Sebastian Junger, best known for The Perfect Storm, was embedded with a single platoon through their 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Junger’s story of the dangers these soldiers faced every day should balance the bland reporting on our “progress” in Afghanistan. You get to know the soldiers on a personal level as Junger captures their hopes, dreams, fears, and nightmares. The soldiers cope with their stresses in various, dysfunctional ways. WAR should be required reading for everyone at the Pentagon and the State Department.
Heard him on NPR yesterday. Since I’m reading THE THINGS THEY CARRY at the moment, I will put this one off a bit. Do we ever learn? I liked what he said about journalists having the power to make a war unpopular through there coverage. I wonder how declining newspaper budgets will affect this?
In addition to writing this book, Junger and his partner, Tim Hetherington, have released a documentary film account of their time in Afghanistan titled RESTREPO, Patti. I plan to see it when it opens here. Jeff is right: THE THINGS THEY CARRIED is a great book.
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED was a terrific book.
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED blew me away when I read it decades ago, Jeff.
Read this two weeks ago. What impressed me the most was the the sheer physical discomfort these soldiers experience. You hear about large bases equipped with Starbucks and bowling alleys, that are basically little Americas. None of that for these guys. Fighting the Taliban seems like a relief to them.
I was also–I’m not sure if this is the right word–amused by how the soldiers just beat the hell out of each other, officers included.
Yes, I was amazed that the soldiers fought their battles in flip-flops and shorts, Drongo. Junger captures the informality and camaraderie of the troops. For people who want insight into our military, this book reveals a lot.
WAR is classic Sebastian Junger – reportage with philosophical asides, much like Fire or even Perfect Storm. With WAR, more than the deprivation and danger, I was more interested in the premise that the overall makeup of these men is such that they seek out combat and that it is due to the fact that there are always men that seek combat (and officers and government leaders to make use of them) that there will always be war, that war is inescapable as it is a characteristic of humanity. I have been trying to reach him to do an interview for my review site, The Current Reader, but he has been busy with a book tour and now promoting the film, plus he is a very private person, it seems. I can’t wait to see RESTREPO – it opens July 2 in Boston, my town.
Great subject, George. Keep posting!
I completely agree, Malcolm! WAR shows the day-to-day life of a U. S. soldier in Afghanistan: boredom punctuated by extreme stress. I saw Junger on MEET THE PRESS yesterday. Impressive guy. Hope you’re able to interview him. RESTREPO opens here next week. Thank you for your kind words!