In the Gravest Extreme

In The Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob is a pivotal work on the topic of concealed carry and the use of handguns for self-defense. Long a standard, many firearms instructors make reading In the Gravest Extreme a prerequisite to graduate from their course, or even factor providing the student a copy into the class fee.

First published in 1980, much of what Ayoob wrote remains relevant today. However, much has changed in the past 25 years, from new calibers to new handguns, to new legal issues and new concealed carry laws. Mr. Ayoob himself has stayed abreast of these developments, but his landmark book has not. The chapters on choosing a gun and caliber selection are well grounded, but are dated by 25 years. New developments in firearms technology are simply not there. Mr. Ayoob himself has changed some of his own recommendations since 1980, such as those concerning reloads, that remain unchanged in his book. The final chapter on the aftermath of a shooting is only a smidgen of what it could be; Mr. Ayoob's work over the past 25 years in this area is glaringly absent.

In the Gravest Extreme is still touted as the definitive study of the application of lethal force by many instructors. It is time Mr. Ayoob considered a revised edition of his popular book. If it was updated, revised and published in hardcover form, Mr. Ayoob would no doubt have a best seller on his hands.