlessness. It paints a portrait of a man who is at the head of one of the world's preeminent firearms empire.The book chronicles the turbulent times and meteoric rise of Glock in the United States as well. Paul Jannuzzo guided Glock to the top, starting as General Counsel and rising to CEO. All the while though, Jannuzzo was stealing what he thought he was entitled to from the company. Jannuzzo was recently convicted of the charges that are discussed in the book.The book definitely is a must read for any Glock enthusiast. It's pacing is brisk and reads well. It's not fair to say that this book is only for firearms enthusiasts. It is an intriguing study in the rise of a global company from humble origins. Rarely does a business book come along that reads like a John Grisham thriller, but this does just that. It is well worth the time and effort. Barrett's book is a rare gem, a business book that has a little bit of something for everyone.
