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This Man's Army: A Soldier's Story from the Frontlines of the War on Terrorism
This Man’s Army follows one extraordinary young man’s transformation from Ivy League student to twenty-first-century warrior. Soldier X vividly brings to life his journey through ROTC training, the grueling trials of the elite Ranger School, and into the treacherous terrain of the Shah-e-Kot Valley in Afghanistan. There he leads his men to root out the hardcore remnants of Osama bin Laden’s forces, and must confront and kill an Al Qaeda fighter. On his return to the United States, Soldier X must face how media coverage has distorted public perception of the war back home as he seeks to make peace with the man he had become.
In the tradition of Tim O’Brien’s If I Die in a Combat Zone, This Man’s Army is a gripping story of a young man’s introduction to the horrors of war, reported with brutal honesty and compelling insight. By turns harrowing and inspiring, it is the first account of combat from a new generation that is rising to confront the grave threat that faces our civilization and our way of life.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 24, 2012
This rating is really an average of various aspects of the book. There were parts that were worthy of four (or maybe five) stars: the emotional moments, the descriptions of ranger school, the camaraderie among the men, and especially Exum dealing with killing someone for the first time. Also, the book concluded in a satisfyingly reflective way. But there were problems, too. The first issue was that the book felt more like a chronicle than a narrative. That is, the various chapters didn't really cohere with one another, which is inexcusable for a book as short as this. Second, the writing often felt flat. I applaud Exum for not using needless verbal flourishes, a hallmark of a bad writer, but he adopted a tone which I think he viewed as conversational and accessible but came off sometimes as half-assed. Thirdly, the book's tone was gratingly self-righteous. Exum acknowledges this explicitly at several points in the book, but his post-hoc admonishment doesn't feel like enough, almost like he feels like he deserves more credit because he recognized that he was being self-righteous. The last problem I had, and one which may have been exacerbated by the self-righteousness, was that his worldview pervaded the book, but was never explicitly stated or defended. His ideology is one that is probably fairly similar to my own, but the fact that he almost never acknowledged it felt to me to cheapen many of his observations. As an example, he talks about a pacifist friend of his, and their disagreements with each other. He adopts the Serious and Fair Position of saying that he understands pacifism but his experiences would not allow him to endorse it. This felt like a cop-out, and belittling to his pacifist friend. At many times during the book there are similar moments, and they would have been better had he committed to a position and defended it (he is clearly a smart guy, and capable of mounting a persuasive argument). This may have been for space reasons (though at 256 pages, I doubt it), but it felt as though Exum thought he was being polite and not excoriating someone who disagrees with him when he is so clearly right.
This review seems lopsidedly negative, I realize, which does not square with my rating. But the good parts were very good, and were so self-evidently good I didn't feel the need to say much about them. Exum is indisputably a hero, and his commitment to his men and his mission was exceptional. He displayed a level of courage that I can't say I could match, and he deserves every bit of praise for his service that he gets. There were just parts of the book that left something to be desired.
This review seems lopsidedly negative, I realize, which does not square with my rating. But the good parts were very good, and were so self-evidently good I didn't feel the need to say much about them. Exum is indisputably a hero, and his commitment to his men and his mission was exceptional. He displayed a level of courage that I can't say I could match, and he deserves every bit of praise for his service that he gets. There were just parts of the book that left something to be desired.
March 4, 2011
Well, that was refreshingly honest and unpretentious. Exum writes well and entertainingly. He is intelligent and smart enough to raise some interesting issues without ever being overly philosophical, which leaves the reader room to come to their own conclusions - or find out that sometimes there are no answers.
In "This Man's Army", Exum describes his four years as an army officer. He was in ROTC, so he kind of had to go - and at the end of his college years, he is not without doubts about having to spent the next four years in the army. He sees it as his duty to serve, but he also admits that after college "all that romantic crap [ ] about being some sort of gun-toting tough guy didn't seem so valid anymore." When he does, however, he seems to be right at home. He doesn't really say that, but just the way he describes his career and his missions, his obvious comfort at the tasks he faces. So what if he has blisters the size of Tennessee on his feet after ranger school? So what if he has never been that hungry or cold in his life? Just another way to see what his body and mind are capable of, just another part of growing up. And grow up he does: Exum's transformation during his time in the army (and in college) is palpable and real.
I liked his way of telling his story a lot. I like how he obviously enjoys his job, but is still observant and critical. I like that he is honest and amusing without ever being disrespectful. And I like some of the little things he says, like "I wanted to be something elite, [ ], something I could brag about when I got old." Oh, so true! Thank you for saying that it's all about the bragging in the end, Exum. I mean, we know that of course, but it's refreshing to see someone come right out and say it.
Another comment goes into the same direction, but is even more interesting to me personally. "The military [ ] remains one of the last places where that most endangered of species, the alpha male, can feel at home." Because yes!, Alpha males! You intellectuals can all go away and shake your heads in disgust now, but seriously, the reason that an emancipated and, way above average intelligent woman like me spends her time reading books about men in the military is only partly due to my interesting in politics - it's mostly due to every woman's attraction to alpha males. We can all pretend otherwise, but trust me, that whole talking about your feelings crap is overrated, and yes, I don't expect my man to be able to run twelve miles with an 80-pound pack and look good afterwards, but it still turns me on if he does. (what is not overrated, though, is intelligence, but I include that feature into the definition of alpha male). Being who I am, I just LOVED that Exum used that term in his book.
There's also some useful information, like TNT being better for breaking rock than C-4. You never know when you are going to need that. (another reason to surround yourself with alpha males, because they'll not only know these things, but also be capable of blowing up things for you. Now I just need to think of a reason why I would ever need to blow up any rocks.)
Another interesting subject are Exum's observations about his faith. Exum decides that rather than him being in Afghanistan killing people being God's wish, it is "outside of God's will, and rather one of life's ugly realities". Huh, I say. Is that how Christian faith works? I mean, I find Exum's approach quite sympathic, because I hate nothing more than those believers who kill "in the name of (whichever) God (they believe in)". But Exum actually says that there's faith, and then there's reality, and, well, as an atheist, I certainly agree with the part of reality. Again, Exum doesn't make this a pilosophical debate, it's just another one of those things he mentions, but I found it particularly interesting because of my interest in religion and atheism.
Exum gives us in impression of what coming back feels like, suddenly having to pay for things again, being without his weapon. Feeling like a stranger in one's own country. Again, his unpretentious writing style makes these feeling very vivid and comprehensible. I feel with him, and I felt for him.
In conclusion: if you are interested in the subject at all, you should read this book. Exum raises many interesting and valid points about life in the army and people in the army. He's thoughtful, but not self-important. I liked his writing and his story a lot (there is a reason why I finished the book within two days.)
I highly recommend this book.
In "This Man's Army", Exum describes his four years as an army officer. He was in ROTC, so he kind of had to go - and at the end of his college years, he is not without doubts about having to spent the next four years in the army. He sees it as his duty to serve, but he also admits that after college "all that romantic crap [ ] about being some sort of gun-toting tough guy didn't seem so valid anymore." When he does, however, he seems to be right at home. He doesn't really say that, but just the way he describes his career and his missions, his obvious comfort at the tasks he faces. So what if he has blisters the size of Tennessee on his feet after ranger school? So what if he has never been that hungry or cold in his life? Just another way to see what his body and mind are capable of, just another part of growing up. And grow up he does: Exum's transformation during his time in the army (and in college) is palpable and real.
I liked his way of telling his story a lot. I like how he obviously enjoys his job, but is still observant and critical. I like that he is honest and amusing without ever being disrespectful. And I like some of the little things he says, like "I wanted to be something elite, [ ], something I could brag about when I got old." Oh, so true! Thank you for saying that it's all about the bragging in the end, Exum. I mean, we know that of course, but it's refreshing to see someone come right out and say it.
Another comment goes into the same direction, but is even more interesting to me personally. "The military [ ] remains one of the last places where that most endangered of species, the alpha male, can feel at home." Because yes!, Alpha males! You intellectuals can all go away and shake your heads in disgust now, but seriously, the reason that an emancipated and, way above average intelligent woman like me spends her time reading books about men in the military is only partly due to my interesting in politics - it's mostly due to every woman's attraction to alpha males. We can all pretend otherwise, but trust me, that whole talking about your feelings crap is overrated, and yes, I don't expect my man to be able to run twelve miles with an 80-pound pack and look good afterwards, but it still turns me on if he does. (what is not overrated, though, is intelligence, but I include that feature into the definition of alpha male). Being who I am, I just LOVED that Exum used that term in his book.
There's also some useful information, like TNT being better for breaking rock than C-4. You never know when you are going to need that. (another reason to surround yourself with alpha males, because they'll not only know these things, but also be capable of blowing up things for you. Now I just need to think of a reason why I would ever need to blow up any rocks.)
Another interesting subject are Exum's observations about his faith. Exum decides that rather than him being in Afghanistan killing people being God's wish, it is "outside of God's will, and rather one of life's ugly realities". Huh, I say. Is that how Christian faith works? I mean, I find Exum's approach quite sympathic, because I hate nothing more than those believers who kill "in the name of (whichever) God (they believe in)". But Exum actually says that there's faith, and then there's reality, and, well, as an atheist, I certainly agree with the part of reality. Again, Exum doesn't make this a pilosophical debate, it's just another one of those things he mentions, but I found it particularly interesting because of my interest in religion and atheism.
Exum gives us in impression of what coming back feels like, suddenly having to pay for things again, being without his weapon. Feeling like a stranger in one's own country. Again, his unpretentious writing style makes these feeling very vivid and comprehensible. I feel with him, and I felt for him.
In conclusion: if you are interested in the subject at all, you should read this book. Exum raises many interesting and valid points about life in the army and people in the army. He's thoughtful, but not self-important. I liked his writing and his story a lot (there is a reason why I finished the book within two days.)
I highly recommend this book.
October 19, 2011
I didn't love this book, though I appreciate the author's honesty in telling his story. At the risk of sounding petty, I think the major reason I didn't enjoy reading this book is because I thought the author sounded arrogant throughout his narrative. Knowing that he served in the Ranger Regiment and being somewhat familiar with his work over at CNAS, I was hoping to read the memoir of a 21st Century Dick Winters. Instead, Exum often goes out of his way to not so subtly boast of his physical and intellectual accomplishments. I was perhaps most surprised by his treatment of killing. I have certainly read more thoughtful and mature reflections on what it means to take another life in war and was let down by Exum's casual dismissal of what would seem to be a hugely important component of "a soldier's story from the front lines of the war on terrorism." Ultimately what I am left with is wonder with how he was so effective as a platoon leader despite immature and arrogant behavior.
October 3, 2013
I very much disliked this book based upon the writer's style and seemingly arrogant attitude. I could not finish this book because it seemed more a boast of the author's alleged physical and mental abilities and accomplishments than an actual story.
I picked this up after finishing Jarhead (which I very much enjoyed)and was disappointed. More insight into his service and his experience and less chest pumping would have been appreciated.
I picked this up after finishing Jarhead (which I very much enjoyed)and was disappointed. More insight into his service and his experience and less chest pumping would have been appreciated.
gave-up-on
April 16, 2020This one is ending up on the DNF pile. I can't get passed the arrogant tone of the narrator. There are far better military memoirs out there.
January 11, 2023
Incredibly well-told story of an Infantry officer's coming of age and trial by (literal) fire. The backstory, from ROTC to Ranger School, to Fort Lewis and Fort Drum, really sets the tone for who the author is as a servant-leader - but the overall story is somewhat anticlimactic. I'm not saying the book is not profoundly insightful - the way Andrew Exum describes his experiences in Bagram, it's like being back "in the bowl," the "Five Lions" of the Panjishir Valley always looming; or standing among the hills of Gardez, watching the sun rise over the Shahikot and remnants of parapets built by Alexander the Great's army; it's surreal how he takes the time to almost bring you the air and sand of the settin - and I appreciate his resolve in telling his platoon's story. I especially admire his honesty. Even for Afghanistan in early-2003, Andrew's experiences (or really the lack thereof, compared to other, highly-publicized GWOT combat stories) are REAL... And deployments are far more often like this than they are portrayed in other period pieces of the era. True heroes ask not for the attention, and want not for the glory. The book is very well done.
August 25, 2019
Decent read, just not enough story for a book. Captain Exum's Afghanistan experience would've been better told as one of several oral histories in a collection of experiences from the GWOT rather than a standalone book. I recommend "Joker 1" , "Generation Kill" or "No Hero".
April 18, 2019
I loved this book and I think others would like it if you are into military things. But if you do I will warn you it starts slow but it picks up and get very good
March 7, 2010
The thing that struck me the most was the very Theory Y approach that Exum himself took to leadership - he describes this extensively, especially on page 110, middle paragraph. I think this may be because of his own personality, and because he is clearly pretty bright - but I also think that (prior to the army) he had only ever been in institutions that would strive for consensus, get buy-in from all parties, etc., so I'm not sure it has really occurred to him that there are other approaches to management. This is despite the fact that he has been through basic training and Ranger School, which if anything are designed to reduce one to numbness and then build one back up in an army unit. The army, necessarily, is one of the basic Theory X organizations - one is to obey immediately without thinking about it. I don't think that Exum ever went through any sort of re-building process, as it seems to me that Exum regarded basic and Ranger school as a sort of lark/personal challenge, both because he has enough self confidence to not need to be rebuilt, and (perhaps) because when he went through these there was no war on, and no particular prospect of one.
The bit on page 35 "Surrender is not a Ranger word" is interesting - and certainly (appropriately) coincides with a Theory X immediate objective outlook. What a pity that the Bush administration seemed to think that "Failure is not an option" was actually a strategy - straight out of Ranger school, and only intended to get one to the next hill, through the next night, etc.
The take on religion was particularly interesting. He apparently has/had a fairly strong, born-again faith (certainly a lot more religious that the vast number of people attending Penn, for instance) yet he decides that his faith should be checked at the door when going into combat. Certainly this was a great, unexpected challenge to him, and ultimately a much bigger, more complex issue than his attitude (for instance) towards Ranger school. The line on page 175, bottom, is quite telling on this (re having killed the Al Qaida soldier) - "I preferred to think that what I was doing was outside of God's will, and rather one of life's ugly realities."
His dealing with having killed an enemy soldier also reminded me of Saving Private Ryan - not enough to be willing to die for your country - you have to be willing to kill for it.
I think the end of the book is happenstance - most interesting to see that he has gone to Lebanon, and I admire him for pursuing new ends that he never foresaw. I was a bit annoyed with the level of burden that he comes off with after coming back from Afghanistan - he was only there for 7 months, nothing compared to his enemy there or American servicemen from prior wars, especially WW2, when coming home would only occur when the war was over. Also, yes, in a way the civilian deaths are more tragic - it is the job of soldiers to fight wars, and to be crass about it, they are well-compensated to do so - Exum, after all, got a full Ivy League education, and this was all his own choice. Having said this, his thinking on this seems to be random, as though he has not really thought it all out yet.
The bit on page 35 "Surrender is not a Ranger word" is interesting - and certainly (appropriately) coincides with a Theory X immediate objective outlook. What a pity that the Bush administration seemed to think that "Failure is not an option" was actually a strategy - straight out of Ranger school, and only intended to get one to the next hill, through the next night, etc.
The take on religion was particularly interesting. He apparently has/had a fairly strong, born-again faith (certainly a lot more religious that the vast number of people attending Penn, for instance) yet he decides that his faith should be checked at the door when going into combat. Certainly this was a great, unexpected challenge to him, and ultimately a much bigger, more complex issue than his attitude (for instance) towards Ranger school. The line on page 175, bottom, is quite telling on this (re having killed the Al Qaida soldier) - "I preferred to think that what I was doing was outside of God's will, and rather one of life's ugly realities."
His dealing with having killed an enemy soldier also reminded me of Saving Private Ryan - not enough to be willing to die for your country - you have to be willing to kill for it.
I think the end of the book is happenstance - most interesting to see that he has gone to Lebanon, and I admire him for pursuing new ends that he never foresaw. I was a bit annoyed with the level of burden that he comes off with after coming back from Afghanistan - he was only there for 7 months, nothing compared to his enemy there or American servicemen from prior wars, especially WW2, when coming home would only occur when the war was over. Also, yes, in a way the civilian deaths are more tragic - it is the job of soldiers to fight wars, and to be crass about it, they are well-compensated to do so - Exum, after all, got a full Ivy League education, and this was all his own choice. Having said this, his thinking on this seems to be random, as though he has not really thought it all out yet.
April 23, 2012
The author went through ROTC at Penn State, then through Ranger School. After 9/11, he was deployed with the 10th Mountain Division into Afghanistan, where his men patrolled the Shah-i-Kot Valley and ferreted out al-Quaeda dug in there (a mission dubbed Operation Anaconda). This memoir is perhaps a little light on the military side (9/11 does not occur until page 70, Exum’s platoon leaves Kuwait and lands in Bagram on page 120, he goes home on page 200), but the strength of this book is not in its descriptions of combat.
Instead, it’s a book that perhaps more than most “boy goes to war” stories reveals what it’s like to be transformed by war. Exum, a deep, educated, and introspective writer, muses thoughtfully on the dedication to serve; his need to forget God while on patrol and his disdain for those who try to graft war and Christianity; what it means to kill in combat; and the bonds between soldiers formed by combat. It’s an excellent testament to how, even when war doesn’t destroy or maim a man, it leaves indelible marks on him. “After the shooting stops, how does the soldier settle back into society and modern civilization?” he asks at the end of the book, and then says, “I’m still looking for the answer.”
Instead, it’s a book that perhaps more than most “boy goes to war” stories reveals what it’s like to be transformed by war. Exum, a deep, educated, and introspective writer, muses thoughtfully on the dedication to serve; his need to forget God while on patrol and his disdain for those who try to graft war and Christianity; what it means to kill in combat; and the bonds between soldiers formed by combat. It’s an excellent testament to how, even when war doesn’t destroy or maim a man, it leaves indelible marks on him. “After the shooting stops, how does the soldier settle back into society and modern civilization?” he asks at the end of the book, and then says, “I’m still looking for the answer.”
April 11, 2010
Though I had to read this for a class—and am also using for the College Students Spring/Summer Challenge this year—I really enjoyed this book. I've been learning more about Iraq and Afghanistan on a policy and military level, but not many memoirs about the actual experience. Exum's memoir is clearly written with a strong yet humbled voice. He explains his background and his collegiate experiences before discussing wartime conflict. His writing is not fettered with overly jargonistic terms or curses ran wild, which is a big departure from Jarhead (which I hated).
Exum today is no longer in the Army, due to a bad knee, but he is still well-known and well-respected in the areas of foreign policy and commentary as an intellectual and critic. Though he's certainly a "military man," he seems to approach issues with a more holistic eye, which is satisfying and important.
I highly suggest this book to anyone who might be interested in a first-hand account of one officer's experiences as a platoon leader in Afghanistan. This book lacks the overt vulgarity and jargon of many military memoirs, so it might be a good first stop.
Exum today is no longer in the Army, due to a bad knee, but he is still well-known and well-respected in the areas of foreign policy and commentary as an intellectual and critic. Though he's certainly a "military man," he seems to approach issues with a more holistic eye, which is satisfying and important.
I highly suggest this book to anyone who might be interested in a first-hand account of one officer's experiences as a platoon leader in Afghanistan. This book lacks the overt vulgarity and jargon of many military memoirs, so it might be a good first stop.
November 15, 2010
This book was captivating on all levels. It was in the perspective of the author, which brought a more personal feel to the story. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was about an Ivy-league student who followed his ambition of becoming a soldier in the U.S. Army. He led his squad of soldiers through the desert of Afghanistan in hopes to find Osama Bin Laden. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the entire story line. I was able to see how much Andrew Exum changed through his expedition in the army. I also enjoyed the details he gave about the different experiences in battle. It was enough to keep me entertained, but not too much to bore me. There were not too many things that I did not like about the book. One thing I didn't enjoy too much was how much time it took until I read about a battle. The first half or so was all about Exum's training before going to Afghanistan, so it got a little boring. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about war because this book provides a very personal and detailed experience of a soldier's up and downs in war.
October 8, 2010
This book was extremely well written. The book follows the author's life up to when he left the army. I found it profoundly interesting, as he did a great job explaining why he made the decisions he did. I read this book in about two days and couldnt put it down. Not because it was filled with action of war and terrorist hunting, but because he did such a great job of explaining every situation he was in and not putting me to sleep with details. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes to read about the military. This book is different than most others written by officers as he takes a more personal role in leading his men, when other leaders typically are a bit more disconnected from their men. It was an interesting take on leading men in the Military. Not sure if it's always the best route to take in certain situations, but seems to have worked for him. This is a great,fast-paced book that has a lot of insight in life,the war on terror,the military,leadership and citizenship. I highly recommend!
September 1, 2016
This memoir was missing what is one of the most compelling issues of soldiers coming home (for me): namely, the struggle within (coming to terms with what he did and saw) and the struggle with relationships (those closest to him who WEREN’T soldiers). There were only a couple mentions of the author’s mother and “family” (I still don’t know how many siblings he had and what sex they were) and no mention of a woman in his life.
There was some discussion about how his faith was impacted by what he did (kill a man) and saw, which I also find fascinating, but it just didn’t seem deep. There was some discussion about his style of leadership and how he mentored others, and that just felt like a ‘teachable moment.’ The book had a ‘good old boys club’ feeling - maybe (not being a man) it just wasn’t ‘touchy-feely’ enough for me!
There was some discussion about how his faith was impacted by what he did (kill a man) and saw, which I also find fascinating, but it just didn’t seem deep. There was some discussion about his style of leadership and how he mentored others, and that just felt like a ‘teachable moment.’ The book had a ‘good old boys club’ feeling - maybe (not being a man) it just wasn’t ‘touchy-feely’ enough for me!
March 25, 2011
Another junior officer's memoir, this one about a tour in Afghanistan. I started following Mr. Exum on twitter (@abumuqawama), then started reading his blog, then bought his book. From everything I have read of his, he is yet another smart, reasoned, principled leader trying to maintain jus in bello whether or not there is jus ad bellum, and now working on the policy side. Like Nathaniel Fick, he is employed by defense policy think tank CNAS. This memoir only covers his first tour, but I do really enjoy Exum's writing.
December 16, 2021
Soldier scholar hybrid Andrew Exum - a product of the Ivy League and the U.S. Army - offers a gritty, occasionally self-glorfiying account of his deployment during the early chapters of the Afghanistan war. While some of his passages emit a hard-to-miss and slightly off-putting hubris, it's an engaging read that will leave you well acquainted with the difficulties and challenges - and ultimately, reality - of life on the ground during the waking moments of this war. He's since become an important voice on national security and policy at the strategy-level, is a currently Fellow at CNAS, and was hand-picked to serve on McChyrstal's Afghanistan assessment team a few years prior.
June 28, 2016
Exum did a fantastic job capturing the day-to-day tasks and work of junior officers in the US Army, while comparing it to the daily challenges that are not studied prior to taking on leadership. He makes it clear that the experience that being in the modern day military is still a brilliantly glorious experience, but that the trials that come with it can be exhausting.
His writing is close to advanced, while not off-putting for the lay reader, and he makes it a point to connect how the decisions he made one day influenced the decisions he made the year after, and so forth.
Exum's account of military life is accurate, informative, and beautifully captured for all readers.
His writing is close to advanced, while not off-putting for the lay reader, and he makes it a point to connect how the decisions he made one day influenced the decisions he made the year after, and so forth.
Exum's account of military life is accurate, informative, and beautifully captured for all readers.
May 26, 2019
The (non-fiction) account of an Army Ranger's deciding to join the army, surviving Ranger Training School, then deploying to Afghanistan as a platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division.
Exum is an excellent writer and uses fascinating details and anecdotes. This was a great read to learn about Ranger training, army camaraderie, and the battle experience. Crude at times, but never unbelievable.
Exum is an excellent writer and uses fascinating details and anecdotes. This was a great read to learn about Ranger training, army camaraderie, and the battle experience. Crude at times, but never unbelievable.
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February 4, 2016https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...#
I think this was a really good book, because he talks about his personal life. the book was literally about war, but that wasn't really the only battle he faced. he face his personal life, he really struggled a lot with financial aid. being in the army helped him in life of who he really was and made friends on the way.
I think this was a really good book, because he talks about his personal life. the book was literally about war, but that wasn't really the only battle he faced. he face his personal life, he really struggled a lot with financial aid. being in the army helped him in life of who he really was and made friends on the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2009
The first part was interesting.....than it started to drag. I didn't care too much about how the Rangers felt bored and wanted to get into action and how well they curse. I guess it's more for the boys to read.
May 17, 2007
i loved this book but icant reread it.
April 12, 2009
not bad
December 1, 2009
Not spectacular. Worth reading.
August 17, 2010
Delivered some perspective on what makes a good soldier and the perspective of an American soldier, but the last few chapters weren't as good as the first 75%.
January 21, 2015
Excellent first hand account of one man's experience deployed early in the GWOT. Great for young officers - specifically combat arms
November 8, 2014
As real as it can be…………...
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