No Place to Hide

A Brain Surgeon's Long Journey Home from the Iraq War

By: W. Lee Warren

Narrated by: Chip Arnold, Henry O. Arnold

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A War Zone of the Soul: Dr. W. Lee Warren's life as a neurosurgeon in a trauma center began to unravel long before he shipped off to serve the Air Force in Iraq in 2004. When he traded a comfortable if demanding practice in San Antonio, Texas, for a ride on a C-130 into the combat zone, he was already reeling from months of personal struggle. At the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Warren realized his experience with trauma was just beginning. In his 120 days in a tent hospital, he was trained in a different specialty - surviving over 100 mortar attacks and trying desperately to repair the damages of a war that raged around every detail of every day. No place was safe, and the constant barrage wore down every possible defense, physical or psychological.

One day, clad only in a T-shirt, gym shorts, and running shoes, Warren was caught in the open while round after round of mortars shook the earth and shattered the air with their explosions, stripping him of everything he had been trying so desperately to hold on to. Warren's story is an example of how a person can go from a place of total loss to one of strength, courage, and victory. Whether you are in the midst of your own crisis of faith, failed relationship, financial struggle, or illness, you will be inspired to remember that how you respond determines whether you survive - spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically. It is the beginning of a long journey home.

©2014 Zondervan (P)2014 Zondervan

So good because it is so personal

It was well narrated and personally revealing while also offering a gritty accounting of the reality of a wartime hospital. This book also delves often into the wuss in which his Christian faith framed his experiences in both good and bad ways. Such as the moral injury of being a witness to the evils of war, the selflessness and good that individuals can muster despite being beset by evil, and the redemptive power of ceding control over one's life to God. Finally, he offers wonderful and moving insight into the very human experience of trying to figure out how to carry on with life during and after the fracturing of a relationship or marriage. If recommend this book to anyone but certainly anyone in military health system, healthcare providers of all stripes, anyone struggling through family or faith crises, and anyone interested in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. So... basically everyone, as I'm sure we can all find a point of relation herein.

Powerful!

Trauma comes in many forms, yet the healing from writing the experience is moving and inspiring to hear. Understanding why events in life happen to some and not others is beyond comprehension. However, to hear Warren share his experience and to learn from his road to recovery is motivation to stay on the path. Thank you!

Good book from a military Doc!

This book captures Dr. Warren's experience at the 332nd. I like the fact that it highlighted some of the day to day operations at Balad AB.

Wow! Such a raw depiction of war, faith, and love

This is by far one of the finest books I have encountered. The beautiful way in which he spoke, descriptive depictions of his own personal experiences in a war time hospital, and the way he told HIS story of surviving war, PTSD and his personal struggles through the best of times and the worst of times. God bless you Dr Warren, as you lead others to faith. Thank you and all your subjects for your brave and selfless service.

wonderful

What made the experience of listening to No Place to Hide the most enjoyable?

If you don't like books that tear you in every direction emotionally, then maybe you shouldn't read this. But in my opinion, this was a wonderfully written book with incredibly heart-wrenching imagery that makes you feel as if you are experiencing the moments yourself. It puts a lot of things into perspective and teaches much about what goes in Iraq, things that we often like to ignore or pretend don't happen. Loved it.

Great book about great human being

Where does No Place to Hide rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably among the best 5 definitely

Who was your favorite character and why?

The surgeon, something about the guy seems very down to earth, unlike other neurosurgeons I have meet, very honest about his faults, very like us I guess

Have you listened to any of Henry Arnold’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't remember, probably.

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

When the doctors attended a Iraqi 2 year old child.

Any additional comments?

War is just horrible, there are no words to describe it enough, but among that, the men and women that serve in the US military, deserve respect and sincerely more help from everybody

Compassionate, engaging, and motivating!

A very personal take on the Iraq war and some of the battles that occur not on the front lines. As a physician and anesthesiologist, I appreciate Dr Warren's sincerity and thankless love he demonstrated while putting together broken men and women.

A great performance by the narrator!

%1000 love

The story itself is very engaging and intelligent. Dr. Warren really gives the story legs with his own narration.
This is no ordinary book. It isn't one that you rush through because you want to get to the end. It needs to be digested in small amounts so you can get the full meaning.

Different view of war

Being a Marine never thinking the men and women taking care of us other then the cormen or doc’s as we called them. This book shows a side of war most never think or dream about. Doctor Warren accounts made me thank God that I never was sent to war.

Thank you Dr Lee!

It is my first book about war! I heard Dr Lee on my favorite podcast, Susie Larson Live. I love audible and this book was available. His truth telling, front line view and real life replay was heart wrenching and soul building. Can’t wait to hear more from this hero.