audiobook What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Insider's ViewBy rchThis is a deeply philosophical and introspective book about our relationship to violence and our obedience to power and position. The other great books in this vein; "My War Gone By; I Miss It So" and "War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning;" cover the same topics but they are not written by soldiers. Their ability to observe and articulate these themes is less impressive or elucidating since they are outsiders. I've yet to read "Matterhorn;" Marlantes's novelization of the Vietnam War. Having read this; I will have to. Solid book; solid man.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. In-depth; first-hand emotional and psychological insight into war and killingBy Michael McClureMarlantes has; obviously; done the work that is the difficult task of owning those things that are most real within himself. In so doing; he has put aside the easy banners and symbols of our cultural confusion where war and violence toward others are concerned.Yes; the book deals with many of the unaddressed issues of P.T.S.D. but; more interestingly; it asks the difficult questions that must be addressed to get behind and under the label and the larger actualities of war; the ones that will be forever carried by those who fight; kill and are wounded both physically and emotionally.To read his book is to begin to grapple with the extreme emotional and psychological nuance that is war. Through Marlantes' process; revealed in a sensitive and articulate read; we are able to enter into a living; first-hand account of those issues which are central to entering into violence and how we might begin to consider how and when we send our young people into harm's way. To me; the book is a re-visioning of what needs to be addressed not only by the individuals who go to war but the families they leave behind and return to in a vastly changed emotional state. Larger still; Maralntes' book can possibly change our collective minds about war and how we view it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Hauntingly FamiliarBy Tom HI can't remember the date of the brief question/answer discussion with Sebastian Junger during the Boston leg of his promotional tour for War. But I do remember being one of those annoying members of the audience who raise their hand in disagreement to some of those things that are said.Anyway; I purchased Matterhorn same day as the tour (and on recommendation of Mister Junger) but I have yet to crack the cover. Seems the attraction is there but also the fear of being pulled inside another person's narrative of events that; for the most part; I've left alone. Anyway; I am only halfway through this book (on page 100 of What It Is Like...) but feel the need to communicate feelings and experiences similar; in some respect; to the Author's. Maybe it's best to identify... I am no sort of war hero. In fact; were it not for volunteering for service in a Yankee Platoon I may not have experienced heavy combat at all. As it is; I did participate in several operations (while humping an M-60) and during several sweeps. And so I am more than familiar with daytime patrols; nighttime ambush; and etc. Thing is I served in Northern I Corps and travelled those same ragged hills and valleys as the author did during his tour of duty 1968-1969 (my service involved RVN 1966-1967 and Razorback Ridge during a forty day participation with 2/7 in relief of 2/4 during Operation Prairie).The author discovered his little boy hugging a photo of him smiling; only to discover punctures made by a ballpoint pen all through the photo. Similar I suppose to a situation discovered by my wife (a very long time ago it seems). One of my three boys took time to mangle a wedding album picture (the one where we're standing in full profile--with me wearing tuxedo and my wife in wedding gown) by stabbing the picture over and over while destroying the faces. Then there is the describing of the Shadow in all of us (as first mentioned by Jung and as a shadow I am all too familiar with after spending time in psych wards during the 80's--some of which time was spent at the PTSD clinic at Northampton Ma; and during combat Outward Bound). I've moved on from harmful activities of the sort that brought me to those places (largely by personal involvement and by growing into the role of responsible father and grandfather) while admittedly reverting at times to symptoms of psychological trauma (but I might add; only during those odd times of anniversary).Want to thank Mister Marlantes for exposing the truth to those who say they were but were not involved; while at the same time reaching out a hand to those others who haven't a damned clue of what goes on during or after heavy combat. He captured the feel of patrolling areas where the excitment; and tragedy of sudden combat mixed with death; is ever-present; the smell of mud; blood; and freezing cold; and the absolute dreariness of Northern Monsoon. From absolute exhilaration to complete emotional downfall.For the enlightenment; and the exposing of all that goes with it; I am most grateful.Tom HylandE-4USMC 1965-1968