Best Military Books of the Decade.
The Military Times rummaged through bookcases and pulled every book that has struck them. Then they compiled a list of the best military books of the decade! How exciting! So, who made the cut?
“The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War” by Brandon Friedman, 2007. The story of a college “hawkish war junkie” who goes from Manhattan to Bagram to Hillah and discovers that being an Army officer is “not as easy as it looks on TV.” And after service in two battle zones, disenchantment displaces his desire. He writes he “wanted to believe in my work,” but “instead, I was watching as politicians with no military experience hijacked the Army.”
And…
“The Forever War” by Dexter Filkins, 2008. This award-winning collection of reports and impressions takes you into harm’s way with a journalist’s eye for details and a dramatist’s ear for dialogue. In Iran, Filkins finds Warhols and Picassos. In Iraq, he finds two conversations: “The one the Iraqis were having with the Americans and the one they were having among themselves.”
And…
“Just Another Soldier: A Year on the Ground in Iraq” by Jason Christopher Hartley, 2005. War with wit. “It’s no wonder so many homeless people are vets; they’ve all been trained to be professional bums. ... We lived in conditions that were part central booking, part homeless shelter with a twist of male brothel.” And this: “The average grunt is fairly in touch with his primary self and therefore wants generally only two things: To [have sex] and to fight, in that order.” Hoo-ah.”
I’m actually a little surprised by the list. Well, I guess I’m surprised a few books aren’t on the list. And where are the female authors? Just thought I’d ask.
Check out the complete list here.
“The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War” by Brandon Friedman, 2007. The story of a college “hawkish war junkie” who goes from Manhattan to Bagram to Hillah and discovers that being an Army officer is “not as easy as it looks on TV.” And after service in two battle zones, disenchantment displaces his desire. He writes he “wanted to believe in my work,” but “instead, I was watching as politicians with no military experience hijacked the Army.”
And…
“The Forever War” by Dexter Filkins, 2008. This award-winning collection of reports and impressions takes you into harm’s way with a journalist’s eye for details and a dramatist’s ear for dialogue. In Iran, Filkins finds Warhols and Picassos. In Iraq, he finds two conversations: “The one the Iraqis were having with the Americans and the one they were having among themselves.”
And…
“Just Another Soldier: A Year on the Ground in Iraq” by Jason Christopher Hartley, 2005. War with wit. “It’s no wonder so many homeless people are vets; they’ve all been trained to be professional bums. ... We lived in conditions that were part central booking, part homeless shelter with a twist of male brothel.” And this: “The average grunt is fairly in touch with his primary self and therefore wants generally only two things: To [have sex] and to fight, in that order.” Hoo-ah.”
I’m actually a little surprised by the list. Well, I guess I’m surprised a few books aren’t on the list. And where are the female authors? Just thought I’d ask.
Check out the complete list here.
posted by GI Kate at 12:14 PM
2 Comments:
I was a little surprised that I didn't see House to House: An Epic Memoir of War by SSgt. David Bellavia which I loved. Also Roughneck Nine-One: The Extraordinary Story of a Special Forces A-team at War by Frank Antenori, The Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrel, and Trigger Men: Shadow Team, Spider-Man, the Magnificent Bastards, and the American Combat Sniper by Hans Halberstadt. All books I thought were very good.
Don't 4get PACKING INFERNO by Ty Boudreau.
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