287 pages
English language
Published Dec. 13, 2010 by Twelve.
Junger, author of "The Perfect Storm," turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat in this on-the-ground account that follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.
Probably just watch 'Restrepo', there's little added and the movie conveys the oppressive punishment and ecstatic adrenaline and pointless military imbalance of this group of frontline infantry in Afghanistan more viscerally and quicker. [Also, more Hettinger than Junger.]
Solid, harrowing account of random senseless battles in Afghanistan. Somewhat romanticized (everyone mentioned is a hero) but still felt realistic. Ugly ugly stuff.
Probably more of a 3.5 book, as I didn't really get much insight into either the soldiers or the war. And the tenses kept getting mixed up. But still worth reading.
I haven't read many books on modern war, so I can't compare this to anything else, but I found this to be an excellent account of battle in Afghanistan. Sadly, it's one of my half-read books, but I had already seen the movie, so I got the gist of it.
