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

Great Piece of Work

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narration sounded natural and like he had been in the Navy. My wife didn't like some of the language, but that is how they talk in the Navy. Now it's time for the movie.

A very insightful balanced biography

It was recommended that I read this book as a way to begin to understand Trump supporters. Although I still am not comfortable with someone who admittedly lives war, I found myself liking and being drawn to the person who said it. This is an honest view into the the life of a truely humble and patriotic human being who in many ways exhibits the best of what Americans can be.

Best autobiography I've ever listened to

Chris Kyle is my hero, he is so honest and down to earth. We need more men like him, especially in today's age where most men don't know the first thing about honor, duty, respect and discipline.

Great book, can't wait to see the movie.

This was a great listen. Our exeded my experience particularly when he was discussing his time before he joined the military and his struggle to do so. I highly recommend this book abd enjoyed it.

War is Hell

Would you listen to American Sniper again? Why?

No, once is enough. It was interesting to hear Chris voice what was going on. I truly appreciate his service and his patriotism. But war is not fun.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The book should have a Prologue.

What about John Pruden’s performance did you like?

I thought he captured Chris' self-effacing manner.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Make sure you get this one in your "cross-hairs."

Any additional comments?

It is a shame to see what politics is trying to do to this Patriot.

Great read

Very good book. Helps you to understand the tole war takes on us.

Chris Q former Army SF Retired. Airborne

A great glimpse into the life of a sniper

This is a great glimpse into the life of a sniper . An impressive straight forward account . It is well read , great performance.

Amazing look inside the Life of CHRIS KYLE!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES, EASY TO READ AND VERY DESCRIPTIVE ABOUT THE LIFE OF THIS AMERICAN HERO

Any additional comments?

IF YOUR INTRESTED IN THE WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN THEN YOUR GOING TO LOVE THIS STORY!!!

American Sniper

Excellent book keeps you interested and make you realize that each person fighting in a war is loved by someone.

An American Hero!

I watched the movie before listening to this audio book, so I had an idea of how great the story would be. Having been completely blown away by the movie, and experiencing the powerful emotions that the film instilled in me, I just had to get this audiobook.

I've listened to several audiobooks about Navy SEALs and this is the best so far. It is the story of Chris Kyle, a very talented sniper, and his experiences during combat during the Iraq War. Chris begins his story talking about his childhood and early life, his journey to seek out his purpose. He goes into captivating detail about his SEAL training, his comrades, and his eventual path to becoming a SEAL sniper.

He mixes the narrative in with descriptions of his personal life, meeting his future wife, Taya; and his eventual deployment into Iraq. Also included are accounts by Taya herself and her point-of-view on their life together, the struggles they went through.

Chris's descriptions of combat and the kind of things he saw in Iraq are the most compelling and gripping part of this novel. I did notice some differences between what the movie put forth and what Chris stated in his novel. I noticed that Wikipedia states the movie is "loosely based" on the memoir, so I wonder what Hollywood felt they needed to change from the novel. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this audiobook much more than the movie as it is Chris's telling.

The narrator is very good bringing about a Texas drawl which puts you further into the element of the story.

I highly recommend this book!