The Why of War: An Unorthodox Soldier's Memoirs

By: T.S. Lewis

Narrated by: Tweet Productions

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

For me, Iraq didn't have many gunfights or arm bars. No pillage or rape. No elation for freed Iraqis or empathy when its dictator swung from a hangman's noose. I was angered by having had to go and wanted to crack the world open and pour out her rotten core.

The Why of War chronicles 15 years of my US cavalry scout career. From introduction to conclusion, from stroke to mass shootings, this story is guaranteed to be seared into your memory. Now that the story has been written and has flowed to its truth, I realize it encompasses so much more than a question or a collection of memories. It serves as a bullhorn for other veterans to use to tell their stories. I am confident, I wasn't the only one asking why we invaded Iraq while I was there. Civilian listeners may gain a better understanding when thanking a veteran for their service.

In many ways, the story serves as a reminder that no matter where we find ourselves, what condition to which we have fallen, we can be better. We owe that to our fallen soldiers. Welcome to my why of war.

©2019 T.S. Lewis Publishing LLC (P)2019 T.S. Lewis

The right amount of manly!

This is an autobiography about a soldier named Ted. After fighting a war in Iraq, his wife being in a very bad accident and him having a stroke he started suffering from PTSD. This book has some of his journal from being on Iraq in 2007 and some current things. He is honest and brutal and it’s beautiful he loves his children his wife and wrote this book to help others. He also talks about living in Fort Hood as a staff instructor and the trouble he had with his son Duece. Frenzy loss and two of the mass shootings on Fort Hood he leaves nothing out this book is well written and well narrated the narrator was just the right amount of manly and it almost seemed like it was actually Ted reading his own book. The narrator had that vibe he sounded kind of hot. Anyway this was a really good book and anyone who likes biographies and honest and true stories this is the book for you!

Incredible insight

An amazing listen. I read the book, but also listened it. Whether a veteran or not, I think most people, at one point or another, have pondered the "why of war".

As the author states, "In many ways, the story serves as a reminder that no matter where we find ourselves, or what condition to which we have fallen, we can be better".

Do yourself a favor and download this title. You won't be disappointed!

great look from the inside looking out

I really enjoyed listening to the different stories and hearing his point of view. While I don't agree with everything said, I do respect his opinion. The small problem I have is when he starts talking about people in his platoon. There are just so many people and I found myself unable to keep them all straight. It didn't distract from the story to much but did make it hard at times to follow.

Personal experience of war

While I didn’t agree with the author on a number of perspectives, it in no way undermined the importance of an experience. I couldn’t tell if it was the writing or the narration, but it felt so disjointed I didn't get the sense of an overarching narrative. I feel like the narrator and the author have two different voices while made the story seem disconnected.

Perspective on what it means to serve

Full disclosure: I received this audiobook for free and was not requested to leave a review, only that I enjoy the book. I am going to leave a review anyway :D. And I did enjoy the book.

This book is an autobiography as the title suggests and gives a perspective of a soldiers point of view during his service. I have worked many different jobs and have had to deal with a lot of stupid and have come to believe that stupid is inherent in most jobs; whether from managers, coworkers, policies, etc. But I never expected people in the military to have to deal with stupid. This books explains some of the stupid soldiers have to deal with and is made all the worse as it costs people their limbs or their lives. An example of this, is when the author talks about the poor protection the vehicles they traveled in offered against Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) which was a constant threat or when a superior's policy was to prevent a native Iraqi child from being sent to a better medical facility to receive treatment. It is unknown if the child survived, but this situation would foster feelings of resentment and wouldn't generate more allies.
Listening to this book, I have gained a perspective into the lives of serving soldiers and sacrifices and pains they have to endure. From missing loved ones last moments in this world to missing moments of loved ones growing up to watching comrades suffer.
I want to thank T.S. Lewis for the perspective and his service. I've thanked people who served for their service and I know more of what I'm thanking them for. I've also asked my friends who have served about their service, but they've given terse answers or shrugged it off. This help explains some of what they may have experienced. I suggest picking up this audiobook if you are interested in autobiographies and/or if you want a perspective on a soldier's service.

I'm giving a 4 for performance as the quality of audio was a little grainy and not as clear as other audiobooks and it took me a while to get used to the narrator.

Definitely unorthodox for War

Not your American Sniper or anything like that, which is great because that's exactly what it tells you it's going to be. The narration however was rough, I sped this one up as fast as I possibly could too, and there are such long pauses between chapters, I honestly thought the book was over in so many occasions.