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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This was an engrossing read, not only due to the meticulous research that Krakauer utilizes in each of his books, but to its revealed affirmation that America's War on Terror has only had an incredibly tragic impact on the world. Readers are introduced to the wonderful person that was Patrick Tillman and learn of his incredible traits of courage, love and self-doubt. When Tillman decides to join the Army in 2001, this choice does not come without tremendous insecurity and emotional trauma with his new wife, family, and friends. This book not only traces the life and death of Tillman, but does an effective job at simplifying the complex history of the crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. I have read two other books written by Krakauer, and I have come away with the same reaction after finishing this one: I greatly admire his attention to detail, and his ability to connect personal narratives with necessary background information. While this is not the first book to implicate conspiracy, coverups and disgusting political manoueverings by the US government in wartime situations, Krakauer deftly shows how the death of a virtuous and innocent soldier was hijacked by a self-serving, heartless and manipulative political machine.
A disturbing and tragic biography. When a mid-level manager in a company makes a big mistake people get fired or the company loses business but in the Army when a mid-level officer makes a big mistake it can be fatal.
This book is a case study in how one mistake or bad decision can snowball into a disaster. Actually it's two case studies as it covers the events of the Jessica Lynch fiasco as well.
Pat Tillman was one of the rare breed of people the military desperately needs, super human strength combined with above average intelligence.
This book is a case study in how one mistake or bad decision can snowball into a disaster. Actually it's two case studies as it covers the events of the Jessica Lynch fiasco as well.
Pat Tillman was one of the rare breed of people the military desperately needs, super human strength combined with above average intelligence.
The journey of this man - what made him unique and special and precious was beautifully rendered. He was the real deal. Pat Tillman clearly deserved more than what happened to him - killed in his very first firefight by his own comrades. But the overriding sense of this book is that the entire resulting coverup - not just of what happened to Pat Tillman, but the Abu Ghraib scandal, the Jessica Lynch fantasy, the Iraq invasion itself - was manufactured by the Bush regime to fulfill some mysterious machoistic desire. It was hard to read this, especially when my reading time is right before I go to sleep. I'd be so frustrated and keyed up that I found it hard to go to sleep afterwards.
Jon Krakauer's political leanings weren't very disguised, but he did his usual fantastic job of thoroughly researching his subject, factually fine-tuning the details, and spelling it out in simple but gripping language.
Jon Krakauer's political leanings weren't very disguised, but he did his usual fantastic job of thoroughly researching his subject, factually fine-tuning the details, and spelling it out in simple but gripping language.
Another solid book from Jon Krakauer. The one part that got confusing, and it's not the authors fault, was when they got into the investigation. It was hard to keep all the names straight and who was who. That part got dry. But overall the book was great insight into Pat and his life, which was very fasicinating. I am now interested in the book his mother wrote.
I love the way Jon Krakauer tells a story, and how in depth he goes to understand all the factors in play that culminate into a cataclysmic event. I also loved the threads of Homer woven into this tale - this Odyssey of Pat Tillman. What a bugled mess; a colossal loss.
It's hard to separate the man and the book, but Pat Tillman was a punk rock tornado.
This is not Krakauer's best work. It's interesting but I did not find it as compelling as I had hoped. Perhaps it's because I don't have the football connection. I just couldn't connect with Tillman the person despite the tragedy. The descriptions of Afghanistan and its history were good.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I hate the US military <3
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced