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Reviews
Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent Into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death by Jim Frederick
sare1125's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Bullying, Violence, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Racism, and Gun violence
avgastright's review against another edition
4.0
Horrific. Brilliant read with chilling leadership lessons. The mistakes we make as officers can kill people on the ground.
laurelsitton's review against another edition
5.0
A reading goal of mine this year is to read a few books from the Commandant’s Reading List. This was the first! A truly harrowing and tragic story on so many levels. It is not lost on me that as I’m reading this tensions seem to be ramping back up in Iraq.
mandyfreddy's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderfully written despite such a horrible story. Interesting to read and I certainly learned a ton.
e_gracereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The most incredibly well-written war story I have ever read, and true insight into the disgusting breakdown of army leadership in this corner of the Iraq War. Essential for the history buff, the military leader, or anybody looking for a read that will break their heart and make them want to punch a wall at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Gore, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cursing, and Sexual violence
heatherbermingham's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little leery about picking this up because I wasn't sure I wanted to ready something that was so intently about the murder/rape of an Iraqi family by American soldiers. I'm really glad I read this though because the book isn't just about that at all. In fact, it only takes up a very small part of the book. The book follows the battalion of the errant soldiers through their entire deployment, and while no one in the book even attempts to justify their actions, the book gives a lot of context to the event, how war affects soldiers in general, but how this group in particular was drained by a lack of resources, safe areas, and men; a very unclear understanding of why they were in Iraq and what they were supposed to be accomplishing there; and poor, constantly changing leadership and an astounding amount of loss in a short time. The writer, Jim Frederick, talked to a TON of people, most of whom appear to have been very open and honest about what can't be an easy time to remember. Good stuff if you can handle it.
space_cadet_dude's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent journalism on an extremely difficult topic. The author well stated everything that happened in a way that allows the reader to decide for him or herself what to think.
He does not shy away from the extremely gruesome crime that the events of the book led to, nor does he allow it to dictate the entire book. It was well written from start to finish.
He does not shy away from the extremely gruesome crime that the events of the book led to, nor does he allow it to dictate the entire book. It was well written from start to finish.