What an amazing book! It's part memoir, confession, ethics workshop, psychology, mythology tutorial, and war story. While Dave Grossman's much touted On Killing gets into the psychology of killing, Marlantes' book delves into the soul of the matter. It's heartfelt, raw, prescriptive, and wise. It doesn't have the "I told you so" admonition nor does it have the "I'm old and wise now, so listen up" aura about it. But it's compelling reading. Marlantes sounds like a real jerk as a young man: seeker of medals, flip disregard for limits, pothead. But he was a lean, mean killing machine, a warrior and a troubled one at that. He did everything society asked of him and was rewarded for it, yet he felt empty and deeply troubled. He points out that the military has medics for the body but not for the soul. Chaplains don't do too much according to Marlantes in this regard. If you've been to war or live with loved ones who have, read this book. It will help you understand. The author and his family have travelled this difficult road.