I'll start by saying that I'm giving this five stars by keeping in mind the time it was written and the historical context. It was largely written in the 1930's and finally published in the early 40's, so much of what this book teaches is fairly out of date. A lot has changed in pistol shooting since then. But with that said, a lot also hasn't. There's a lot in this book that has remained constant and is likely to always apply. So I suppose my point here is that this should be taken as a supplement to modern firearms training rather than replacing more up to date knowledge.
The book itself is masterfully written. Fairbairn and Sykes had a real talent for explaining things in a way that's both simple to understand, and engaging. They include real world examples drawn from their first hand experience in the Shanghai Municipal Police Department that really illustrate the points they're trying to get across. I can see why these two were considered the finest combat instructors of their day. And to help, they have some great illustrations that are clear and demonstrate the techniques discussed. It's one of the best instructional books I've read. I'd also like to note that there are a few moments where a very British humor does shine through, it seems that Sykes and Fairbairn were looking to write something that they themselves would enjoy reading.
Additionally this book is a fun read for anyone interested in history as it is very much a product of it's time. You really get into the mindset of a Shanghai police officer during that time period when Shanghai was one of the world's most crime ridden cities. And something special that comes with this particular book is a wonderful foreword that adds some context and background to the writing, most notably by trying to explore the life of Eric Sykes.
So if you like guns or history this is an outstanding read.
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Top reviews from other countries
Paul Cloetens
top on your bookshelf
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2015SAM
Interesting from a historical perspective
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 2, 2017
