American Sniper

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

By: Chris Kyle, Scott McEwan, Jim DeFelice

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

He is the deadliest American sniper ever, called "the devil" by the enemies he hunted and "the legend" by his Navy SEAL brothers.

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyles kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named him al-Shaitan ("the devil") and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

A native Texan who learned to shoot on childhood hunting trips with his father, Kyle was a champion saddle-bronc rider prior to joining the Navy. After 9/11, he was thrust onto the front lines of the War on Terror, and soon found his calling as a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad; in Fallujah, Kyle braved heavy fire to rescue a group of Marines trapped on a street; in Ramadi, he stared down insurgents with his pistol in close combat. Kyle talks honestly about the pain of war - of twice being shot and experiencing the tragic deaths of two close friends.

American Sniper also honors Kyle's fellow warriors, who raised hell on and off the battlefield. And in moving first-person accounts throughout, Kyle's wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their marriage and children, as well as on Chris.

Adrenaline-charged and deeply personal, American Sniper is a thrilling eyewitness account of war that only one man could tell.

©2012 Chris Kyle (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Patriotic Listen

Where does American Sniper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed this book. I never realized how much more pure warfare there was in Iraq. Will the insurgency ever stop?

This is one of the best books ever!!

Do not read or listen to this book expecting a war story. Yes there is talk of war and killing but, this is a story of one man's life in that very small window of his life. It is a first person assessment of what happened during his tours of duty. How he acted and reacted to life, love, and war. You will laugh and, yes, you will cry (if not you do NOT deserve to read this book). Chris Kyle served his country and fellow citizens with honor and courage. He didn't come out unscathed (no one in that hell hole did) but he survived the only way he knew, "kill the other poor bastard before he kills you". I enjoyed this book beyond explanation. If you go into this story with a truly open mind you will love it also. I hope Chris is sleeping soundly and resting well. I pray Taya and his family continue to be strong and hold their chins up. Thank you Chris for your service!

A must read for every American

Regardless of your political persuasion, or your feelings on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a book every American should read (or listen to). Chris Kyle is one of the great American war heroes.

Taya's Parts

It would have been better to hear Taya's voice during her parts. At least a woman's voice.

Very Interesting Account of Life as a Seal!

I loved the story line, but thought it jumped around just a bit. But then again that's how memories come back to you; more by order of magnitude in your mind than strictly chronologically.

True American Hero

If you could sum up American Sniper in three words, what would they be?

citizen to emulate

What did you like best about this story?

Helped me understand the true meaning of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's definition of a Sheepdog protecting his or her sheep. A must read for every patriotic American!

What does John Pruden bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Texas accent with confidence, respect for others, and can do attitude come through in John Pruden’s interpretation of Kyle's voice

A humble honest story of the life of an American.

The accent was not over done or too southern. I could not stop listening until it was over. Amazing true stories of an American who served. I especially like the one about the police officer who stopped him for speeding on 9-11. Then gave him an escort to base and asked him to go kill the fuckers who were responsible.

Amazing

It was so good it got me a good insight on the seals and the navy and the way they work

5 stars for an American hero.

Thank you to all of the sheepdogs out there protecting our country. God bless the USA.

Great Story

I loved this book! The story was well written and spoken! He is an American hero and he makes you feel like you are right there in the action!