Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point

by David Lipsky

New York Times A “fascinating, funny and tremendously well written” chronicle of daily life at the US Military Academy (Time).   In 1998, West Point made an unprecedented offer to Rolling Stone writer David Stay at the Academy as long as you like, go wherever you wish, talk to whomever you want, to discover why some of America’s most promising young people sacrifice so much to become cadets. Lipsky followed one cadet class into mess halls, barracks, classrooms, bars, and training exercises, from arrival through graduation. By telling their stories, he also examines the Academy as a reflection of our Are its principles of equality, patriotism, and honor quaint anachronisms or is it still, as Theodore Roosevelt called it, the most “absolutely American” institution?   During an eventful four years in West Point’s history, Lipsky witnesses the arrival of TVs and phones in dorm rooms, the end of hazing, and innumerable other shifts in policy and practice. He uncovers previously unreported scandals and poignantly evokes the aftermath of September 11, when cadets must prepare to become officers in wartime.   Lipsky also meets some extraordinary a former Eagle Scout who struggles with every facet of the program, from classwork to marching; a foul-mouthed party animal who hates the military and came to West Point to play football; a farm-raised kid who seems to be the perfect soldier, despite his affection for the early work of Georgia O’Keeffe; and an exquisitely turned-out female cadet who aspires to “a career in hair and nails” after the Army.   The result is, in the words of David Brooks in the New York Times Book Review, “a superb description of modern military culture, and one of the most gripping accounts of university life I have read. . . . How teenagers get turned into leaders is not a simple story, but it is wonderfully told in this book.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, History, Memoir, Education, Military History, War

471 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2003

About the author

David Lipsky is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Magazine Writing, The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, and many other publications. He contributes as an essayist to NPR's All Things Considered, and is the recipient of a Lambert Fellowship, a Media Award from GLAAD, and a National Magazine Award. He's the author of the novel The Art Fair, a collection of stories, Three Thousand Dollars, and the bestselling nonfiction book Absolutely American, which was a Time magazine Best Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Craig Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard the author interviewed while my son was in the process of applying for admission to West Point and bought it for him to gain a better understanding of life as a cadet. After he finished it, I read it. Then I read it again after my son's second year at West Point. That second read was much more relevant to me, having seen what my son had experienced to-date. My son graduated from West Point in 2008 and is now 4 years into active service in the army. I've been approached by a number of parents for advice about their child's application to West Point. I tell them that Absolutely American should be required reading for their child as well as themselves. Even if you don't anticipate ever having a direct connection with West Point, this book is a great way to gain insight into the average life of a student at a military academy. After reading it, you'll never look at those cadets on TV during the Army/Navy game in quite the same way.

[Roger Burk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a professor at West Point for 20 years, overlapping with the time period covered, and this book rings pretty true. However, it hardly mentions academics. Indeed, there's a lot more about beer and women than I ever was made aware of. It concentrates on the leadership, military, and physical development aspects of the program. Maybe that makes sense, since the academics are mostly pretty similar to what goes on at other colleges, and it is the leadership/military/physical development that makes West Point unique. But the reader should be aware that academics is actually considered the single most important aspect of the program (it accounts for 55% of a cadet's class rank and absorbs most of his or her time, at least theoretically). The book does give a very clear account of how leadership and so forth are taught, starting small (responsible for one other cadet) and building. It follows a number of individual cadets, both strong performers and weak, and some members of the staff (though no actual teaching faculty), with vivid individual portraits. A few cadets are followed for a few years after graduation. The reader is left with confidence that even the guy graduating last in the class has a decent chance of being a fine officer.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of people give the novel a good review. Although most of the pop else who reviewed say they don't usually read nonfiction, they seemed to like it. They thought that he did a good job to portray drama and life at West Point for civilians. I also thought it was interesting that there were a number of former military and West Point grads that enjoyed the book and said it was an accurate representation of West Point and the military. As for at I thought about the book, it was an ok book. At times the interactions between characters and especially their lives and stories were very interesting but the author took away from that by interrupting with chapters of factual information about West Point then cutting to a different story. It was interesting and engaging at times, but I felt bored for a good amount of the book also. The person who would most enjoy this book is definitely any military buff or ex-military personnel. The book was very detailed about military procedures and discipline. Also, anyone considering going to West Point should definitely read this to get a good idea of what life will be like and what to expect. The authors strong point in the book was definitely the gripping plot. The plethora of stories made you want to keep reading and find out what happened. However, character development was a weak point due to the numerous interception and nuisances between the character's stories. However, the things between the stories weren't completely terrible. The information the author provided in between the stories was fairly interesting and kept me engaged. Life at West Point is truly fascinating. I would recommend this book to you only if you have the mental patience to read through it. Overall the author wrote a good book but the story was ultimately damaged by key flaws. I would give this 3 stars. Not bad.

[Laurien Berenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book wondering whether I would enjoy the subject matter--and finished it with the realization that it was one of the most powerful and interesting books I'd read in a long time. Highly recommended.

[Tomas Curcio · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honestly quite amazing piece of journalism from a complete outsider to the military world. Shows endless poise, respect, and curiosity towards the people he meets. Also one of the only pieces to make a post-9/11 baby, such as I, tear up at watching terror and anxiety unfold. Thank you, David.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed a few works of fiction which were set at either VMI or West Point. In particular I cherish The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy and the works of Lucien Truscott IV.

Why does a person with extremely liberal views put these near the top of her favorite literature list? Like Absolutely American, these books are a study of our culture in a way few others examine the topic.

Each graduate is the culmination of an investment far exceeding the roughly quarter-million dollars their college education is valued at. Opposite their names, they wear our name - United States- on bodies they've chosen to place between ours and any who attack us. Lipsky's book shows us this act, rendered even more amazing rather than less by the cadets' youth, flaws, mistakes and humanity.

I strongly urge people to read these books, because everyone ought to invest wisely and accept service graciously. These cadets invest in us, too; they hope we'll be as worthy of us as they strive to be of them. They've paved the road in our wars with headstones, and after reading this book I took the time to look up those names.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm definitely the target audience for this book, but I really enjoyed the author's voice and storytelling.

[Ken Tingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son was a teenager considering West Point when I got him this book. It is a balance representations of the pros and cons of going to a military academy. My won told we he read and re-read the book constantly while trying to figure out if he had what it takes. Ultimately, he did not apply. But he did major in history.

[Amanda Bynum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point by David Lipsky wasn't my first choice for a non-fiction book - my favorite non-fiction subdivisions are memoir or historical crime. But my friend Teenie said it was awesome, and she's generally right about that sort of thing. And wouldn't you know it? This was no exception. Lipsky, a writer for Rolling Stone, was given unprecedented access to West Point, and stayed for four years, which allowed him to follow a whole class from plebes to firsties (that's me, using the lingo). Absolutely American is less a book about the military and more a book about personality - the reader comes to know the cadets and what makes them tick. Along the way, sure, there's military stuff, and some of the instances of infraction and punishment are extreme, but what's more compelling is why these kids went to West Point in the first place, and what's keeping them there. I really, really liked this book.

Absolutely American - A-

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this is a fairly standard book length journalistic deep dive into an institution or school. At some points, it seems like he is checking off boxes. A few pages about African American cadets, check; a few pages about drugs at West Point, check. In the beginning, the author seems very much enamored of West Point which leads him to betray a level of objectivity. West Point is clearly a different college experience and the author bends over backwards to not just record the differences, but to seem appreciative of the differences. He misses some real opportunities to question the values inculcated by the school. However it is undeniable that the book is extremely well-written, the character descriptions are both balanced and insightful. The deeper I got into the book, the more I enjoyed it.

[Graham Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really remarkable book, some of the best non-fiction I've ever read. Not what I would imagine at all for a "book about West Point". Pacing is perfect, and Lipsky is a master of interjecting just enough literary color into events to make them more vivid than real life.

Edit - here's a link to an interview with Lipsky about this book. Good introduction to the subject - http://www.charlierose.com/view/inter...

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author portrays West Point as a somewhat unpleasant experience that you really have to dedicate yourself to in order to make it through, but which offers a valuable payoff in the end. The book was a little like that too..........except for the payoff at the end...

[Rachel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic prose, and a deft hand with characterization and setting, too. An excellent book.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Inside Look

For starters, although I am very proud of our military who protect and defend us and all we stand for as a country, I am not a military person. By that I mean, I was never a member of the military nor did I know much of anything about it. For these reasons, I myself am surprised I chose this book for recreational reading. Now, I am glad I did for I wasn't disappointed.
This book, as my title suggests, provides the reader with an inside look on what it is like to enter West Point Military Academy. In particular, it follows one group of young men and a few young women who enter at the same time and undergo four years of discipline, intense training in conduct, personal appearance, education , military training, physical fitness and more. It covers the reasons these young men and women chose to enter, their mixed (in some cases) feelings, the self doubt, and their transformation into a cohesive unit that is self disciplined and will always have each others backs!
As in pretty much any group, there are a few who don't make the cut and decide or are forced to withdraw. There is also one young man in particular with the unusual name of George Rash who just doesn't fit in well with the group. He ends up failing the physical fitness test multiple times, and seems to be content to do the very minimum for a while but even when offered the option to withdraw without having to reimburse the academy for the cost of training him, George is determined to stay til the end. I liked that despite him not fitting in, his fellow classmates were cordial to him and a few even encouraged him.
The only drawbacks I found were a few spelling and grammar errors and for me personally I had a hard time following the timeline. For example, a few graduations were covered, and when the original group were there but then the book went on discussing them in the Academy, I was confused initially as to who graduated. Perhaps it was just me but the confusion with time happened a few times. Other than that, it is a strong book that will capture ones attention even if you are NOT a military member!

[Erik Sapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are good things with this book and it was interesting. Sadly, it could have been much more.

I was hoping to read a book about cadet life at West Point. This books is more about the lives of certain people who happen to be cadets at West Point. Cadet life is not really part of this book. (There are parts about Beast Barracks, Camp Buckner, Branch Night and base selection, but not much about day-to-day existance.)

It is too broad and too narrow at the same time. A good chunk of the book deals with 4 cadets who are seniors when the author first arrives and follows 2 of them to the Army. I wish the author had not gone into as much detail of their post-West Point life, as it took away from the point of the book. It also focused on a lot of cadets, rather than more detail about a smaller number. It got to the point that I could not keep some of them straight.

Although the author probably did not intend it this way, there is a great example of the West Point Protective Association about halfway through. An officer doing a tour at WP made a pretty big mistake. His boss caught it, called him out on it, and told him what to do to fix it. The officer did not fix it and it blew up. The boss "fell on his sword," rather than force the officer to take responsibility for his actions. The author approaches it as "look at how honorable [the boss] was," which is true as far as it goes. But the lesson from the outside is "who care what you do. Someone will clean it up for you and you will never have to take responsibility for your actions."

[Zhelana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting look at life at West Point around the turn of the century. It actually had me pretty interested in some of the cadets' lives and whether they would make it through the four years but good grief, David Lipsky has no sense of how to organize his thoughts. PT tests show up at all sorts of different random places, usually with Rash failing yet another one. Basic Training comes at the beginning of the second chapter, which doesn't sound bad except that you're already a quarter through the book at the point there's a second chapter! You've gone through an entire year and then you hit the bit about how kids go from civilians to cadets? It's so random, like why is it there, and not at the beginning of the book? And then September 11th happens, and it is barely mentioned. Like, this is surely the biggest thing to happen to the military during the 4 years those kids are there, and yet it gets two pages of air time in this book. Also, Lipsky explains some terminology unique to the military at the beginning of the book, but by the end of it he's using it so familiarly and I couldn't remember what much of it meant so I often had entire paragraphs I was reading going "WTF does this even meant?" So not a great book but a good book.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read, though a bit monotonous at times. I remember when this book was published; I was in high school and eyeing the service academies for college, so it looked like an interesting read. I eventually accepted an appointment to Annapolis and forgot that the book existed.

Overall, it was really interesting to see over the wall into the classrooms and barracks of one of the nation’s elite institutions. I learned more about the Army while reading this book than I did completing my JPME several years ago. I especially enjoyed the full story of George Rash and his struggle to get through West Point. He reminded me of myself a bit as I also faced some adversity at Annapolis but still graduated on time. The book brought back a ton of memories…ring dances, firstie clubs, PFTs, service selection, and tossing the hats - common to the service academies no matter the color of the uniform. Great stuff.

The last third of the book moved rather slowly and was a struggle to finish, which is why I limited my review to three stars. But then I’m very critical of my books; a really good book gets four stars and I almost never award five.

This book gave me a new respect for my West Point brethren, but nonetheless…Go Navy!

[JDK1962 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that I have some interest in the USMA, I found it an interesting read, though with a few problems in the structure of the book. Although presented as "four years at West Point" and divided into four sections (by year), the subject matter is not organized by year, at least in terms of the student's experience: for example, the R-Day material is presented in the third year section. Also, there's a significant portion of material (e.g., the stuff on Whitey Herzog) that deals with is first year or two after West Point. Overall, I was not seeing a compelling through-line in terms of organization, so the impression was reading a bunch of (very interesting) articles with some repeating characters.

I was happy to see Once an Eagle get a few shout outs (it's a fantastic novel). I would have liked to see Gus Lee's Honor & Duty get a mention, which I thought was a great novel about West Point (set in late 60s).

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tore right through this book. It's a great reintroduction to reading. This book was so intriguing because of the specificity of this topic and the proximity to me getting my decision back from West Point. Lipsky did a fantastic job of developing the stories and I feel like I knew the characters by the end of the book. Notable stories include George Rash's and his ability to stay clear of separation, Huck and his development as a leader and his eventual deployment in Afghanistan, Keirsey and his willingness to sacrifice his profession to protect his subordinate, Whitey switching into finance from aviation and his struggles as a young officer after West Point, and Southerland who had an infectious style of leadership who gained the respect of his subordinates by having a cool and calm demeanor.

Passages: Pg 34 last full paragraph, Pg 43 end of paragraph right before the two covenants, Pg 103 whole page before the theory and practice of professionalism, Pg 106 last few sentences of the page, Pg 136 last full paragraph, Pg 174 very top first few sentences, Pg 240 surprise and courage full section, Pg 290 end of the top paragraph, Pg 307 whole middle paragraph.

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read or listen to abridged versions, but this was the only audiobook available. It probably didn't hurt all that much in this case. Being really interested in how educational institutions work, especially when it comes to motivating learning, I found this book to provide a great perspective. Lipsky's focus on a variety of the students and admin officers was predictable for the genre, but worked really well. Particularly interesting were the really well reported accounts of the long-term learning and changes so many of the characters experienced. Lipsky's own judgment-free narrative also worked well and made this an exemplary piece of ethnographic research.

[Joe Schilp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at the in-between years at West Point; the years of "the changes." The author - no doubt a liberal, as he writes for Rolling Stone - makes no mention whatsoever of the name Bill Clinton, but it was under Clinton that "the changes" were made... that PC took over West Point... that the size of our military was halved in the years between the WTC bombing and the 9/11 attacks.

The cadets featured in this book are America's best, and the author writes well of them, their highs and lows. This book has it all. I wish he'd write a "Where are they now" so we can see what became of George, Chrissi, Huck and the rest.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated by now. The author spent four years with the West Point Class of '02. Fascinating inside look at the world-famous military academy. I can't imagine the academic and physical rigors of the school. My takeaway is that any well rounded high school student who can get into a military academy (Army, Navy or Air Force) can almost certainly receive an offer for a full scholarship at a top school or second-tier school. The military academies, which offer full scholarship to every student, certainly have their advantages, and they graduate officers to the armed forces. Really amazing what these students go through in four years.

[ainsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had such potential, but instead just told the story of four years at West Point. With the access Lipsky had, he could really have questioned everything and determined what works best and what fails. But, no, just a bunch of vignettes.

I remain fascinated by the educational system in place at the service academies, as well as anything looking closely at living a disciplined life. This didn't really prove useful on either front. Indeed, I wish this were more the book I remembered it being (from when it first came out) than the book it actually is.

[Jordi Tomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that this book is truly inmersive. I enjoyed first and second year, but going through third year chapter has been difficult. That particular chapter is boring and slow sometimes.
Fourth year gets better, then slows again, then is interesting and then you've got graduation.
I enjoyed the story of the cadets, their lives, their desires, fears, etc. It is a great book for everyone that has considered applying to West Point, for those who plan to and for those who love to read about military.
Apart from chapter three, a terrific book and a compelling story. Huah!

[S.S. Scott | Romance Author and Fiction Story Coach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shockingly good!

David Lipsky's four-year journey following a single class is to be commended on so many levels, but especially for how he humanized what most Americans see as basically Military Lite. Yes, West Point is a hard and harsh environment, but when you get to know the people who go through the academy on a deeper level, when you get a peek into what motivates and drives the cadets (and the reality check some of them are forced to face), you can't help but be impressed. Their integrity, fortitude, and sometimes sheer stubbornness literally brought tears to my eyes.

[Steve Warsaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was dropped in my lap as a gift. Truthfully, it sat in my pile for weeks until I picked it up on a rainy weekend and started it. Well, I should have read it sooner! It's just a great book on one of the most storied military academies in the world. By following cadets from all 4 years lipsky writes an informative compelling non fiction book that reads like a novel. You can't help but to root for the cadets.

Anyone thinking about attending ( or parents of attendees) West Point would be well served reading this book...it's an unvarnished look at real student life at the academy.

[Eva Bianco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this because the whole time I was reading it, I was just picturing my fiancé and his friends and it made me really happy. It reproduces stories I have actually heard and conversations I've had with him in a really heartwarming way. I have some beef with the actual writing--the chronology of events was all over the place, no? I listened to the audiobook so I guess I could have totally blanked on some parts, but I think the structure was just wacky. It was announcing new parts in the middle of chapters and dropping random anecdotes in the middle of narrative threads willy nilly. But, structure aside, the anecdotes made me smile. West Point will always have a special spot in my heart!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about four years at West Point, which happened to overlap 9/11/01. I found the topic and the people profiled fascinating. I wish more time had been spent with the women throughout. I know there are many fewer of them, but how the Academy id different (and not) would have been really interesting. Overall, it was written like a magazine article (which it started as). Was an easy read - I was just hoping for more.

[Sheri-lee]

I don’t know how to rate this book.

1. It’s well written.
2. People in the book are likeable and fallible and human.

But
3. I don’t like the military bravado/bullying/etc.
4. I don’t like the ‘we’re better than the average joe’ crap.
5. I am struggling with America right now and although this helps me to understand it better in some ways, it does not help my unsettled feelings for their culture of arrogance and military might.

[Howard H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose I can understand why so many people see this as a sort of "how to" for West Point. Still, that's a shame because Absolutely American is better viewed as a cultural portrait of a unique group of men and women worthy of our admiration.

Lipsky sets out (reluctantly) to criticize teenagers willing to serve. Seeing the truth, he discovers that he likes these cadets despite himself and his prejudices. Any open-minded reader will do the same. Read it and see.

HH