Where Men Win Glory

The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The bestselling author of Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and Under the Banner of Heaven delivers a stunning, eloquent account of a remarkable young man’s haunting journey.

Like the men whose epic stories Jon Krakauer has told in his previous bestsellers, Pat Tillman was an irrepressible individualist and iconoclast. In May 2002, Tillman walked away from his $3.6 million NFL contract to enlist in the United States Army. He was deeply troubled by 9/11, and he felt a strong moral obligation to join the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Two years later, he died on a desolate hillside in southeastern Afghanistan.

Though obvious to most of the two dozen soldiers on the scene that a ranger in Tillman’s own platoon had fired the fatal shots, the Army aggressively maneuvered to keep this information from Tillman’s wife, other family members, and the American public for five weeks following his death. During this time, President Bush repeatedly invoked Tillman’s name to promote his administration’ s foreign policy. Long after Tillman’s nationally televised memorial service, the Army grudgingly notified his closest relatives that he had “probably” been killed by friendly fire while it continued to dissemble about the details of his death and who was responsible.

In Where Men Win Glory, Jon Krakauer draws on Tillman’s journals and letters, interviews with his wife and friends, conversations with the soldiers who served alongside him, and extensive research on the ground in Afghanistan to render an intricate mosaic of this driven, complex, and uncommonly compelling figure as well as the definitive account of the events and actions that led to his death. Before he enlisted in the army, Tillman was familiar to sports aficionados as an undersized, overachieving Arizona Cardinals safety whose virtuosity in the defensive backfield was spellbinding. With his shoulder-length hair, outspoken views, and boundless intellectual curiosity, Tillman was considered a maverick. America was fascinated when he traded the bright lights and riches of the NFL for boot camp and a buzz cut. Sent first to Iraq—a war he would openly declare was “illegal as hell” —and eventually to Afghanistan, Tillman was driven by complicated, emotionally charged, sometimes contradictory notions of duty, honor, justice, patriotism, and masculine pride, and he was determined to serve his entire three-year commitment. But on April 22, 2004, his life would end in a barrage of bullets fired by his fellow soldiers.

Krakauer chronicles Tillman’s riveting, tragic odyssey in engrossing detail highlighting his remarkable character and personality while closely examining the murky, heartbreaking circumstances of his death. Infused with the power and authenticity readers have come to expect from Krakauer’s storytelling, Where Men Win Glory exposes shattering truths about men and war.

©2009 Jon Krakauer (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Jon Krakauer has done his job well; Where Men Win Glory is a tough read...[He] has tackled a task that required the distillation and organization of volumes of disparate information. That he has fielded a coherent narrative is a victory. that he has made it compelling and passionate is a difficult blessing...In mining Tillman's life and death, Krakauer uncovers a story much more compelling than anything that could be spun." - The Denver Post

"Krakauer -- whose forenseic studies of the Emrsonian Man in books such as Into Thin Air and Into the Wild yield so much insight -- has turned in a beautiful bit of reporting, documenting Tillman's life with journals and interviews with those close to him...Must be counted as the definitive version of events surrounding Tillman's death." --The Los Angeles Times

"In this wrenching account of the life and eath of NFL star Pat Tillman, killed in friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, Krakauer brilliants turns investigative reporter...Krakauer will break your heart recounting how the military lied about Pat's death to his parents and fellow soldier Kevin." -- People

Riveting. Narrator was also GREAT!

I'm not sure why anyone had a problem with the narration. I thought he did an excellent job! Jon Krakauer is amazing as usual. His research and story telling is truly awesome. This held my interest for the duration. It highlights the arrogance of the US and its military. I would never join up because sadly you get sent into pointless war with gobs calling the shots. Then you killed by your own guys. Friendly fire is much more common than will ever be reported. Will there ever be communications that actually work? The radios are always jammed! Same thing happened to The Lone Survivor...

Great book, awful narration

Krakauer doesn't disappoint, but I could almost dissuade someone from listening to this audiobook because of the reader. I found the narration awful - monotone, dry and contrived.

An elaborate evaluation of a controversial topic

I always enjoy Krakauer’s investigative journalism. He is thorough, detailed and gripping. I felt more of his bias in this book than in other Krakauer works however that did not deter me from completing the audiobook quickly. Perhaps a bit more difficult of a listen that needed to be broken up in to sessions or substituted with a lighter topic because of the books depth and political controversy. But overall an informative and intriguing investigation in to the life of Pat Tillman and the events leading to his death as well as the private and public aftermath.

Pats Story is great but....

The story of Pat and his life and the way he dealt with things is awe inspiring. But the book goes into way to much surrounding background content that sometimes I forgot what book i was listening to.

A Must Read

I loved this novel. I have been a fan of Krakauer for years, and he doesn't disappoint. The solid background and details provided make his marrative jump off the page. I was only marginally aware of the Pat Tillman story, through articles and newscasts. This book brought the whole story home to me. I enjoyed the narrator who I feel did an excellent job.

Master Teller of True Stories

As a former government employee I have seen how events of little consequence were whitewashed to cover an embarassment or very serious problems. I love how Mr. Krakauer clearly details the facts in his books in a can't put it down manner no matter the subject. So glad I found him.

Essential reading for any ranger

Such a tragic story, but closer to reality the most any military book I’ve ever read.

Great listen

Invigorating story that tells an amazing story about a true American hero. Pat Tillman was a selfless caring and lovable man who’s time on earth was cut way too short

Very Good

This was an amazing story. I just loved it.

Where Men Win Glory

totally absorbing, very well written and thought provoking. A Krakauer classic