Gunnar Laughlin > Recent Status Updates

Listening while doing a project for work, so I’m kinda burning through it. REEEEEALLY thorough analysis of Iranian and Persian history. I love the way that it’s structured by topic more than chronological, so it touches on things multiple times and serves as a reminder of easily forgotten details. Great for the ADHD brain.

How in the world are there 2 hours left in this audiobook????
Considering that the intensity has crescendoed to what feels like the climax, and there’s still just shy of a fifth of the book left, I’m so intrigued to see what comes next. Gotta finish before it’s due in 4 days tho.

These dudes are f*cking going through it. It’s getting ridiculously brutal, and they just have to keep going. These officers are idiots, and it would be funny if their carelessness didn’t posture Marines as pawns, and civilians as cannon fodder.
So interesting to see how quickly immense brutality can change even those who are trained to kill.

In a barren landscape, surrounded by what might be the most overstimulating situation possibly ever, Evan Wright paints a colorful and remarkably detailed picture.

I love that the Humvee is almost written as a character. In this story, it really is one too. It’s so central to the beginnings of this story, that even the pacing reflects the movements of the Humvee. Slowly, continually forward, rarely back. Excellent, so far.

The chapter on Khe Sanh is REALLY heavy on the historical and military language. probably helps to watch a video on I-IV Corps, how they were divided up, and the types of fighting that took place in each before this one.

Yea, I’m really liking this one. Really well written.

I love the POV writing style. It almost feels like a livestream of this Marines platoon in the last moments of the buildup to the war on Iraq. What a crazy place to be as a journalist.

Some choice language that could make some readers of marginalized identities uncomfortable, but considering the subjects of the book, it fits right in.

Just realized I never updated, oops

Really dramatic shift to be more geared towards factual reporting more than personal reporting, but it still remains interesting. Excited to see what we hang it up on.

Pacing picked up and damn this is a good book

Things are all starting to connect, and motivation arcs are all sort of coming to a head. SO good

Great so far. Just got to the interlude. Pretty amazing that the “present” throughline of this story has only lasted a week or so. So much has happened.

OOOOOOOH damn, great ending to this chapter. Pretty integral to the soul of this book.

I’ve gotten way more used to the writing style now, and it’s gotten really interesting to see the ball pick up momentum and seeing where it’s going to roll. Hastings is a really compelling writer.

Chapter 11 is so crazy in hindsight oh wow

Listening to the audiobook during my commute. Gotta get a better handle on dates and stuff, since it kinda jumps around, but with Army Generals being described as rockstars, it makes sense to have a story so turbulent.

So early, but I got the audiobook for my back and forth commute. RIP Michael Hastings.

Some of the best nonfiction I’ve ever read. No spoilers, but Herr’s story on 64 is some of the most haunting things I’ve ever read. I was reading on my plane ride home from Durran’s Bachelor Party trip in New Orleans, and and I shed tears sitting between two strangers. Hours later, it still sits so heavily on your shoulders.

Really descriptive. I am in awe of Herr’s ability to notice stuff. Pretty remarkable.
I like how he simultaneously caps off and leads some paragraphs with double entendres.