Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Mar 12, 2009

Sara rated it:

I should disclose this was not only my first book on Iraq, but the first war memoir I have ever read. I’m not even exactly sure what made me pick it up or that I would make it through the first few chapters. As a housewife, I have as little in common with your typical marine as anyone. But this book is excellent. The consummately humble Campbell tells the story of his platoon, Joker One, from it’s inception through deployment to Iraqi city of Ramadi for a nine month peace keeping mission. T More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 20, 2011

Tara added it

why do NPR stories make me cry all the time recently? heard this guy on fresh air. he was fascinating and articulate. not sure if i'll actually read it but i wanted to remember it.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 21, 2011

Tracey rated it:

I decided to pick up this book after reading Campbell’s article in Guideposts magazine. I wanted to see how his faith fared while he was immersed in the military/combat life. In the book, the faith/Christian themes are pretty low-key; however, the insightful observations Campbell draws about the human spirit and LOVE in particular were – for me – a clear expression of his spirituality.

This is the most balanced war memoir I’ve read. It’s not about politics and it’s not dripping with m More...

0 comments like

Jul 27, 2011

Elliot rated it:

A Marine platoon in Ramadi, Iraq in 04 just as the insurgency is making itself felt. Princeton graduate Donovan Campbell is their young leader and this book is his tribute to Joker One, their time in Ramadi. This is not a book to get a sense of the culture and trauma of the Iraq invasion—the Iraqis are mostly a faceless backdrop to the action—nor is it a condemnation of American policy—though the absurd orders are evident enough of an out-of-touch leadership. This is an excellent account of the More...

0 comments like

Jul 22, 2010

Robin rated it:

These platoon stories are starting to come out of the Iraq and Afghan wars, and this one is ready-made for screenplay. Told Band of Brothers style, Campbell's book begins with his arrival as a new lieutenant in the USMC as the Corps is about to replace the Army as the US troops in charge. We meet his troops and see them through training -- all the story beats you would expect from this type of book.

They arrive in Ramadi in 2004. If you know more about the Battle of the Bulge than More...

0 comments like

Jul 13, 2010

Elisif rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. Written by a Marine lieutenant whose platoon fought in Ramadi in 2004. I think this is the first time I've read a military book by someone who had so many men under him (40). His company (2/4) commander was awarded the Leftwich award, stating he was the Marine Corps' best combat company commander (and our company as its best combat company) for all of 2004, which included both Fallujah invasions. His battalion took more casualties than any battalion, Marine or Arm More...

0 comments like

Apr 19, 2009

Paul rated it:

I wanted to read this book because I was curious about infantry operations in Iraq from the standpoint of a soldier. Joker One was the name of a Marine infantry platoon, and the author was the lieutenant in charge. The book tells about his tour of duty in Ramadi, when things were especially hot there, as well as his stateside preparations.

The author joined the Corps right after graduation from Princeton. He writes well, but thankfully limits his subject to what he observes and what More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 15, 2009

Scruz1979 is currently reading it

Even though I am not done reading this book I feel I can give somewhat of an awesome review lol. Joker One by Donovan Campbell is a love story, a war story, a leadership guide, and a Marine recruitment narrative. It's a military memoir, and a little bit of a faith memoir. Joker One is an amazing true story, brilliantly told. I have never before read any memoir like it, and I urge you to pick up a copy, read it, and pass it along.

Donovan Campbell completed the ten-week Marine Corp Offic More...

0 comments like

Feb 26, 2011

Oceana2602 rated it:

I bought this book because I had been told by someone who is a rather big fan of Generation Kill, that "Joker One" was possibly even better than Nate Fick's "One Bullet Away". Since "One Bullet Away" was one of the best books I've read in the last years, there was no question that I desperately had to read "Joker One".

Too make it short: it's not better. But it's also not worse. It's simply very very different, in, well, mostly everything.
More...

0 comments like

Mar 08, 2009

Ruth marked it as to-read

Fantastic interview with the author on Fresh Air (NPR). This book reminds me of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, and John Eldredge's Wild at Heart both at the same time.

In the interview, the author shares his experience of being a platoon commander in a marine unit stationed in Iraq -- he speaks with obvious emotion about his experiences, and in his vulnerability reveals his lion's heart for his men. In allowing his emotions to show, he reveals just how strong and powerful he More...

0 comments like

Nov 01, 2011

Matthew rated it:

This book shows you the real pressures of infantry soldiers and platoon commanders in training and about to go in Iraq in 2004. The book starts off in Camp Pendleton, a famous marine training camp. When the platoon is told that they will be departing to kuwait to train in the middle eastern climate to get used to street fight that might happen in Iraq during a patrol. While there people are under presurre and some give in and kill themselves. The platoon runs into several road bumps while there More...

0 comments like

Jan 22, 2011

Joel rated it:

What war is like is described in the pages of this honest account of one the hardest hit battalions since Vietnam, Army of Marine, told through very capable prose of one infantry platoon leader. The author, Campbell, is extremely honest and open about his disgust of death. The unnecessary taking of lives, both friend and foe. He is both very American Marine and humanitarian. He gets the whole picture. He loves his men like no one else, almost more than his own wife and family. It is safe t More...

0 comments like

Jun 22, 2010

Sarah rated it:

I tried to find a negative review of this book or at least someone who felt the way I did, but I couldn't. My husband got this book to read because Donovan Campbell was a Christian, but my husband was still reading a stack of books he has, so he let me read it.

Going into this book, I thought Donovan would distinguish himself from other first hand accounts of war. I thought maybe I'd find less language, but not only did I find a ton of language (about as much as in any other accou More...

0 comments like

Jun 01, 2009

Bookmarks Magazine rated it:

Critics praised Campbell as a gifted and deft writer who retells his Iraq tour in "powerful, exacting detail" (Dallas Morning News). While Campbell avoids much analysis of the war overall, or even his platoon's specific mission, most critics found this to be a virtue. As the New York Times noted, Campbell "never quite puts his finger on the meaning, if any, of the extraordinary violence," but he does "[lay:] it all out for anyone else who wants to have a try." Only

More...

0 comments like

Apr 12, 2010

Joe rated it:

Excellent book! The brotherhood of the Marines was very impressive and made me prouder to be an American. The soldiers looked out for each other and for the innocent Iraqis. Several of Joker Ones men were wounded while attempting to rescue wounded Iraqi children.
This book sounded remarkably like the soldier accounts of Vietnam. The house to house fighting was very similar to Hue City. The inability to trust the natives is very similar to Vietnam.
I hope those in charge of our country More...

0 comments like

May 11, 2010

Paul rated it:

This is a memoir of one Marine lieutenant's experience in Iraq, specifically Ramadi in 2004. It's well-written, a little bit heavy on the "brotherhood" of men at arms but not to the point of annoyance. It's more touching, I think, than intense. While it's not without moments of intensity, Campbell's writing doesn't convey the emotions of the moments in an overpowering way.

I rate this book a very solid "B." I recommend it to anyone interested in the experience of t More...

0 comments like

Mar 02, 2010

Stuart rated it:

I saw Donovan Campbell speak at an FEI meeting last fall. Campbell related the incredibly powerful and heartfelt story of leading his Marine platoon into combat in Ramadi, one the most brutal areas of the Iraq war. You could have heard a pin drop during his presentation, which was one of the best I've ever seen at a business function. Eager to read Campbell's book, I found it no less compelling. Campbell's gripping story, filled with the gritty realities of war, is chock-full of the heroic and t More...

0 comments like

Jan 04, 2009

Emily rated it:

Librarything Early Reviewer Club book

I just finished reading this Early Reviewer book and have mixed thoughts on it. While I know the copy I received was not the final, edited version, I found quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes. I gave this book to my brother to read. My brother is a Marine and he found several terminology mistakes (names of weapons, military terms, etc). My brother found it hard to believe that a Marine officer would get basic military terminology incorrect. More...

2 comments like

Feb 01, 2012

Julia rated it:

I received this book from the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing. I found Donovan Campbell's account of his days in Iraq to be honest and revealing. Not only do we get a particular sense of what happened during the intense battles, but we are shown the great bond between soldiers. Mr. Campbell shares his personal thoughts on his abilities as a leader, his dedication and love for his men, and his constant struggle to maintain his focus. This book is not just a war memoir, but a personal jour More...

0 comments like

Nov 21, 2011

Stu rated it:

A great look into the myriad trials of being a young officer, only 24, in charge of the lives of a company of college aged Marines while stationed in one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq during the height of the insurgency. Campbell describes his deployment with 2/4 Golf Company to Ramadi. It was shocking to realize just how young every one was the was fighting the war. The story, like many memoirs, has trouble following any narrative structure, but in light of the chaos of the war it almost More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 05, 2010

Roger rated it:

The author lead a platoon of US Marines in Ramadi, Iraq for seven months in 2004 — daily fighting against insurgents. The day to day account of their experience is well told — much less macho bravado than some. Most beneficial were the officers reflections on his experiences. His observations about leadership, sacrifice, and love are seasoned with many biblical themes. He never says anything explicit about his personal faith, but this is certainly a worthwhile book for a Christian to read — More...

0 comments like

May 20, 2009

Angelica rated it:

This book is VERY touching and tells an honest (almost too honest) account of the war in Iraq. I had to read this because I had to hear and see what my brother went through. He is in this book. He wanted me to know what happened without having to tell me. It is still very difficult for him to talk about and I don't think that he will, but reading this book gives me a glimpse of what happened to him in Iraq. He wants his/their story heard and to know that what he/they did matters. I am biased, b More...

0 comments like

Jan 07, 2009

Drew rated it:

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of this book, Donovan Campbell's autobiographical account of leading a Marine platoon in Ramadi during the spring and summer of 2004. The first part of the book didn't reassure me much, as Campbell plods through the platoon's training and preparations in California prior to heading to Iraq. But from a slow start, the book steadily picks up steam to become an excellent, "Band of Brothers"-style account of war.

Campbell is not an espec More...

0 comments like

Dec 07, 2010

Tyson rated it:

A terrific account of one Marine's tour in Iraq's dangerous Ramadi province.

The book was very educational and while it does recount many horrible events, it also does its best to keep it light-hearted considering all of the carnage and death it recaptures. It is a story that needs to be told as many people do not realize the sacrifices the men and women of the armed services make on a day to day basis. The 2/4 takes some heavy causalities and it the book shows how each man deals with More...

0 comments like

Jun 12, 2009

James rated it:

I have read quite a few accounts of various stages of the war in Iraq. This is one features some of the best writing and is one of the few were the emotional toll of modern war is conveyed as well as it can be to someone who hasn't been through it. You also get some small understanding of the great burdens that we place on our troops, especially in the Marine Corp where the soldiers are generally under 20 and the officers on the ground are 22 or 23. This book is light on military context and More...

0 comments like

Jul 11, 2009

Travis rated it:

This was a great book. I loved Campbell's focus on servant leadership and that he took upon himself responsibility for various choices and their affect on his men. I loved his sincere worry about his men, and his stirring tributes to them. I really enjoyed the sincere way he described these challenges and their effect on his faith. And most of all I enjoyed the final chapters when he realized what things his men did that helped pull him out of everything. Great book, one of the best I've re More...

0 comments like

Feb 23, 2011

Kevin rated it:

Joker One, follows a young lieutenant, Donovan Campbell, and the 40-man platoon deployed to Iraq known as Joker One. It is a well-written first person narrative describing the preparation, deployment, and the day-to-day life in the hell that is war.

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. I was worried that there would be some overwhelming political message that would cheapen the sacrifices of the men serving our country. Instead, I was surprised by an objective, perceptive More...

0 comments like

Dec 20, 2010

Gage rated it:

The book Joker One by Donovan Campbell is about a platoon leader who encounters obstacles with his platoon and overcomes them. This book really lets you get an idea of a Marines daily life and what hardships they go through to protect our nation. You learn about how they think and how they have to forget about their families and pretend there already dead. I personally think that they deserve more recognition for what they do. People think about them and they just say thanks but i would say 80 p More...

0 comments like

Feb 22, 2011

Caitlin rated it:

The story of what is in many ways a much messier deployment than in the previous memoirs I have read about this war, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer and Generation Kill, Joker One tells of a very different mission. Where the men in the other two books were participating in the initial invasion of Iraq, constantly moving deeper into the country, the men in Joker One were tasked with keeping the peace in Ramadi, now infamous as a hotbed of violent resistance, just as the insurgency More...

0 comments like

Nov 23, 2010

Brom rated it:

If Bing West's No True Glory tells more of the strategic story or the Iraq war, and Patrick O'Donnell's We Were One tells more of the tactical story, Campbell's Joker One tells a personal story of an officer and his his mens' experience, running up to and during the height of the insurgency in Ramadi. Because of the introspective aspect of this book, it is for me, a great leadership book.

While there is plenty of action and detailed description of operations for the militarily or histor More...

0 comments like

reviews