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Product Description
They were collectively known as "The Rock." For one year, in 2007-2008, Sebastian Junger accompanied 30 men--a single platoon--from the storied 2nd battalion of the U.S. Army as they fought their way through a remote valley in eastern Afghanistan.Over the course of five trips, Junger was in more firefights than he could count, as men he knew were killed or wounded and he himself was almost killed. His relationship with these soldiers grew so close that they considered him part of the platoon, and he enjoyed an access and a candidness that few, if any, journalists ever attain.
War is a narrative about combat: the fear of dying, the trauma of killing and the love between platoon-mates who would rather perish than let each other down. Gripping, honest and intense, War explores the neurological, psychological and social elements of combat, as well as the incredible bonds that form between these small groups of men. This is not a book about Afghanistan or the "War on Terror"; it is a book about all men, in all wars. Junger set out to answer what he thought of as the "hand-grenade question": why would a man throw himself on a hand grenade to save other men he has known for probably only a few months? The answer is elusive but profound, going to the heart of what it means not just to be a soldier, but to be human.
About the Author
Sebastian Junger is the New York Times bestselling author of A Death in Belmont and Fire. He is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and has been awarded a National Magazine Award and an SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism. He lives in New York City.
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Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
War as seen from the ground,
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This review is from: War (Hardcover)
Sebastian Junger's book "War" is a memoir of his experiences with the Second Platoon of Battle Company during their tour of duty in the very violent Korengal Valley in Afghanistan between June of 2007 and June of 2008. It's an interesting journalistic choice where he makes no attempt at objectivity. Mr. Junger develops a personal relationship with the men of the Second Platoon that he is not adverse to describe his affection. His war is one where young men discover profound meaning in their every action which is a stark contrast to their lives back home. War is filled with boredom and adrenalin rushes that have no comparison in civilian life. When one of the men on leave in Italy is asked if he would return to one of the most dangerous outposts in the war, he reponds, "I'd take a helicopter there tomorrow. Most of us would." The soldiers' commitment in battle is not to their country or a cause. It is to each other for whom they will sacrifice their own life to save. "War's" strengths are also its weaknesses. By speaking in the first person, we feel Mr. Junger's love and affection for these young men through their fears and exploits and most specifically, their comradery. Yet, I would have liked to learn more about the men. What made them tick? Why did they sign up? What's their back-story? Nevertheless, his approach is interesting and definitely worth the relatively short read. His story brings up the larger question of what society is going to do with a growing population of unemployed young men searching for meaning in their lives. Surely, there's a better alternative than war.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Real War,
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This review is from: War (Hardcover)
Junger has done a masterful job of telling the 'boots-on-the-ground' story in Afghanistan. He gives us the true brother-in-arms picture, not easy to relate until you've been a member of the brotherhood. The first three-quarters of the book builds a full and complete vision of the daily encounters with the enemy, the personal deprivations arising in an unforgiving land, the occasional boredom between firefights, and the tactical abilities of the Taliban. It's not until the latter part of the story that we begin to hear some of Junger's mental, emotional and olitical impressions. Those thoughts are both revealing and frank and I found them easy to believe, as well as agree with what were personal opinions.
Since the book included some materials previously published in Vanity Fair, some sections were repeated in more than one place within the book, something I found a bit annoying. other than that, it's going to be an important record of that time. This is a great read, both intimate and frightening. It serves as an important source of facts about our front- line warriors and the horrors they face for us.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Realities of Combat as seen from the inside,
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This review is from: War (Hardcover)
Sebastian Junger has given us a rare look at the realities of combat in the first decade of the 21st century. This picture is not one of full-scale war between major powers but that of the grinding counter-insurgency fighting that marks this era. This form of warfare demands a constant courage from the soldiers involved and Jungers shows us how these young soldiers respond, day by day, week by week. Junger is a rare journalist who volunteered to share the discomfort and danger with these men in a remote Afghan valley, revealing the power of comradeship in sustaining courage and fighting spirit. This book should become a classic in the study of combat psychology and among those books which have attempted to discover the sources of courage while under fire.Courage Rewarded: The Valour of Canadian Soldiers Under Fire 1900 to 2007, Firing Line,The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War
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