Strong stuff. I've been a fan of Junger's work since Perfect Storm and Fire, but this is my favorite so far. It's a tough read because of its raw, unblinking portrayal of time spent with US infantry in Afghanistan. Whether you consider the US presence a conflict, occupation, or war doesn't really matter. Junger takes no political side, and makes it clear the soldier's don't either; they're just trying to survive. The book is a powerful mix of respect, fear, and character study. I also recommend the documentary Junger helped produce, Restropo, that shows vividly what inspired this book, including footage captured inside an armored transport that ran over an IED.