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Review
'America's great Vietnam novel' (Sunday Times) 'a novel of astonishing power and insight' (Observer)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Karl Marlantes has written a staggeringly beautiful book on combat--what it feels like, what the consequences are and above all, what society must do to understand it. In my eyes he has become the preeminent literary voice on war of our generation. He is a natural storyteller and a deeply profound thinker who not only illuminates war for civilians, but also offers a kind of spiritual guidance to veterans themselves. As this generation of warriors comes home, they will be enormously helped by what Marlantes has written--I'm sure he will literally save lives."--Sebastian Junger
"Marlantes brings candor and wrenching self-analysis to bear on his combat experiences in Vietnam, in a memoir-based meditation whose intentions are three-fold: to help soldiers-to-be understand what they're in for; to help veterans come to terms with what they've seen and done; and to help policymakers know what they're asking of the men they send into combat."--"The New Yorker"
""What It Is Like t
"Marlantes brings candor and wrenching self-analysis to bear on his combat experiences in Vietnam, in a memoir-based meditation whose intentions are three-fold: to help soldiers-to-be understand what they're in for; to help veterans come to terms with what they've seen and done; and to help policymakers know what they're asking of the men they send into combat."--"The New Yorker"
""What It Is Like t
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The title of this book, along with the nearly obligator Don McCullin cover shot, may lead you to believe that this is a conventional war story, the autobiography of a man who had already written a well received novel about Vietnam.
But that is not this case. While there are sections of the book that focus on events and conflict in the jungles of South East Asia the main focus of this book is the mind of the soldier - or as the authors says "the warrior".
In simple terms this is a book about how the author felt about the experience of war, how his training had prepared him for this emotional conflict (or more often how his training did not prepare him for it) and a plan to better prepare the coming generations of warriors for war. This is not done with the idea that these new soldiers will be better "killing machines" - but that they will be better able to cope with the moral and emotional conflicts that war brings. While this may make them more effective on the battle fields, the authors' key objective is to make sure that former soldiers can better cope with the aftermath of conflict.
His central message revolves around the need to train soldiers (and their leaders) to understand both the morality and the darkness of their tasks. His argument is that you can't fully understand one if you do not acknowledge the other. Killing violates some many social norms that being able to do it (and do it repeatedly) is bound to cause conflicts in the healthy mind. His contention seems to be that warriors need to be able to access, but control, the darker, shadow parts of their personalities. If they understand the morality of their task control is possible. Shadow without morality leads to atrocity. Morality without shadow may not arm the warrior with the ability to defend what they see to be just.
This is an immensely ambitious book - setting out as it does to redefine the way we train soldiers (and raise children) so that they become more aware of the forces that are inside them and better able to cope with the consequences of their actions.
Is the book likely to achieve its aims? - Probably not.
Is this book a well intentioned, but occasionally naive feeling, effort to protect young people in the future? - Certainly.
Does this book have something valuable to say about the effect of war and its consequences? - Absolutely.
Would I recommend that you read this book? - Without question.
But that is not this case. While there are sections of the book that focus on events and conflict in the jungles of South East Asia the main focus of this book is the mind of the soldier - or as the authors says "the warrior".
In simple terms this is a book about how the author felt about the experience of war, how his training had prepared him for this emotional conflict (or more often how his training did not prepare him for it) and a plan to better prepare the coming generations of warriors for war. This is not done with the idea that these new soldiers will be better "killing machines" - but that they will be better able to cope with the moral and emotional conflicts that war brings. While this may make them more effective on the battle fields, the authors' key objective is to make sure that former soldiers can better cope with the aftermath of conflict.
His central message revolves around the need to train soldiers (and their leaders) to understand both the morality and the darkness of their tasks. His argument is that you can't fully understand one if you do not acknowledge the other. Killing violates some many social norms that being able to do it (and do it repeatedly) is bound to cause conflicts in the healthy mind. His contention seems to be that warriors need to be able to access, but control, the darker, shadow parts of their personalities. If they understand the morality of their task control is possible. Shadow without morality leads to atrocity. Morality without shadow may not arm the warrior with the ability to defend what they see to be just.
This is an immensely ambitious book - setting out as it does to redefine the way we train soldiers (and raise children) so that they become more aware of the forces that are inside them and better able to cope with the consequences of their actions.
Is the book likely to achieve its aims? - Probably not.
Is this book a well intentioned, but occasionally naive feeling, effort to protect young people in the future? - Certainly.
Does this book have something valuable to say about the effect of war and its consequences? - Absolutely.
Would I recommend that you read this book? - Without question.
Format:Hardcover
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but was pleasantly surprised. It offers an interesting insight into the moral dilemnas involved in the utility of force as well as being an opportunity for the author to mentally decompress after suffering PTSD for along time.
There is a bit too much waffle about spirituality, harking back to ancient deities (which adds little to the narrative) and not quite enough about the author to really understand him.
I haven't read Matterhorn, so maybe that will round of the picture for me.
There is a bit too much waffle about spirituality, harking back to ancient deities (which adds little to the narrative) and not quite enough about the author to really understand him.
I haven't read Matterhorn, so maybe that will round of the picture for me.
Format:Kindle Edition
This book should be read in conjunction with his earlier book on his experiences as a young man fighting in Vietnam. Both books have the complete conviction of personal experiences enhanced by being written by someone of intelligence who has thought long and deeply about his life. For anyone who wants an insight into post-tramatic stress syndrome in a soldier this is a must read. There parts which are a bit philosophical which would have been better omitted but on the whole this is a very worthwhile read for anyone interested in the personal repurcussions of war.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Karl Marlantes - What it's like to go to War
An interesting insight into the harrowing nature of war. As told by Marlantes, reflecting on the horrors of the Vietnam War. Read more
Published 2 months ago by charles
What is it like to go to war. My opinion.
Having read Carl Marlates's Vietnam novel, "Matterhorn" based on his own combat experience as a front line Marine, this book now looks at and analyses those experiences not from... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steve
A heart rending, insightful and ultimately wise book
The author does not just talk of his experiences as a young soldier in Vietnam with candour and integrity but also looks at society, both modern day and ancient, and how they make,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by JJ Diamond
Importantly he has been there...
After Keegan, Burke, Holmes and Grossman it is timely that a book covering the effects of war on an individual written by someone who has 'been there' is published. Read more
Published 5 months ago by JMA
What its like to go to war
the quality of the writing is excellent which was never in doubt, however the pysical qwuality of the book I received was worse than bad. Read more
Published 6 months ago by murfster
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