The beginning of this book let me down in that I didn't feel it was Krakauer's best work. He always editorialises in his works but I felt like the beginning of the book was a series of statements and assertations both about Bush and Tillman that were presented with very little to support them. Tillman came off to me as a complete fuck in the beginning of the book and yet you have Krakauer repeatedly telling you how introspective and kind he was... they just didn't mesh.

Once the book gets into Pat's journal entries, however, you actually begin to see him for the complex person he is. I came away from this book very impressed with Pat Tillman(moreso than I already was before picking up the book).

Pat was not what you'd expect from a "normal" high school jock/NFL football player. I found a lot to like about him and a few things in common with him which made his death scenes all the harder to read.

The series of events that led to his death are so trivial and stupid, and the fact that he was gunned down by his fellow Army Rangers makes his death even more of a tragedy than it would have been anyway.

This book is easy to get lost in, and therefore easy to read quickly... but once you get to know and like Pat Tillman you find yourself hoping against all rational thought that he may avoid his ultimate fate.