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While much has been written on the demographics of gun ownership, gun control policy, and crime rates, little is known about what guns mean to owners and how this influences their use of them. Sociologist Taylor (Ohio Univ., Zanesville) addresses this important neglected dimension by exploring the symbolic meaning of guns and the ways in which gun ownership influences social interaction. The author makes good use of triangulation, relying on 250 hours of direct observation of gun shows and live action play groups, 52 semistructured interviews with a range of gun owners and collectors, and an analysis of symbolic gun representations in popular magazines, bumper stickers, and music lyrics. After three years in the field, Taylor concludes that guns remain a source of masculine social capital and a predominantly patriarchal and highly protected social arena. Moreover, guns are symbolically and emotionally valuable to their owners. This shapes their interactions with others, including how they manage the stigma of being a gun enthusiast. While this book makes an important contribution to understanding some people's fascination with guns, it is unfortunately marred by sloppy referencing, incomplete citations, and many grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and typos. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. G. B. Osborne University of Alberta