WAR

By: Sebastian Junger

Narrated by: Sebastian Junger

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

In his breakout best seller, The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger created "a wild ride that brilliantly captures the awesome power of the raging sea and the often futile attempts of humans to withstand it" (Los Angeles Times Book Review). Now, Junger turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat - the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another.

His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Sebastian Junger (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Junger mixes visceral combat scenes-raptly aware of his own fear and exhaustion-with quieter reportage and insightful discussions of the physiology, social psychology, and even genetics of soldiering. The result is an unforgettable portrait of men under fire." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great Read

This is why journalists embed with troops. Junger gives us a look inside the lives of the front line of front line troops with none of the politics of the larger military operation. Great attention to detail. I finished the book in two sessions. He also does a great job reading his own work.

A Vivid Portrait of Soldiers and Modern Combat

Coming into this, I had a very limited familiarity with Mr. Junger's other work. I had seen the documentary Restrepo, produced in conjunction with War, and thought very highly of its presentation of a platoon's tour of duty in this extraordinary place. This audiobook is no less impressive.
For one eager to discover big picture truths about the war in Afghanistan, look elsewhere. This is a book about the men asked to suffer in pursuit of those grander ambitions, the price they pay and the rewards they find in choosing to serve their country so far from home and civilization. In describing the routine of a combat outpost, how the men spend their time, and the fears and motivations they confess to an embedded journalist they come to trust, Junger lays bare some powerful insights about the mentality of men on the front lines. He does not take a position on the war, merely describes the strange things it and all other wars before have done to the youth sent to fight, and demands we account for it in our decisions regarding this and all other conflicts.
This is an unvarnished account of life as an infantryman, exposing the often artificially exaggerated crudity, and cultural and behavioral eccentricities that pop up when men are taken away from the trappings of civilization and the company of women, and the only respite from a miserable monotony is the prospect of combat and random death. That in no way diminishes the sacrifices these men make, in fact magnifies them when one considers that almost all of those same soldiers willingly return to endure the same hazards, sometimes again and again. This is particularly enlightening when one reaches Junger's examination of the soldiers' views of courage: Imprecisely summed up as that a professional soldier considers the true act of bravery to be that of volunteering in the first place, since the feats and sacrifices a civilian would consider heroic are simply expected by soldiers as part of their duty.
I would have to agree with the more reserved praise for the author's reading of his own work. Though a professional narrator may have brought more drama to the account, this is as much Junger's story as that of 2nd Platoon, Battle Company, and it only seems right that he should be permitted to tell it.
There are several stories of combat in this book, including an account of an incident that would result in an award of the Medal of Honor. However, the challenges and sacrifices you may come to respect these men for most, are those far more mundane and yet so much more daunting, dealing with the aftermath of war.
For those curious about what it's like for those brave young men now in harm's way, this is a must listen.

Loved the Book

What did you love best about WAR?

Hard to listen to because of the content and nature of war but very well written book.
The performance made for an easy listen and riveting experience.
Really helps you understand how hard it would be to experience those things and return to
a normal life here in the states. CRAZY!

Any additional comments?

More than anything else... It make me very very appreciative of those in uniform and the deep sacrifices they make for me, my family and all my loved ones.
THANKS!

Unafraid

What did you love best about WAR?

IT is told from a point of view that only few will ever see.

What did you like best about this story?

I was impressed by the professionalism of the author and the care he seemed to have taken to both protect and tell the stories fo the men.

What about Sebastian Junger’s performance did you like?

It was refreshing to hear what he thought felt and experienced, He seemed honest in elplaining his bias and why

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

WAR the down and dirty you will not see on TV News.

Any additional comments?

THis book is not about the War it is about the Soldiers that have to fight the war. I highly encourage people who want to understand what it is like to go though that experience to read or listen to this book. I am a Veteran and I can relate to much of the emotions the men went through, although in a much suttler way. THESE MEN experienced pure hell, In the Two years I have spent in Iraq, exect for being mortored, I have only been engaged half a dozen times. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to go through that daily...THis book does a good job explaining it.

Humbling

After deploying multiple times, this book brings back fond memories of dear brothers. The author creates vivid images of what the surroundings are like as well as the intimate nature of war. A gripping read and heartbreaking experience.

Great Listen - More proof about why we need out

Sebastian does it again with an excellent. Great story and just another reason we need to either win it with the full power of the United States Military or else get out completely.

A MUST READ/LISTEN

I feel very humbled after listening to this book. Mr. Junger pulls no punches and tells it how it is. I'm looking forward to his next book.

Fantastic Book and Reading

War had been on my "books to read list" for a long time. Once I started I could not stop. I compare it favorably with Michael Herr's Dispatches from the Viet Nam War. Terrific reading by Junger. Vivid writing brings you into the battles and boredom.

Excellant

Author didn't push views that i could tell. Only told story of our brave soldiers from t he field point of view

Great emersive story

I've listened to this book as well as tribe and I must say; Junger is my favorite journalist /auther. He just gets it. He captures what the life of a soldier is perfectly. A must read for all.