My review of the book must be considered in light of the fact that I chose it accidentally. It was my hope to encounter classic rock songs from Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and AC/DC. However, most of these were necessarily ruled out when I noticed the caption after recieving it, which limited the time frame to the 1980s. Thus, as I admit that I am no expert in (recent) Heavy Metal music, my review of this book will be be through the scope of a novice, uncolored by the filter of appreciation for the songs this book was chosen about. Resultingly, I will review this book on the merits of its writing and content alone, and not on the songs or bands selected or any of the characteristics that will appeal to the Heavy Metal fans, familiar with the subject matter, who it is clearly directed at. The book is quite long; as mentioned before, it is over 300 pages. Although this pales in light of recent and historical novels, for an anthological analysis it is quite large, and thus requires a generous time commitment. However, while not exactly absorbing, it does prove quite interesting. The prose demonstrates maturity and thoughtfulness in its analyses, revealing an intimate knowledge of the topic and presenting a firsthand account. There exist several dimensions of analysis, ranging from subjective to contextual, much of which is supplemented by statements from bandmembers and interesting sidenotes about the relationships of the members. At the same time, the content eventually approaches redundant and repetitive, relying too often on political and rebellious sentiments to account for lyrics. Although this might be out of sheer necessity, additional topics would be appreciated. Presentation wise, Full Metal Jacket proves mostly utilitarian, the grayscale color scheme rubbing thin at times later on. Whether this is intentional, to reflect the moodyness of the topic matter, or merely a fiduciary measure, it does not significantly impact the overall appeal of the book. A section devoted to color photographs halfway through is a nice touch, as are the accompanying captions. Overall a fine book and excellent coffee-table material, Full Metal Jacket: Certified's contradictory facets detract somewhat from its overall score.