Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Feldman
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 553259
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 0471679283
Dewey Decimal Number: 323.43
EAN: 9780471679288
Publication Date: October 26, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Ricochet
Confessions Of A Gun Lobbyist "Ricochet tells the truth. With each page I can hear the echo of footsteps down the Rayburn Building's marbled halls as Feldman tells the intimate story few know and even fewer survive."
—Jack Brooks (D-Tex.), former Chairman, U.S. House Judiciary Committee "Ricochet casts an eye-opening spotlight on the shadowy world of behind-the-scenes gun politics. Is it accurate? Absolutely! I was there."
—John Aquilino, former Director, NRA Public Education "Ricochet is right on target. Feldman's behind-the-scenes memoir vividly describes America's firearms debate and struggle to win in extraordinary detail. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
—John W. Magaw, former Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 A very fine book on ins and outs of lobbying December 18, 2007
David T. Hardy (Tucson, AZ United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Sorta like old home week for me...
I'd quite agree you can't judge this book by its press or blog reviews. The press naturally picked up on Richard's criticism of NRA fundraising and expenditures, and the bloggers (except me, who refused to blog without reading it) reacted to that. Both made the book seem antigun, when it's very far from that. As I would have guessed, because I last saw the author at the private ceremony to dedicate the bronze of Harlon Carter: Harlon's family would not have singled him out for invitation unless he was respected by them.
The book is exceptionally clearly written, and definitely a page turner. I think I took one break from reading its 300+ pages. If anyone wants to see what it's like to be a lobbyist, this is the book for them. Just one episode: at one point NY Gov. Mario Cuomo holds a tense meeting with the author and others, and tries to break the ice by deliberately sitting on a whoopee cushion. It didn't go over very well...
fascinating behind the scenes view of the life in the gun lobby December 11, 2007
Kyle Cassidy (philadelphia, pa USA)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
I wasn't sure what I was going to get when I picked up "Ricochet" but it turned out to be a page turner.
Richard Feldman is a skillful writer and an engaging story teller. His prose is easily approachable, passionate, and at the same time, avoids emotional extremes and bumper sticker slogans -- it's easy to see how he has been such a successful lobbiest.
The "confessions" aren't ideological regrets, but rather the kiss-and-tell story of internecine warfare at one of America's largest and most powerful lobbying groups. Feldman presents the National Rifle Association to be not exactly the 800 lb gorilla many people had always assumed -- but rather a pack of 80 lb chimpanzees that sometimes work together towards a common goal but also spend a lot of time poking one another in the eyes.
At the book's core, divergent factions in the NRA (one spearheaded by Feldman) disagree fundamentally on the best way to bring their cause forward -- the reader can decide which (if either) seems more practical. A fascinating read, whatever your position on guns. "Ricochet" seems to tell a universal tale -- one assumes that the very same types of arguments are going on in the back rooms of Greenpeace or any other lobbying group staffed by passionate and dedicated idealists.
I was there! November 9, 2007
Peter M. Sullivan (Long Island, NY)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
As an NRA Life Member and Republican Member of the New York State Assembly (1975-1992), I served in one of the most anti-gun legislative bodies in the country. When Richie Feldman was representing the NRA in NY, I saw first hand how extremely effective and resourceful he is. We did some good work together!
I've followed his career and read his book. This is the story of arguably the country's most politically effective lobbying organization losing its way and getting diverted from the primary objective.
Whether you love the NRA or you hate it, if you're at all interested in the issue of 'guns' this book is a must read.
Every NRA member should read this book August 17, 2008
Bruce Brodnax (Lost Angeles, somewhere out in the smog)
Title pretty much says it all. It has been clear to me for years as an NRA member that there were many fat cats running a supposedly non-profit organization solely to provide themselves w/ a good living, to the detriment of the rank and file membership and the avowed objective of preserving our constitutional rights [all of them, not just one as the media likes to portray.] This very entertaining read, in the form of the "I was there & this is the real story behind the events" should be required reading by everyone who cares about the future of the shooting sports worldwide. The truth hurts, but it also will set you free.
GREAT BOOK! November 7, 2007
G. A. Petersen (Annandale, VA USA)
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Richard Feldman's book, Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist, is excellent. I sat down with it and eight hours later I closed it with a smile on my face. It's a clear, cleanly written description of life at the National Rifle Association during its most interesting years.
I smiled because he described in great detail exactly what I lived through during that time. Then I was charged with keeping the nuts and bolts tight and well oiled on the NRA ever-running membership operations. I remember the first time I saw Richard Feldman. He was bright-eyed and filled with wonder at how every phase of NRA ran. He learned his lessons well as evidenced by what he relays in his book. It's a great read. George Albert Petersen (NRA Life Member)
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