American Sniper

The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

By: Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice

Narrated by: John Pruden

NOW A BLOCKBUSTER MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD—NOMINATED FOR SIX ACADEMY AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST PICTURE

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him “The Legend”; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle, who was tragically killed in 2013, writes honestly about the pain of war—including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates—and in moving first-person passages throughout, his wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their family, as well as on Chris. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

It's been censored by the publisher

Look, I love this book. I love Chris Kyle. But his publisher, in what can only be described as a complete chicken-shit move, and some bullshit censorship, removed the sub-chapter about Jessa Ventura that resulted in the Kyle family being sued. This is not the book that Chris wrote!

Other than it being incomplete, it's a fantastic read. And it's absolutely nothing like the movie by the same name. If you enjoyed the movie, definitely read the book. You'll come to appreciate Chris Kyle in a new light. But that means rewarding the publisher for censorship. And that pisses me off. But it's too late now, they've already absconded with my money.

I can't reward this incomplete work with a 5th star. But it would be 5 stars if it hadn't been censored.

A must read for Active Duty, Veterans, and family

This book is a riot, Chris Kyle... I salute you. I am 82 ABN veteran, and this book sums up all the emotions that somehow Veterand cant figure out how to explain to anyone, even ourselves. This book made me laugh made me smile and made me understand, it also made me Proud to be an Amreican, something the Author would be proud to know. It also made me very proud to have worn the Uniform with pride and respect.

Makes me proud to be an American.

Would you consider the audio edition of American Sniper to be better than the print version?

Yes, I always enjoy the audio version - brings the story to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chris Kyle, by far.

Which scene was your favorite?

I particulary like his story of his experiences of living as a cowboy.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How the soldiers took care of each other. The fact that the Chris was willing to be so honest about his feelings and that he knows what he did was the right thing to do.

Any additional comments?

What a great book. After reading his story, I went to look for similar stories that would inspire me and how my every day living in the safety of an American suburb - is not free but has been paid by American blood of men and women who laid down their lives so we can live under the banner of safety.

Very insightful.

I really enjoyed American Sniper. It gives an in depth look at what a SEAL sniper is capable of. I really never understood how much combat actually took place in Iraq due to the lack of coverage on the national news channels. You basically got how many soldiers died today due to IEDs and how inept George W. Bush was (I disagree). This book really tells you what was going on in Iraq's hot spots and how the SEALs were used to counter the insurgents. Our soldiers rules of engagement are too restrictive. The perspective of Chris's wife was very insightful as to how difficult marriage to an operator is. The part about punching out "scruff face" was hillarious. He deserved it for running his mouth. The narration is very good, he has a southern accent that fits the author. If you enjoyed Howard Wasdin's SEAL Team Six or Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor you will like American Sniper.

An emotional and riveting biography.

Breaking down the wall and mystique behind the lives of America's warriors. The book brings you into the life of a warrior and patriot, not just on the side of combat, but the raw emotional side of his and his wife's life throughout multiple deployments. Emotional, personal, and revealing. RIP Chris Kyle.