Title: War
Author: Sebastian Junger
Read by: Sebastian Junger
Category: Biography and Autobiography
Format: Audio Book
Publish Date: 5/11/2010
ISBN: 9781607881988
Price: $29.98
From the publisher's website:
In WAR Sebastian Junger gives breathtaking insight into the truths of war-- the fear, the honor, and the trust among men. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a regular basis.
Listen to an Excerpt
I only just realized that I never published my review of this audiobook.
My Take: It 'reads' like a documentary into the nitty gritty of the current war in Afghanistan. Stewart Junger is a journalist who lived, ate, and worked with this platoon 24/7. As he says so clearly, "Once you're fighting a war, the politics no longer matter."
Although the book is a true chronicling of the events that Mr. Junger saw and heard of when he was back and forth with this platoon, it is read in such a dispassionate fashion that the listener doesn't really "feel" the losses and the true cost of the war.
There are a number of events that happen that should have the listener questioning things like, "Why do we send our sons and daughters into a situation that destroys their empathy and humanity?" or "What a horrible thing to happen", but because it is such a dry chronicling, we don't really ask those questions. The matter-of-fact, this-is-just-the-facts-and-nothing-else method didn't make me feel ANYthing, and for that I'm rather sad. War is a horrible, dirty, and sometimes necessary, business, but it is something that none of us should take lightly.
Again, the events are truthfully and dispassionately narrated, which, I guess is the mark of a true journalist, but I really wanted to feel empathy/sympathy/anything, and I didn't.
A true war afficionado, however, would likely enjoy having this account on hand.
Book Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
BUY IT: You can purchase this book through the publisher's website, at Amazon, and through other online and offline booksellers.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this audiobook series to objectively review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and I received no further compensation.
2 comments:
Hey Julie,
Thanks for sharing. You're right. With books like these you expect to feel some sort of emotion towards the story but maybe its better you don't. Its like you rightly said, "war is a horrible and dirty business". How's the reading going?
War is a reality that will never go away. Unfortunately what hurts us all is the fear that our loved ones may not come back: physically & mentally. let's just pray they come back safe and sound.
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