reading this one on my brother-in-law's suggestion, i was a little worried due to the recent non fiction books i've read that the author would insert himself into the book too much (and judging by the photo he chose for the flap, i grew more worried) but so far it hasn't been that bad, about 1/2 way through the book..

finished it, still a little too much tough guy stuff, but still the vivid writing helps to show what's going on in that valley..

As a person who is not usually interested in the books/movies about war, I found Junger's book to be extremely fascinating and insightful on the war in Afghanistan. I have a lot of respect for his commitment in carrying out the book and the documentary ( Restrepo , and telling the stories of the soldiers despite being faced with the possibility of death.

Similar to Tribe, this book gives a unique look at a subject most people assume they understand but do not. There is a very human quality to the writing here, which is even more pronounced due to the subject. Really worth the read.

A good, honest, non-glamorization of war type book. It reminded me a lot of [b:Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War|543103|Generation Kill Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War|Evan Wright|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441919496l/543103._SY75_.jpg|908023] (but that one was better). The author had the chance to go with some troops and see first hand what battle is like. This was a good description of war:

"Wars are fought with very heavy machinery that works best on top of the biggest hill in the area and used against men who are lower down. That in a nutshell is military tactics. And it means an enormous amount of war-fighting simply consists of carrying heavy loads uphill."

Notes:

"Military vets drink because they miss the good stuff (usually the fighting). But with that said, when soldiers say they miss combat, they don't mean the fighting but rather they miss being in a world where everything is important and nothing is taken for granted. They miss being in a world where human relations are governed by whether you can trust the other person with your life."

"The ultimate wound is the one that makes you miss the war you got it in."

Excellent book that shows the true nature of war and the way reckless rushing into conflict by powers to be leaves great scars on people that enter the fray in order to fight for their country and stay fighting for most important reason they have - to save the lives of those fighting with them and living the life on the battlefield with them.

Very fact that this view of fighting man, issues they have, their fears and brotherhood, confronting death every day, does not differ from views one can find in WW1 and WW2 books and biographies shows that only thing that changes when it comes war is technology. Everything else is as old as humankind itself.

Highly recommended.

Having read the very powerful, The Good Soldiers, and having already seen the author's documentary film, Restrepo, I expected to enjoy this book, but not be overly impressed. I was wrong. The book is much more interesting than Restrepo. Plus, the book is a perfect companion piece to the raw emotion of The Good Soldiers. The author is very perceptive about what he observes of modern American combat soldiers fighting in Muslim countries today. While he narrates the same highly dangerous and stimulating combat situations as those in the The Good Soldiers, he also provides facinating and useful commentary about the individual soldier-level activity.

Through the keen eyes of embedded journalist Sebastian Junger, we experience 15 wretched months in the worst place on Earth: the desolate Afghan Korengal Valley, a small but impossibly violent stretch of land where American platoons have experienced significant losses. This is the outpost to end all outposts, where the soldiers on the ground don't get a hot meal all year, a shower might happen once a week, outside communication is rare, but daily firefights are guaranteed. Weaving in and out of combat scenes, Junger explores the meaning of military brotherhood, the science behind courage, and the lasting effects on the men who survive this war.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

this book is not political in nature. junger simply tells what life is like during a war in one of the most dangerous outposts in afghanistan.

he serves five different "tours" with a group of army soldiers. junger does give justification of war, but rather realistic explanations of why these young men truly are brave for fighting on our account.

i think anyone who knows someone in the military who has seen combat should read this book.