The author did a good job of summarizing complex situations to provide a base of knowledge for the reader, and he told his story simply and well. UnliThe author did a good job of summarizing complex situations to provide a base of knowledge for the reader, and he told his story simply and well. Unlike some reviewers, I didn't think he was going too far into idol-worship (Pat Tillman did sound pretty remarkable as an adult) until the epilogue, when Krakauer compares Tillman to Nietzsche's Ubermensch - hmm.
The book contains a number of powerful moments, but none more so than when another Ranger in Tillman's unit says, "If I had been killed that day, and it had not suited the Army to disclose to my wife the manner in which I died, nobody would ever know what really happened because I'm not famous. I'm not Pat. It wouldn't have been a news story. For the rest of my life, my wife would think I was killed by whatever bullshit story they decided to make up." After reading the way the Army covered up every attempt by its own officers to discover the truth, that seems like an obvious and disturbing truth.
A powerful and fiercely written read. An absolutely riveting (up until the last few chapters, when it drifted and I took away a star) look at the deepA powerful and fiercely written read. An absolutely riveting (up until the last few chapters, when it drifted and I took away a star) look at the deeply flawed ideas behind the war in Afghanistan, and the people running it. The chapter listing how Afghan and American soldiers view each other (they urinate and curse in front of women, and what business is it of theirs how we treat dogs? / they kill the dogs we feed on base, and are high all the time) was devastating, as was the frustrating disconnect between McChrystal and the soldiers he visits at one point. Hastings weaves in colorful descriptions of the places he visits and reflections on the nature and history of war reporting. I was fascinated, and finished this audiobook in record time. High praise for the narrator as well - he was an excellent fit....more