It's Not About the Gun
“This book was wonderfully written and engaging. The author comes across as straight-forward and not overly emotional (probably a necessary stance, working among mostly men). The stories about her upbringing, training, and career were all interesting, and then became even more compelling when paired with her retrospective insight.
Not all of the book was about the author’s own life. The commentary she offered about different political, military, and cultural events and occurrences around the world were also enlightening. As a reader without a desire to tour the world, the author’s descriptions of the physical beauty and traditions in the countries where she worked were colorful and appreciated.”
“Stearman starts with a recounting of a horrific act of terrorism in Sri Lanka and then looks back to her youth…A bibliophile from the time she could read, she longed for escape from the family farm and found that and more through her federal job. Stearman’s story will engross readers.”
— Booklist
A former FBI Special Agent recounts the global experiences that shaped her life
Kathy Stearman spent more than twenty-six years as a Supervisory Special Agent and Legal Attaché for the FBI. During her career, in addition to serving in various cities in the US, she spent several years as head of FBI offices in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, China, and Mongolia.
When she entered the FBI Academy in 1987, Stearman was one of about 600 women in a force of 10,000 agents. While there, she evolved into an assertive woman, working her way up the ranks and across the globe to hold positions that very few women have held before.
From the rolling hills of Kentucky to the rigors of training camp, from the chaos of New Delhi to the fog and intrigue in Beijing, It's Not About the Gun, paints a vivid picture of life as a woman in the FBI, and reveals how Stearman’s perception of her country and the FBI has evolved as America—and the world—continues to change.
What reader of books doesn’t love a book club?
I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve joined a book club, someone is always designated to make a list of questions for the club members to discuss at each meeting. Sometimes this goes well, sometimes not so well.
Here’s a solution…for all you book clubs out there who plan to read It’s Not About the Gun, all you have to do is download, print out, or forward my Book Club Kit to all book club members in advance. The questions I’ve listed, while not comprehensive, provide a great start to an engaging discussion about my memoir.
Happy Reading!
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