• Achilles in Vietnam

  • Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character
  • By: Jonathan Shay MD
  • Narrated by: David Strathairn
  • Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (145 ratings)

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Achilles in Vietnam  By  cover art

Achilles in Vietnam

By: Jonathan Shay MD
Narrated by: David Strathairn
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Publisher's summary

An original and groundbreaking audiobook that examines the psychological devastation of war by comparing the soldiers of Homer’s Iliad with Vietnam veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In this strikingly original and groundbreaking audiobook, Dr. Shay examines the psychological devastation of war by comparing the soldiers of Homer’s Iliad with Vietnam veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the Iliad was written 27 centuries ago, it has much to teach about combat trauma, as do the more recent, compelling voices and experiences of Vietnam vets.

©1994, 2010 Jonathan Shay, MD (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Achilles in Vietnam

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ANAZING

Enough said. This is a must and the reading is phenomenal. The ONLY reason it’s five stars is because I can’t give it more. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME.

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Must read for any veteran. Yeah you

This book was one of the first ones that I ever left to review for. It’s amazing the messages powerful it resonates, and anyone that listens to this book will be able to take something away from it.

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This was an excellent read.

I can’t believe I never heard of this book. More folks in our military and mental health communities should learn from this!

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A phenomenal narration of a PTSD classic.

The great character actor, David Strathairn, performs the gravelly voices of combat veterans, including that of Achilles. Who knew that Homer could be so gripping and relevant?

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excellent

110 percent recommended. straight and to the point. this analysis is both fascinating and gripping. buy and listen.

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Great

This is a fantastic primer to PTSD and understanding how it affects people. the book shows its age, but i believe that the lessons in it are still just a valuable today, as when it was written.

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2 people found this helpful

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Truly breathtaking

I loved David Straithairn’s performance. The contents are important to understanding that war is ugly and those who must endure it must be taken care of.

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"If you fail to feel the pain of others...

You do not deserve the name of man." ~Saadi Shirazi
This is the closest I've ever been able to get in trying to understand the agony my dad experienced during the war and upon coming home. Thank you for the emotional reading of the personal testimonies. He never broke down in front of me, he hid his pain behind a wall of indifference. This book is my ladder so I can climb it.

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Admirable book, admirably read

Empathetic and incisive. David Straithairn waived his fee for narrating the book, for reasons that are easily apparent.

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should be required reading in highschool

I believe this book could improve humanity in general. however, I feel it especially useful for modern society in the United States of America. I wish more people, especially young people, would gain access to this.

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2 people found this helpful