About the Book: Whack Job
A brilliant and bloody examination of the axes foundational role in human
history, from prehistoric violence, to war and executions, to newspaper
headlines and popular culture. For as long as the axe has been in our hands, we
have used it to kill. Much like the wheel, the boat, and the telephone, the axe
is a transformative piece of technology-one that has been with us since
prehistory. And just as early humans used the axe to chop down trees, hunt for
food, and whittle tools, they also used it to murder. Over time, this particular
use has endured: as the axe