The Trigger: Narratives of the American Shooter

Absolutely fascinating book that highlights the nuanced and complex reality of one the major American issues of our time. The author illuminates six stories from the perspective and experience of a person who has shot and killed another human being - skillfully describing the circumstances that led to those events and the repercussions the shooter must face as consequence for those actions. It's rarely as black and white as we so often believe.This book is written with an instinctive flair for storytelling and often reads as if it were fiction. The stories are fascinating and the author is an adept translator of the depth and complexity of circumstance that led to unthinkable realities. This book is not only a page turner - I could not put it down - it requires and inspires its reader to take a deep personal dive to uncover and accept the reality of situations and people we so quickly condemn.HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I read this three times already. Daniel is a talented writer. I find most books of similar topic / purpose a bit less engaging but this is a true masterpiece that not engages the reader during the reading but also in a very different way every time the book is re-opened.

Overall, a great read!! Each story offers a unique perspective that really makes you think and consider some of the causes and ramifications of gun violence in the US that you might not appreciate based on all the headlines in the news. Highly recommended!

This well-written book takes a fascinating look at the lives of six people who have shot someone. Each story is compelling and really allows you to understand the events that led to each shooting. The book touches on large societal issues from poverty to trauma to police reform, yet feels personal not political. I highly recommend this book - I couldn't put it down and finished it in a weekend!

The real life stories in this book are intense. I tend to forget that not everyone who commits a crime is a just a "bad person". The perspectives in this book made me rethink how i view people who have taken a life. I also appreciate the effort to be as unbiased/apolitical as possible while treading around such a sensitive subject. The focus enhances the stories.