Well known for both his stand-up comedy and his human rights campaigning, Mark Thomas uses a combination of his trademark humour and investigative journalism in this polemic about the arms trade. Critically examining the laws surrounding the transfer of weapons around the world – and the abundant loopholes – Thomas takes aim and fires at governments, arms dealers and global corporations.

In an increasingly globalised world, where cross-border trade is inseparably intertwined with the global financial system, the arms trade signifies free trade at its worst. Hopping from one country to another, arms dealers can simply take advantage of different laws in different territories to import and export weapons to just about any regime on the planet. Indeed, in many cases government turn a blind eye to (or actively support) these deals, often worth vast sums of money to their economies. Factor in the bribes to officials, and it's a done deal.

Thomas' book covers an enormous range of scenarios and experiences, many of which are from his own first-hand investigations and sting operations, or interviews with those who have been involved in the arms trade - at both ends of the barrel of a gun. From the Guantánamo torture equipment with ‘Made in Britain’ engraved on it to the Irish schoolchildren who were able to legally import a lethal stone-thrower, the investigations provide some jaw-dropping examples of the scale and horror of the global arms trade.

Giving an incredible insight into the minds of arms dealers, the book demonstrates time and time again the kind of people they are. On discovering he was about to sell a weapon that to a group of kids, for example, the dealer who was demonstrating the stone-thrower claimed that how it was used was none of his responsibility. “It could fire sweets,” he says, as if that is how he believes Israel uses it against the Palestinians.

While the scale and variety of Thomas’ investigation clearly demonstrates and emphasizes both the need for action and the author’s strong feelings on the subject, it is unfortunately also his downfall. Jumping from one subject to another, and in places simply bullet-pointing examples for pages on end, the whole book feels somewhat cobbled together. While clearly well-researched, Thomas could really have done to limit the scope of his argument and the number of examples. As it is, it feels disjointed and lacks a coherent argument other than 'the arms trade is bad'.

All in all, though, As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela is a fascinating if depressing exposé about the world arms and torture trade. While anyone looking for a flowing argument should probably look elsewhere, as a 330-page collection of first-hand research into the wrongs of this horrific business it proves a good resource. Had the subject matter not been such a key issue about which awareness must be raised, I would have given Thomas’ book a slightly lower rating. As it is, it gets four stars despite its rambling feel.