What do you think?
Rate this book
Bunker Mentality
At the height of the Cold War, Roy Chisolm arrives at the edge of the free world.
An idealist in less-than-ideal times, Chisholm’s military orders have taken him to the Bunker, an underground fortress in West Germany where intelligence and war footing operations convene. Within the impenetrable concrete walls, he finds a complete lack of military protocol, a total disregard for the stakes of the game, and a life of soul-crushing absurdity.
Under constant threat of Russian annihilation, those assigned to the Bunker grapple with the inescapable futility of their posting. Chisolm struggles to maintain his moral compass in the face of disturbing apathy and chaos. But even as he plots his escape, he begins to form enigmatic bonds with his fellow warriors—and a romance outside the Bunker walls—unearthing a new understanding of trust, conviction, and love.
Inspired by true events, Bunker Mentality is Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 meets David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs, exploring the meaning of war, morality, madness, honor, and courage in a world of utter insanity.
An idealist in less-than-ideal times, Chisholm’s military orders have taken him to the Bunker, an underground fortress in West Germany where intelligence and war footing operations convene. Within the impenetrable concrete walls, he finds a complete lack of military protocol, a total disregard for the stakes of the game, and a life of soul-crushing absurdity.
Under constant threat of Russian annihilation, those assigned to the Bunker grapple with the inescapable futility of their posting. Chisolm struggles to maintain his moral compass in the face of disturbing apathy and chaos. But even as he plots his escape, he begins to form enigmatic bonds with his fellow warriors—and a romance outside the Bunker walls—unearthing a new understanding of trust, conviction, and love.
Inspired by true events, Bunker Mentality is Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 meets David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs, exploring the meaning of war, morality, madness, honor, and courage in a world of utter insanity.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2024
2 people are currently reading
1711 people want to read
About the author
Copernicus Paul
1 book12 followersCopernicus Paul was assigned to Strategic Air Command and later to the US Air Forces in Europe during the Cold War. A Southern California native, he holds a healthy measure of contempt toward those who deny true liberty and freedom to anyone, especially through means of fear or force. Copernicus is a cancer survivor and lives in gratitude for every day on this earth.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 4, 2024
This review is provided in exchange for receiving a pre-publication copy of this book.
I thought this was going to be a chore (hey, I was asked for honesty) to read, but it turned out to be quite rewarding. I really enjoyed it.
I was writing up my comments then I decided to read some of it again to corroborate my thoughts and impressions. Then I read all of it again. This has much more to it than the synopsis shows. In fact, I’d say this is something that strays from today’s norms.
Be advised, there is no hand holding in this one. It is definitely a mature audience story. For young adults (or even older adults), it speaks to a sense of “maybe it isn’t as bad today as it seems,“ with what the MC in the story went through.
I wouldn’t classify myself as an avid reader of fiction (I’m in the sciences, so I read a lot of non-fiction), but I do read enough to know that this book is not formulaic. It is a “thinking” story. The whole reason I read it through a second time is because I really liked the theme underneath the top line story. This was intelligently crafted. To write like this, you need to know it by having lived it.
Downsides include a bit too much in dialogue tags (not overbearing, but in my opinion, some just not necessary). Also, this story is all character, not plot. For me, this isn’t a negative as much as it is simply an observation. Just calling it like I read it, and it reads fast. Many (most?) readers today, however, might prefer a plot driven story.
I’d summarize it by saying that it is very well executed. I’m actually still thinking about it, especially with world events as they are at the moment. The timing is great.
If you need a plot, this probably isn’t for you. If you like a character analysis and a read with depth and substance, I think you’ll seriously enjoy it.
I'm rating it five stars because of the theme and telling of the story. Not rating it on the technical side or that it is pretty much all character and not plot driven. Ding it yourself accordingly if these matter more to you.
I thought this was going to be a chore (hey, I was asked for honesty) to read, but it turned out to be quite rewarding. I really enjoyed it.
I was writing up my comments then I decided to read some of it again to corroborate my thoughts and impressions. Then I read all of it again. This has much more to it than the synopsis shows. In fact, I’d say this is something that strays from today’s norms.
Be advised, there is no hand holding in this one. It is definitely a mature audience story. For young adults (or even older adults), it speaks to a sense of “maybe it isn’t as bad today as it seems,“ with what the MC in the story went through.
I wouldn’t classify myself as an avid reader of fiction (I’m in the sciences, so I read a lot of non-fiction), but I do read enough to know that this book is not formulaic. It is a “thinking” story. The whole reason I read it through a second time is because I really liked the theme underneath the top line story. This was intelligently crafted. To write like this, you need to know it by having lived it.
Downsides include a bit too much in dialogue tags (not overbearing, but in my opinion, some just not necessary). Also, this story is all character, not plot. For me, this isn’t a negative as much as it is simply an observation. Just calling it like I read it, and it reads fast. Many (most?) readers today, however, might prefer a plot driven story.
I’d summarize it by saying that it is very well executed. I’m actually still thinking about it, especially with world events as they are at the moment. The timing is great.
If you need a plot, this probably isn’t for you. If you like a character analysis and a read with depth and substance, I think you’ll seriously enjoy it.
I'm rating it five stars because of the theme and telling of the story. Not rating it on the technical side or that it is pretty much all character and not plot driven. Ding it yourself accordingly if these matter more to you.
September 9, 2024
Bunker Mentality is the engaging story of Roy Chisolm and his time at the Bunker, an Air Force site in West Germany, during the end of the Cold War.
This hilarious, thought-provoking, bureaucratic, and baffling study is the perfect blend of history, romance, military jargon, and absurdist humor that makes you laugh even as you marvel at the surreal reality of the Cold War.
In the same vein of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, you will marvel at the absurd everyday challenges and revelations during a time where nuclear annihilation wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when. This debut author manages to capture both the anxiety of the era and the absurdities of daily life in our main character's niche military position. This novel is one I can see being studied and talked about for many years to come. An instant classic.
This book certainly isn’t for everyone. Please read the Author’s Note before entering these pages. If you are brave enough to, you will be rewarded with a novel that is a reminder that even in the most serious of times, there’s room for laughter -and that sometimes, laughter is the only way to survive the madness.
This hilarious, thought-provoking, bureaucratic, and baffling study is the perfect blend of history, romance, military jargon, and absurdist humor that makes you laugh even as you marvel at the surreal reality of the Cold War.
In the same vein of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, you will marvel at the absurd everyday challenges and revelations during a time where nuclear annihilation wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when. This debut author manages to capture both the anxiety of the era and the absurdities of daily life in our main character's niche military position. This novel is one I can see being studied and talked about for many years to come. An instant classic.
This book certainly isn’t for everyone. Please read the Author’s Note before entering these pages. If you are brave enough to, you will be rewarded with a novel that is a reminder that even in the most serious of times, there’s room for laughter -and that sometimes, laughter is the only way to survive the madness.
July 30, 2024
I don't typically post reviews but received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'M SO GLAD I ACCEPTED!
Warning: There are depictions in the story that are definitely not for anyone hung up on being PC, but it lends to the time to which the story is based upon. I know because I remember how it was.
Be sure to read the Author’s Note. It is very applicable here. The dedication is hilarious (and relevant) for pretty much everyone and our times.
The story: The blurb indicates that it is premised upon true events. It reads genuine. It feels real. Although set with a military background, it's not some "Pro America" military story. In fact, its irony and humor gives it a Catch-22 vibe, as it is compared to. And, anyone who has read "Bull Shit Jobs" will agree this story definitely evokes the same type of sarcastic evaluation of "government jobs."
This is a character and social analysis of a time I remember, 1980's Cold War era. The title is more than meets the eye. I didn't expect to be immersed in this world like I did, but I was. Bravo to this debut author. This novel is not only quirky and at times super crazy, but very thoughtful and analytic. Readers looking for an entertaining thought provoking read won't be disappointed. Loved the ending!
Final note: once you read it, the cover art will make total sense.
I'M SO GLAD I ACCEPTED!
Warning: There are depictions in the story that are definitely not for anyone hung up on being PC, but it lends to the time to which the story is based upon. I know because I remember how it was.
Be sure to read the Author’s Note. It is very applicable here. The dedication is hilarious (and relevant) for pretty much everyone and our times.
The story: The blurb indicates that it is premised upon true events. It reads genuine. It feels real. Although set with a military background, it's not some "Pro America" military story. In fact, its irony and humor gives it a Catch-22 vibe, as it is compared to. And, anyone who has read "Bull Shit Jobs" will agree this story definitely evokes the same type of sarcastic evaluation of "government jobs."
This is a character and social analysis of a time I remember, 1980's Cold War era. The title is more than meets the eye. I didn't expect to be immersed in this world like I did, but I was. Bravo to this debut author. This novel is not only quirky and at times super crazy, but very thoughtful and analytic. Readers looking for an entertaining thought provoking read won't be disappointed. Loved the ending!
Final note: once you read it, the cover art will make total sense.
August 30, 2024
This review is provided in exchange for receiving a pre-publication copy of this book.
This book was a thought-provoking and in-depth character study of the pressure cooker that is the tip of the spear in the nuclear military community. If you appreciate a journey into the dark corners of the human mind coupled with the fraternal trauma bonding required by the armed services to complete the mission, you will enjoy this book. This is not a high stakes read. Rather, it is a reflection on what it takes to try and retain one's own sanity and still maintain the highest levels of vigilance and suspicion of those surrounding you. This book is a long walk into a German forest where the appreciation for the bark and the sunlight is a counterpoint to the sterile and poorly lit corridors of mutually assured destruction. A place where love and humanity need to coexist with ruthless precision.
This book was a thought-provoking and in-depth character study of the pressure cooker that is the tip of the spear in the nuclear military community. If you appreciate a journey into the dark corners of the human mind coupled with the fraternal trauma bonding required by the armed services to complete the mission, you will enjoy this book. This is not a high stakes read. Rather, it is a reflection on what it takes to try and retain one's own sanity and still maintain the highest levels of vigilance and suspicion of those surrounding you. This book is a long walk into a German forest where the appreciation for the bark and the sunlight is a counterpoint to the sterile and poorly lit corridors of mutually assured destruction. A place where love and humanity need to coexist with ruthless precision.
December 5, 2024
Fascinating story we don't hear much about. But the novel tried too hard to be a cold war version of Catch-22 without all the snappy lines and characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews