When one thinks back to the 20th century, there are certain people and objects that can be said to define that century; Martin Luther King, the VW Beetle, the Coke Cola bottle, Andy Worhol's Campbell soup painting and the AK47. Symbol of international revolution and radical counter culture (terrorism), Mr. Kalashnikov's baby held aloft became as much a banner for 'freedom fighters' everywhere as the red flag. So it should be no surprise that there are several books available which analyse and biography the history of this remarkable weapon, both from the point of view as a cultural icon and as a landmark piece of military hardware.

Left: Michael Hodges worthy addition to the tomes written about the 'AK': "Using testimonies of people who have experienced the gun at first-hand - including a Sudanese child soldier, a Vietcong veteran and a Yorkshire teenager - Michael Hodges provides a compelling account of how the AK47 became an icon that ranks alongside Coca-Cola as one of the most recognisable brands in the world". Amazon.co.uk link

Reading list:

> 'AK47: The Story of the People's Gun' by Michael Hodges
> 'The Gun That Changed the World' by Elena Joly & Mikhail Kalashnikov
> 'AK 47: The Weapon That Changed the Face of War' by Larry Kahaner
> 'Kalashnikov AK-47: One Small Item, One Giant Impact' by Gideon Burrows