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American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant
Lawrence of Arabia meets Sebastian Junger's War in this unique, incendiary, and dramatic true story of heroism and heartbreak in Afghanistan written by a Pulitzer Prize–nominated war correspondent.
Army Special Forces Major Jim Gant changed the face of America’s war effort in Afghanistan. A decorated Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan and Iraq training indigenous fighters, Gant argued for embedding autonomous units with tribes across Afghanistan to earn the Afghans’ trust and transform them into a reliable ally with whom we could defeat the Taliban and counter al-Qaeda networks. The military's top brass, including General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, approved, and Gant was tasked with implementing his controversial strategy.
Veteran war correspondent Ann Scott Tyson first spoke with Gant when he was awarded the Silver Star in 2007. Tyson soon came to share Gant’s vision, so she accompanied him to Afghanistan, risking her life to embed with the tribes and chronicle their experience. And then they fell in love.
Illustrated with dozens of photographs, American Spartan is their remarkable story—one of the most riveting, emotional narratives of wartime ever published.
Army Special Forces Major Jim Gant changed the face of America’s war effort in Afghanistan. A decorated Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan and Iraq training indigenous fighters, Gant argued for embedding autonomous units with tribes across Afghanistan to earn the Afghans’ trust and transform them into a reliable ally with whom we could defeat the Taliban and counter al-Qaeda networks. The military's top brass, including General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, approved, and Gant was tasked with implementing his controversial strategy.
Veteran war correspondent Ann Scott Tyson first spoke with Gant when he was awarded the Silver Star in 2007. Tyson soon came to share Gant’s vision, so she accompanied him to Afghanistan, risking her life to embed with the tribes and chronicle their experience. And then they fell in love.
Illustrated with dozens of photographs, American Spartan is their remarkable story—one of the most riveting, emotional narratives of wartime ever published.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 15, 2014
I served with Jim Gant many years ago, when he was a young lieutenant. To this day, he remains one of the most passionate, dedicated and single-minded men I have served with. He is also one of the most opinionated and tactless men I served with. Jim would most likely agree with this assessment --- on both counts.
This is really a story about relationships. The author's love affair with Jim, and Jim's relationship with his superiors, peers and subordinates in the Army, as well as his relationship with the Afghans. I've seen other reviews which question how objective Ann Tyson could be when writing about Jim. Fair points --- from where I sit, I think she had a good blend of Gant's brilliance as well as his dark side.
This account reads like a Greek tragedy, where the hero is befallen by his tragic flaw --- even more so because of Jim's identity as a warrior. He did absolutely tremendous things in Afghanistan -- the level of progress Jim Gant made is truly remarkable, especially given the short time he had to do it. His story provides a window into just how much effort --- and risk --- it takes to immerse yourself into a different culture, gain friendships, and garner the level of trust that Jim did in order to make a profound difference. And he did. And yet as much effort that he put into those relationships with the Afghans, he seemed to sabotage himself when it came to the relationships with his own comrades in the Army.
Sad, really...for Jim AND the Army. Jim leaves the Army feeling betrayed, and the Army loses one of its best practitioners. Each reader will have his/her own opinion on where the fault lies, and whether the Army will be a place where other Jim Gants will elect to remain serving, and be ready when the clarion calls next.
This is really a story about relationships. The author's love affair with Jim, and Jim's relationship with his superiors, peers and subordinates in the Army, as well as his relationship with the Afghans. I've seen other reviews which question how objective Ann Tyson could be when writing about Jim. Fair points --- from where I sit, I think she had a good blend of Gant's brilliance as well as his dark side.
This account reads like a Greek tragedy, where the hero is befallen by his tragic flaw --- even more so because of Jim's identity as a warrior. He did absolutely tremendous things in Afghanistan -- the level of progress Jim Gant made is truly remarkable, especially given the short time he had to do it. His story provides a window into just how much effort --- and risk --- it takes to immerse yourself into a different culture, gain friendships, and garner the level of trust that Jim did in order to make a profound difference. And he did. And yet as much effort that he put into those relationships with the Afghans, he seemed to sabotage himself when it came to the relationships with his own comrades in the Army.
Sad, really...for Jim AND the Army. Jim leaves the Army feeling betrayed, and the Army loses one of its best practitioners. Each reader will have his/her own opinion on where the fault lies, and whether the Army will be a place where other Jim Gants will elect to remain serving, and be ready when the clarion calls next.
May 18, 2014
You have to wonder about this book. It's one side of the story about the military eating their "young" and their nonconformists and it's told by a journalist who is married to the subject. That being said she writes a great account. Jim Gant is truly the "Lawrence of Afghanistan" and when you think of Green Berets and SF living among the indigenous personnel you would have thought that's what they were doing. But Gant was the only one doing it. He basically became an Afghan or as his critics would opine "went native" or "off the reservation." This is a soldier who was anointed by General Petraeus and assigned the mission to get the tribes of the mountains focused and allied with American/coalition forces. In doing so he incurred the wrath and jealousy of other mid level officers. And strangely his betrayal was not from the regular army but by the SF community and it was over petty stuff. The Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now comparison is too easily invoked and wrongly so. It's more like Kipling-The Man Who Would Be King. Gant was another David Hackworth, John Paul Vann, or Orde Wingate-an unconventional warrior who got results. Gant was Public Enemy #1 for the Taliban and the focus of too many assassination attempts. He is even mentioned as a threat in the private papers of Osama Bin Laden. When he was removed the SF commander who relieved him thought Jim was directing "his Afghans" to attack the SF replacement team as payback. How paranoid is that? Gant was awarded the Silver Star, was absolutely fearless( critics would say "unhinged"), and had the ear of the four stars. But Petraeus left and commanders who were more worried about prescribing grooming regulations for the beards of SF soldiers took over. Gant was beloved by the Afghans and they cried when he left and protested vigorously. But he was only one man who made a difference and our country couldn't clone him and if you believe the investigation into his conduct than you know the Army wouldn't want any more like him. It's really a shame Gant didn't finish his tour and turn over in an orderly fashion. He did everything that was asked of him and more. Tyson portrays him as damaged and a little bit too much as a victim at the end. Jim didn't invoke the powers of Petraeus to save him either because he's that type of guy. Petraeus endorses this book too but where was he when Jim really needed him? Tribal cultures are home to honor killings and that's basically what happened to Jim Gant whose career was honor killed by the Army.
July 16, 2014
Loved the book. I support what Jim Gant did. He held that one key. Wars are won by people. One Tribe at a time. Knowing and understanding the people and the culture is what Jim did Best. Amazing Man, too bad he was treated as the scapegoat from Higher. All I can say is "Pashtunwali". Great Book written by his wife, who had seen more combat than most Journalists.
June 16, 2014
Ann Scott Tyson is a journalist and my first reaction is to discredit whatever comes from a journalist, however, I felt this book gave more of an accurate account of what is going on behind the scenes with our military than what is given on our nightly news. I struggle with staying aware of current events because the media has sabotaged any faith I have in an honest attempt of delivering information. Information is too quick to get out without any time for a real investigation.
Major James K. Gant, author of the paper "One Tribe at a Time", is a modern day military hero. I appreciate the reality of what that entails. We don't see in the history books the negative side that our military endures to be a hero. Yet, Ms. Tyson and Major Gant were brave enough to let it all out. And he suffers for it.
I think the key point in their story is the understanding of relationships. Relationships are central to everything from how to raise your children well to how to win a war. It's in the boardroom and it's in the middle of the Afghan hills. Unfortunately, politics rule the military and the people who lose the most are the men, women and children of our military vets.
This is their story, Major Gant's amazing leadership skills as a natural born leader, what the military did to use him and eventually set out to ruin him. While I do believe in America and would not choose to live anywhere else, it is disheartening to see how far we've come since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Major James K. Gant, author of the paper "One Tribe at a Time", is a modern day military hero. I appreciate the reality of what that entails. We don't see in the history books the negative side that our military endures to be a hero. Yet, Ms. Tyson and Major Gant were brave enough to let it all out. And he suffers for it.
I think the key point in their story is the understanding of relationships. Relationships are central to everything from how to raise your children well to how to win a war. It's in the boardroom and it's in the middle of the Afghan hills. Unfortunately, politics rule the military and the people who lose the most are the men, women and children of our military vets.
This is their story, Major Gant's amazing leadership skills as a natural born leader, what the military did to use him and eventually set out to ruin him. While I do believe in America and would not choose to live anywhere else, it is disheartening to see how far we've come since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
June 29, 2014
Its Interesting- actually a very good story, about a modern day Col. Kurtz, a moving and tragic tale about the ravages of attempting conventional tactics in an unconventional war in remote locations on a man's mind and military career when he ends up totally off the rails. The problem is it is written from a screwed up viewpoint of the girlfriend who left her four kids at home to play house with her new boyfriend in the backwoods of Afghanistan who is just as nuts, if not more, hyperbolic and overly defensive of everything she and Jim do. She is grating self centered and unrealistic and often defends actions with things like "but everyone was doing it". Its like listening to a 17 year old girl defend her delinquent boyfriend and it overshadows the serious concerns this book would otherwise raise about the war and how we are fighting it and at what cost.
April 5, 2016
Full disclosure, I was expecting something along the lines of "Roberts Ridge" that is not what the book is about; more along the lines of 'Apocalypse Now' in the mountains of Afghanistan. I nearly stopped listening to the book when it became obvious that the author and the lead character were in a relationship; that just blows away any shred of journalistic credibility in my mind (not to mention a mother living with a boyfriend while going through a divorce, and having her 14 year old daughter use a curtained of area what is basically a curtained off area of a studio apartment...and oh yea the boyfriend has a history of drug & alcohol abuse).
I did keep listening and it was interesting the way the audio book shifted from the author's point of view to the Major's by using female & male narrators. That was an effective technique.
Anytime there is a group of 'Special' individuals who think they do have to follow the same rules as everyone else, there is a high probability that abuses will follow. Be it Special Forces, your local police department, athletes, or even people driving cars with company signs on the side. Next time that you are following a Police Officer/Sheriff's Deputy, notice if they use their turn signal, observe where the FedEx/UPS guy parks their truck during pick-up/drop-offs. Soon you will see it all the time the "that rule doesn't apply to me because .... " syndrome.
Maj. Gant had insight into 'turning' round the Afghanistan policy, along the way he pissed off the bureaucracy, went rogue and got caught. The excuse 'everyone else was doing it' just doesn't fly, especially from a Major. One of the rules of a bureaucracy is to "be careful that the toes you step on are not attached to the ass which one day you must kiss" the Major found out the hard way.
I did keep listening and it was interesting the way the audio book shifted from the author's point of view to the Major's by using female & male narrators. That was an effective technique.
Anytime there is a group of 'Special' individuals who think they do have to follow the same rules as everyone else, there is a high probability that abuses will follow. Be it Special Forces, your local police department, athletes, or even people driving cars with company signs on the side. Next time that you are following a Police Officer/Sheriff's Deputy, notice if they use their turn signal, observe where the FedEx/UPS guy parks their truck during pick-up/drop-offs. Soon you will see it all the time the "that rule doesn't apply to me because .... " syndrome.
Maj. Gant had insight into 'turning' round the Afghanistan policy, along the way he pissed off the bureaucracy, went rogue and got caught. The excuse 'everyone else was doing it' just doesn't fly, especially from a Major. One of the rules of a bureaucracy is to "be careful that the toes you step on are not attached to the ass which one day you must kiss" the Major found out the hard way.
November 4, 2015
Quite interesting story about a single special forces officer and his ability to connect and defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. It then goes on to show how politics and jealousy of his success in the Army caused all of his work and likely chance of success in Afghanistan to implode. The book also provides a good history of tribes and politics in the country. I did find the writing to be a bit too "hero worship" in its writing style (author became his husband) and would have preferred a less biased writing style. Also the editing of the book was poor. For example the author wrote the same sentences several times throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2016
A gripping story that brings to life the realities of tribal-based counterinsurgency in Afghanistan.
American Spartan presents a uniquely personal perspective on the support and development of Afghan local security forces. It vividly captures the "guy on the ground" perspective of America's tribal-based counterinsurgency strategy of the time. The book also accurately reflects the challenges and rewards of military and civilian missions requiring close cooperation between outside advisors and local actors, and it will resonate with anyone who has served in such a role.
American Spartan takes you through the roller coaster ride of practical difficulties and emotional attachments that go hand in hand with such efforts by putting you in the shoes of decorated Green Beret Jim Gant. In charting the rise and fall of Gant's career, the book serves as a stark reminder of the mental and physical toll paid by service members serving on the sharp end. I rate it as a "MUST READ" for anyone interested in the war in Afghanistan or in counterinsurgency in general.
That being said, the definitive book about the experiences of Jim Gant, Ann Tyson, and the surrounding cast of characters is yet to be written. Undoubtedly there is some inherent bias in American Spartan given that Tyson is now Gant's wife. Even so, there is too much ground truth and insight to be found here to justify simply discarding the book as empty praise or an unfounded defense of Gant's decisions, as some reviewers have seem inclined to do.
Tyson takes the reader on a whirlwind journey through an array of interesting situations that make for enlightening and gripping reading. Gant's counterinsurgency mission required a balancing act of the highest order -- he and his team had to establish real, trusting relationships with local actors, sort out local power structures, and make judgment calls as to which "friends" (or potential foes) to invest in. Also in play were various conflicts internal to the U.S. military, both personal and professional, which served to frustrate the mission. Top this off with the added pressure of an all-too-short timeline, and you have the makings of a real-life mission impossible (and, I hope, a great movie).
Notwithstanding the long odds they faced, Gant and his team appear to have achieved a significant measure of success before things imploded in a dramatic (and unnecessarily counterproductive) fashion. The fallout and aftermath portions of American Spartan are probably the segments which will be most likely to leave readers wondering how a more objective accounting might read.
In spite of such lingering questions, American Spartan is an intriguing and inspiring read which ultimately brought to mind WWII Marine Corps ace Pappy Boyington's self-deprecating assessment of his own autobiography: "Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum."
Whatever flaws one might find in Jim Gant, he is unquestionably a hero who lived in pursuit of a timeless warrior code. He deserves our thanks and respect for his service and sacrifice, for his belief in and pursuit of a seemingly impossible mission, and for his compassionate commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
American Spartan presents a uniquely personal perspective on the support and development of Afghan local security forces. It vividly captures the "guy on the ground" perspective of America's tribal-based counterinsurgency strategy of the time. The book also accurately reflects the challenges and rewards of military and civilian missions requiring close cooperation between outside advisors and local actors, and it will resonate with anyone who has served in such a role.
American Spartan takes you through the roller coaster ride of practical difficulties and emotional attachments that go hand in hand with such efforts by putting you in the shoes of decorated Green Beret Jim Gant. In charting the rise and fall of Gant's career, the book serves as a stark reminder of the mental and physical toll paid by service members serving on the sharp end. I rate it as a "MUST READ" for anyone interested in the war in Afghanistan or in counterinsurgency in general.
That being said, the definitive book about the experiences of Jim Gant, Ann Tyson, and the surrounding cast of characters is yet to be written. Undoubtedly there is some inherent bias in American Spartan given that Tyson is now Gant's wife. Even so, there is too much ground truth and insight to be found here to justify simply discarding the book as empty praise or an unfounded defense of Gant's decisions, as some reviewers have seem inclined to do.
Tyson takes the reader on a whirlwind journey through an array of interesting situations that make for enlightening and gripping reading. Gant's counterinsurgency mission required a balancing act of the highest order -- he and his team had to establish real, trusting relationships with local actors, sort out local power structures, and make judgment calls as to which "friends" (or potential foes) to invest in. Also in play were various conflicts internal to the U.S. military, both personal and professional, which served to frustrate the mission. Top this off with the added pressure of an all-too-short timeline, and you have the makings of a real-life mission impossible (and, I hope, a great movie).
Notwithstanding the long odds they faced, Gant and his team appear to have achieved a significant measure of success before things imploded in a dramatic (and unnecessarily counterproductive) fashion. The fallout and aftermath portions of American Spartan are probably the segments which will be most likely to leave readers wondering how a more objective accounting might read.
In spite of such lingering questions, American Spartan is an intriguing and inspiring read which ultimately brought to mind WWII Marine Corps ace Pappy Boyington's self-deprecating assessment of his own autobiography: "Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum."
Whatever flaws one might find in Jim Gant, he is unquestionably a hero who lived in pursuit of a timeless warrior code. He deserves our thanks and respect for his service and sacrifice, for his belief in and pursuit of a seemingly impossible mission, and for his compassionate commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
February 4, 2024
I read the book and Tyson opens with a disclaimer that Jim Gant is now her husband. This immediately made me question the veracity of the things I would read throughout the rest of the book.
This is probably the 138th book I have read about the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2005 after reading the 9/11 Commission Report.
My views on these Wars have changed now 20+ years on since Operation Anaconda, of which General Mulholland was involved and resulted in a friendly fire incident and the escape of UBL, and it was his decision to fight the battle without howitzers and a small footprint of soldiers and it was after this battlefield loss that the Americans boot on the ground in the War in Afghanistan expanded exponentially.
This being said Gant's paper "One Tribe at a Time" seems to be the correct strategy and the purpose of the Special Forces Green Berets and ODA Teams, based on the readings I have done on the subjects, and was supported by General David Petraeus the father of the COIN strategy.
The narrative throughout the book supports that this strategy worked and there are countless other books where other Special and Regular Army and military forces are the victims of IED and other attacks and if the lack of attacks in Mangwel and Chowkay are true then Gant and his team truly achieved something great. The question still remains what happens when the support of the U.S. Military and U.S. taxpayer are gone, will these Afghan Local Police (ALP) stood up and trained by Gant and his Tribe 33 and 34?
While I agree that other soldiers in the battlespace have been guilty of consuming alcohol, both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs, and have relations with women it does not excuse Gant have Tyson live with him during combat operations and I do agree with Mulholland's assessment that they appeared to be living a fantasy and living our their own honeymoon in Afghanistan and at the expense of others.
The argument that Gant made that the people would undo him would be wearing Special Forces patches also had some truth as borne out in the book and I believe this is likely typical of Military leadership not having the backs of its own soldiers somewhat like sending young men and women to war and telling them they cannot fire their weapons due to collateral damages when the enemy doesn't play by these same rules.
This book further reinforces my believe now that the United States stayed in Afghanistan way too long and should have brought our troops home in 2002 or 2003 and should have never invaded Iraq either.
One final comment is that both Tyson and Gant violated ethics and drew questionable attention to their decision making and actions by having a romantic relationship that is known as a violation of ethics and judgement and this does call into question the events of this book and that there are always two sides to every story.
I highly recommend this book, it was engaging and filled with suspense, that I believed would culminate with a grand gun battle and instead resulted in an investigation.
This is probably the 138th book I have read about the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2005 after reading the 9/11 Commission Report.
My views on these Wars have changed now 20+ years on since Operation Anaconda, of which General Mulholland was involved and resulted in a friendly fire incident and the escape of UBL, and it was his decision to fight the battle without howitzers and a small footprint of soldiers and it was after this battlefield loss that the Americans boot on the ground in the War in Afghanistan expanded exponentially.
This being said Gant's paper "One Tribe at a Time" seems to be the correct strategy and the purpose of the Special Forces Green Berets and ODA Teams, based on the readings I have done on the subjects, and was supported by General David Petraeus the father of the COIN strategy.
The narrative throughout the book supports that this strategy worked and there are countless other books where other Special and Regular Army and military forces are the victims of IED and other attacks and if the lack of attacks in Mangwel and Chowkay are true then Gant and his team truly achieved something great. The question still remains what happens when the support of the U.S. Military and U.S. taxpayer are gone, will these Afghan Local Police (ALP) stood up and trained by Gant and his Tribe 33 and 34?
While I agree that other soldiers in the battlespace have been guilty of consuming alcohol, both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs, and have relations with women it does not excuse Gant have Tyson live with him during combat operations and I do agree with Mulholland's assessment that they appeared to be living a fantasy and living our their own honeymoon in Afghanistan and at the expense of others.
The argument that Gant made that the people would undo him would be wearing Special Forces patches also had some truth as borne out in the book and I believe this is likely typical of Military leadership not having the backs of its own soldiers somewhat like sending young men and women to war and telling them they cannot fire their weapons due to collateral damages when the enemy doesn't play by these same rules.
This book further reinforces my believe now that the United States stayed in Afghanistan way too long and should have brought our troops home in 2002 or 2003 and should have never invaded Iraq either.
One final comment is that both Tyson and Gant violated ethics and drew questionable attention to their decision making and actions by having a romantic relationship that is known as a violation of ethics and judgement and this does call into question the events of this book and that there are always two sides to every story.
I highly recommend this book, it was engaging and filled with suspense, that I believed would culminate with a grand gun battle and instead resulted in an investigation.
March 31, 2020
The book is written as a "woe is me" narrative and attempts to persuade the audience that the author and Jim Gant did nothing wrong. The authors thwarts her own argument by clearing state that Jim Gant abused his power as an Officer and Special Forces Soldier. Their actions are supposed to be justified because other Special Forces Soldiers also broke the rules, but the distance between these two experiences is vast.
The writing is very disjointed throughout the whole book, as if written by a high school sophomore, not a published journalist. Most concerning, is the misrepresentation of facts to make their actions more grandios: The author implies that GEN Petraeus created the Sons of Iraq, that when Jim Gant and Iraq Police fought insurgents together, one firefight convinced his leadership to reinstate the Iraqi National Police, and that Jim Gant "disarmed" IEDs, implying he broke norms and rules, but in reality that was common for all US forces at the time because there weren't enough EOD teams available to deal with all the IEDs. If they were driving it was always "along one of the most dangerous roads in the country."
Most importantly, Jim Gant reminds me of Bowe Bergdahl. They both fantasize and make poor decisions believing in their own hype. The author states that Jim Gant believed his dreams were more than dreams - they were visions and premonitions. He had "lived many lives" and was a warrior in all his past lives. Jim Gant believed he was the only way the Afghans could win back their country, a fairly silly thought, but he believed it.
The writing is very disjointed throughout the whole book, as if written by a high school sophomore, not a published journalist. Most concerning, is the misrepresentation of facts to make their actions more grandios: The author implies that GEN Petraeus created the Sons of Iraq, that when Jim Gant and Iraq Police fought insurgents together, one firefight convinced his leadership to reinstate the Iraqi National Police, and that Jim Gant "disarmed" IEDs, implying he broke norms and rules, but in reality that was common for all US forces at the time because there weren't enough EOD teams available to deal with all the IEDs. If they were driving it was always "along one of the most dangerous roads in the country."
Most importantly, Jim Gant reminds me of Bowe Bergdahl. They both fantasize and make poor decisions believing in their own hype. The author states that Jim Gant believed his dreams were more than dreams - they were visions and premonitions. He had "lived many lives" and was a warrior in all his past lives. Jim Gant believed he was the only way the Afghans could win back their country, a fairly silly thought, but he believed it.
July 27, 2018
Let me recommend you read this. I loved it and found it hard to put down. It's as much a love story as it is a story about war. Say what you will after reading more about the Major on the internet, but this guy did what he was trained to do albeit as a human he has flaws. My own opinion is that the military failed the major. Mind you I've never served in the military so I can't speak from that perspective but they left him out there way too long immersed in a foreign country with a completely different culture than our own.
One of my favorite passages reads "My perception of the world has take an 180-degree turn. Everything I have always been taught, everything I believed in has been turned upside down. I have seen such evil that I don't think I can ever be free of the demons that will haunt me for the rest of my life. The smell of burned bodies. The smell of blood and death. So many innocent people killed. Killing another person, even in war, changes a person. Being in combat changes a person. Being isolated from the ones you love changes a person. When your life is in the hands of others it changes your life forever. This is the most gruesome, violent environment you can imagine, even in your dreams. Yet, God forgive me, I love it."
One of my favorite passages reads "My perception of the world has take an 180-degree turn. Everything I have always been taught, everything I believed in has been turned upside down. I have seen such evil that I don't think I can ever be free of the demons that will haunt me for the rest of my life. The smell of burned bodies. The smell of blood and death. So many innocent people killed. Killing another person, even in war, changes a person. Being in combat changes a person. Being isolated from the ones you love changes a person. When your life is in the hands of others it changes your life forever. This is the most gruesome, violent environment you can imagine, even in your dreams. Yet, God forgive me, I love it."
September 21, 2019
Jim says that he loves people over and over again while in Afghanistan. Much less, I imagine, when he’s in the United States. This, I think, is a large part of Afghanistan’s draw for him. In this otherworld of war, where death is always a fierce possibility and firefights are common, Jim is free to experience and express the deepest emotions available to the human soul. He can say he loves someone because in the next moment he can draw a gun and shoot someone dead. He can prove his love with violence, both dispensing it and enduring it. He can maintain his masculine sides and feminine sides at once. War is the situation where Jim can integrate all the parts of himself and feel he is who he was truly meant to be: a passionate soldier in the tradition of Leonidas and Achilles. These emotions are powerful drugs that no substance in the US can hope to match. He needs Ann desperately because she connects him to Afghanistan and to who he was there.
December 11, 2024
While I have never served, I can appreciate that certain missions require unconventional means to accomplish the job. However, the amount of blatant disregard for ethics of battle demonstrated in this book is frustrating to read at best. The author, who is the lover of the previously described transgressor, writes this as a manifesto of sorts to justify the actions of which there is no justification. As other reviewers have stated, this is a recounting of a fantasy Jim and Ann were living in, apparently obvious to everyone except them. While I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, it is hard to give it much praise when I disagree so wholeheartedly with the subjects and their conduct.
May 11, 2014
I hear much conflict around Major Jim Gant but that seems to be an attribute that follows many great leaders. The book I thought was a great read that actually reads like a a book made for a movie. The stories of battle ad battle focused leadership that include innovative thinking and unconventional tactics and adaptability I must say steal my heart especially in a world that's filled with conformity and rigid linear thinking. Major Gant if half of what this book relays is true is my kind of guy and one I would like to have worked with.
September 12, 2018
Outstanding read on what could have changed Afghanistan significantly if not for ridiculous US Army egos (read jealous generals and lieutenants) who clearly did not understand or care about actually winning war or President Obama giving away US strategic plans to the world, instead of doing what was right to actually protect the Afghan people.
July 30, 2017
There are books that make you think long and hard about some things you thought you knew. This is one of them. War is horrible! It makes humans do horrible things and can turn heroes into “criminals”. Major Gant served his county honorably. His country served him horribly.
April 8, 2019
Our Honour besmirched by political cowardice
I read military history to try to understand. Of the hundreds of books from antiquity to present, Ann’s work conveyed best the bitter bright unknowable.
I read military history to try to understand. Of the hundreds of books from antiquity to present, Ann’s work conveyed best the bitter bright unknowable.
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January 27, 2020I love a unique reading experience, and this book certainly provided that. The following will be littered with spoilers, so if you'd like to go in blind, please stop reading now.
This is the first book I've read that was billed as nonfiction, but is so grossly biased it should be shelved as creative nonfiction or memoir. The author is the subject's girlfriend. But she's not just an impartial journalist who interviews soldiers upon their return home (or via phone call/videoconference while deployed). No, she sneaks herself onto Jalalabad Air Field (JAF) and into Afghanistan, where she accompanies Army Special Forces Major Jim Gant (her husband) on actual missions. You've got to be kidding me.
Ann refers to her "exploitation" of a "loophole" (allowing her onto JAF) as brazen, and points out that "if military authorities found out I was slipping under their noses, Jim's entire mission could come to a crashing halt." Never mind that the Taliban got wind there was an American woman in the area, and had plans to to kill her. To be clear: Her concern was that she could compromise his mission, not that she put others' lives at risk by her mere presence. She had no reason to be there - beyond shacking up with her husband, and apparently researching this book. But, at the height of narcissism, she and Jim put the American soldiers and the Afghan villagers at greater risk by secreting her into the qalat.
The entire book is this mind-boggling. You can't really believe anything the author says, as she has such rose-colored glasses for her now husband. She describes him as a warrior, and makes his blood-thirst sound like a good thing. She continually paints other members of the military as inept, and Jim as an absolute hero. It's shocking, and maddening, and so utterly ridiculous I couldn't look away.
That General David Petraeus is quoted on the front cover should be questionable - how could someone deserving of such respect endorse such a book? But, as we all know now, Petraeus also likely crossed some serious boundaries, and perhaps disclosed confidential information to the biographer with whom he had an affair.
Which is where this book leaves me: Is this a one-off? Is Jim one-of-a-kind? Or is every third person in the military (or the Army, or the Army Special Forces) like this? Is sneaking your woman into a war zone more common than I thought? This is the story of one man, from one country, in one war. Are more of them like this?
The answer, likely, is that there are degrees of respect for authority, egoism, and foolhardiness. That people are complicated, and so everything involving people necessarily is complicated. But wow. Just...wow.
This is the first book I've read that was billed as nonfiction, but is so grossly biased it should be shelved as creative nonfiction or memoir. The author is the subject's girlfriend. But she's not just an impartial journalist who interviews soldiers upon their return home (or via phone call/videoconference while deployed). No, she sneaks herself onto Jalalabad Air Field (JAF) and into Afghanistan, where she accompanies Army Special Forces Major Jim Gant (her husband) on actual missions. You've got to be kidding me.
Ann refers to her "exploitation" of a "loophole" (allowing her onto JAF) as brazen, and points out that "if military authorities found out I was slipping under their noses, Jim's entire mission could come to a crashing halt." Never mind that the Taliban got wind there was an American woman in the area, and had plans to to kill her. To be clear: Her concern was that she could compromise his mission, not that she put others' lives at risk by her mere presence. She had no reason to be there - beyond shacking up with her husband, and apparently researching this book. But, at the height of narcissism, she and Jim put the American soldiers and the Afghan villagers at greater risk by secreting her into the qalat.
The entire book is this mind-boggling. You can't really believe anything the author says, as she has such rose-colored glasses for her now husband. She describes him as a warrior, and makes his blood-thirst sound like a good thing. She continually paints other members of the military as inept, and Jim as an absolute hero. It's shocking, and maddening, and so utterly ridiculous I couldn't look away.
That General David Petraeus is quoted on the front cover should be questionable - how could someone deserving of such respect endorse such a book? But, as we all know now, Petraeus also likely crossed some serious boundaries, and perhaps disclosed confidential information to the biographer with whom he had an affair.
Which is where this book leaves me: Is this a one-off? Is Jim one-of-a-kind? Or is every third person in the military (or the Army, or the Army Special Forces) like this? Is sneaking your woman into a war zone more common than I thought? This is the story of one man, from one country, in one war. Are more of them like this?
The answer, likely, is that there are degrees of respect for authority, egoism, and foolhardiness. That people are complicated, and so everything involving people necessarily is complicated. But wow. Just...wow.
February 10, 2017
This intriguing and complicated story is one that needed to be told, as its telling is itself a complex task. Above all, it's a case study in mismanagement, and how subordinates work to fill in the vacuum that bad management leaves behind. The contemplation of Jim Gant's actions to fill that void is worthwhile for all Americans, as each of us is ultimately responsible for and represented by our military.
At first, I whole-heartedly agreed with the 'biased' perspective, as Tyson's writing initially acknowledges what could be at the very least described as a sympathetic perspective. I think there is a lot of value in an audience being 'sold' on Gant's mission from the exact perspective of someone who fully bought into said mission. As the overall situation goes 'south' for Gant, however, it becomes clearer that the bias is nearly inextricable from the account. At best, it serves as a counter-balance to the military hierarchy's response, as it's nearly impossible to recognize the important contradictions inherent in the investigation and result. But at worst, and probably too often, it's hard to separate events from a sympathetic source who's way too close to everything. That conflict, however, serves to mirror the exact issue at the heart of Jim Gant's story, even through its telling.
At first, I whole-heartedly agreed with the 'biased' perspective, as Tyson's writing initially acknowledges what could be at the very least described as a sympathetic perspective. I think there is a lot of value in an audience being 'sold' on Gant's mission from the exact perspective of someone who fully bought into said mission. As the overall situation goes 'south' for Gant, however, it becomes clearer that the bias is nearly inextricable from the account. At best, it serves as a counter-balance to the military hierarchy's response, as it's nearly impossible to recognize the important contradictions inherent in the investigation and result. But at worst, and probably too often, it's hard to separate events from a sympathetic source who's way too close to everything. That conflict, however, serves to mirror the exact issue at the heart of Jim Gant's story, even through its telling.
June 12, 2019
Sad to say but this could have been an interesting story but it reads like a defensive propaganda piece. Major Gant did some amazing things but also did some things he should not have done. The author's perspective is clearly skewed and that bias takes away from a more even‐handed approach to writing that could have shown us Major Gant for who he is, a flawed human being like all of us, and not some Messianic figure crucified by the Pilates of the Army. It is not so simple that Gant is always right and good while the Army leadership is always wrong and bad. No story in life is that simple and both Gant and the Army should be held accountable for their shortcomings and lauded for their successes. Thank you to Major Gant for your sacrifices, leadership and innovation on behalf of peace but you deserve better than this misguided attempt at spinning your story.
September 28, 2020
This was an interesting book where a Special Forces Officer imbeds himself with locals in Iraq and then Afghanistan to help create a Local Police Force to protect the country and phase out the need for so many US Soldiers. This was working, but eventually the bureaucracy of the Army and the pettiness of a West Point Infantry Officer would bring his downfall. They would condemn him for things that all Special Forces Soldiers were doing. They ignored his progress in helping the war in Afghanistan. Even Osama Bin Laden would acknowledge that he was hurting the Taliban cause and had to be eliminated. He was a victim of military bureaucracy that fails so many Soldiers. This affected me as I am retiring soon and have seen the corruption and hypocrisy in the military.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 8, 2022The main reason I chose this book is because I wanted a non-fiction book. I also relay like info books on WW ll. The way the characters were developed is that it talks about how they were involved in the war. It also talks about how what they did was significant. The plot is in the order of a timeline and it starts at the start of the war and ends with the end of the war. My favorite part of the book is all the interesting and cool details about every part of the war. My least favorite part of the book was probably seeing the photos in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history. I do not recommend it to people who do not like history.
September 25, 2021
Jim Gant is a warrior a true real one who One Tribe at Time strategy was working he made some mistakes yes but that’s what 22 months in combat can do according to the author and his wife. He was betrayed by a officer with no clue how to fight in Afghanistan and as he always said by a man with a Special Force’s Tab. The argument against him is fair but went to far. Other ODAs did similar things to his team. It’s just how they have to get by. Jim’s paper was found in UBLs compound during the SSE with his markings on it. He ordered Jim to be killed but the Spartan came out on top.
December 21, 2022
Greek Tragedy
All it takes is one traitor and thirty hyenas to take down the unconventional military thinker. Sometimes in the war where there’s not just black and white. Some soldiers are just uptight all way up from ass to head. As for the book, I did enjoyed learn all stuff going on. It did feel like chasing its tail for a while. Hard to understand the different and foreign concept in culture. I did wish the author to add some more visual items like maps to see why he is doing vital work. Just more contents to help readers to visualize the bigger picture.
All it takes is one traitor and thirty hyenas to take down the unconventional military thinker. Sometimes in the war where there’s not just black and white. Some soldiers are just uptight all way up from ass to head. As for the book, I did enjoyed learn all stuff going on. It did feel like chasing its tail for a while. Hard to understand the different and foreign concept in culture. I did wish the author to add some more visual items like maps to see why he is doing vital work. Just more contents to help readers to visualize the bigger picture.
May 7, 2020
Jim Gant forgot a very important rule of tribal engagement — never betray your own tribe. This book follows a brilliant counter-insurgent and unconventional warfare expert whose own narcissism and arrogance prevented him from accomplishing his goals, primarily by making enemies of his fellow Green Berets and countrymen. The only thing more frustrating about the book is the fact that it’s written by his now wife, then lover, who somehow manages to be more self absorbed than he is.
January 10, 2021
This is a good story that I think was important to feel; however, it was told by someone writing with the intention of proclaiming innocence for her side. The guy was a warrior for sure but went way over the line bringing a civilian into the mix and hiding it from his commanders and should have been found guilty of charges for that alone. We, as military personnel don’t have to like rules and regulations but we must follow them or it’s no longer the military. Good book just realize the bias.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2024
Hard to read, yet 5 stars
I am of mixed mind as I conclude this book. On the one hand It seems that this was an attempt to simply justify the actions of a Special Forces officer who didn't follow the rule book.
On the other band, this is a story about a man who really cared , who felt that the war in Afghanistan was being poorly executed, and wanted the US to win the war not so much for the US, but for the Afghani people.
I am of mixed mind as I conclude this book. On the one hand It seems that this was an attempt to simply justify the actions of a Special Forces officer who didn't follow the rule book.
On the other band, this is a story about a man who really cared , who felt that the war in Afghanistan was being poorly executed, and wanted the US to win the war not so much for the US, but for the Afghani people.
May 19, 2020
Tough to rate this one. It was like a bio or war atory but I was thinking it was more like a explanition of innocence to a charge. I have read similar books but this one didnt hit the mark (for me).
One take away from this one is the personal relationships required to get things done. That part is eye opening for sure.
One take away from this one is the personal relationships required to get things done. That part is eye opening for sure.
November 14, 2022
First hand account of former Special Forces soldier Jim Gant.........he have mentioned more about his experience in Afghanistan and how he shaped the Afghan Local Police and other tribes to fight insurgents and attachment to the Afghan way of life and also exposes the darkest reality of American military.......
May 6, 2023
This book is as dry as white toast and takes a strong person to command the the patents to power through this one.
I was ready for some real action and juicy stories...but it never materialized. If I didn't listen to this one while at work doing mundane tasks I never would have finished the book.
Put this one on the maybe some day list.
I was ready for some real action and juicy stories...but it never materialized. If I didn't listen to this one while at work doing mundane tasks I never would have finished the book.
Put this one on the maybe some day list.
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