| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
‘Hugely entertaining’
(Metro 20060615)‘A memorable new voice’ (Independent 20060615)
'Ayres [writes with] engaging honesty' (John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor and bestsel 20060615)
‘A miracle of observation’
(The Times 20060605)'What a snivelling piece of s**t' (Operation Freedom )
‘Reminded me of the granddaddy of the genre, Evelyn Waugh’s novel Scoop ... truly indispensable’
(New York Times )‘War is hell. But through the eyes of Chris Ayres, it’s also funny as hell’
(Playboy )'Hilarious'
(New York Times )‘Ayres’s book stands out as a new sub-genre. He is disarmingly (pun intended), honest and hilarious about his lack of stomach for the fight.’ —
(What’s On In London: Joe Cushley )‘At once hugely entertaining, and surprisingly, a better insight into the sheer awfulness of war than any gung-ho adrenaline junkie could ever achieve.'
(Metro, Siobhan Murphy )‘Ayres’ book stands out as a new sub-genre [of war reportage classics] . . .He is disarmingly (pun intended) honest and hilarious about his lack of stomach for the fight’
(What's On In London )‘Brilliant'
(Nuts )‘[Ayres] has the knack for evoking the weirdness of life on the front line and finding humour in the horror.’
(Glasgow Herald )Product Description
When his boss offers Chris Ayres an assignment embedded with US Marines on the front line in Iraq, he’s too cowardly to say no. He soon finds himself camped in the desert, blinded by sandstorms, surrounded by military machismo on all sides. He decides he wants out. But this, his greatest act of cowardice, will almost kill him.
War Reporting for Cowards is an extraordinary true story and the debut of a brilliant new voice. A hilarious cross between Scoop and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, it is a seditious insight into the political events that have defined the century.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
In what is part autobiography, part war memoir, Ayres pulls no punches in expressing his fears and he is particularly good on the contrast between his journalistic life, most recently involving celebrity parties and expensive restaurants, and the privations of life in the war zone, complete with sandstorms, foxholes, too little sleep and meals ready to eat (MRE), not to mention the ever-present threat of imminent death.
He is candid about how quickly he comes to admire the quiet professionalism of the Marines and his exhilaration, almost in spite of himself, when he finds himself in the thick of the action.
While Ayres admits that ultimately he failed miserably as a war correspondent, I suspect "The Times" may have pulled off a masterstroke by embedding a journalist with such a different background, since he has produced a unique slant, both on the conflict and on the nature of war itself. The quote used for the title of this review is an indicator of his response.
It is not so much about the war, but about the author's reaction to being on the frontlines. That is why I liked this book so much. Being in the British armed forces, his story struck a cord with me. However I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this read.
I found War Reporting for Cowards to be an excellent read. It is clearly written, informative and funny. Read more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Historical > Britain
- Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Middle East
- Books > History > Countries & Regions > Asia > Middle East > Iraq
- Books > Humour
- Books > Travel & Holiday
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
