PRC, 2002, $29.95, ISBN 1-85648-634-6, 256 pages, hardback

This coffee table book contains lots and lots and lots of color photos of equipment used by the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. From grenades to aircraft carriers, MREs to jets, and mortars to torpedoes, this book offers a pictorial record of all the US armed forces’ weapons.

The text is surprisingly good for such a book: a little dull in some sections and snappier in others, but it’s evident some thought went behind the writing. Usually, such books are filled with dry stats and listless recitations of capabilities. Here you get a dose of analysis, a little historical use, and a wee bit of boosterism.

About 90% of all the photos come directly from the US Department of Defense, making for nice, clean shots of vehicles, munitions, and equipment. A few illustrations appear courtesy of defense companies, and a few shots come from private photographers. It all comes together in a nice package and is the perfect tabletop complement to CNN coverage of upcoming wars.