This is probably a 3.5 star book. Any other author I'd give the benefit of the doubt; given that it's Captain Swarthy himself I have to reserve a bit harsher judgment. When this book is on, it's really on. I read it in 3 sittings, swept up in a narrative I already knew the conclusion to (and hoped would turn out otherwise). The prose left me breathless, and with an overwhelming sense of righteous indignation at 6 years of unjust war and outright lies from those perpetrating it. But - and this book would have received many more stars if there weren't a but - this book was supposed to be about Pat Tillman, a character ripe for the Krakauer treatment ("Kraking," in my personal parlance). All the elements were there: an exceptional individual governed by an unassailable moral code. Thoughtful and intense, a peaceful warrior driven by an inherent sense of mission, and led to an unfortunate end by a world far more susceptible to petty hubris. But Krakauer never really gets into Tillman's head. He's a character in the story, but we never get to know him like we did Chris McCandless or the Lafferty brothers. It's no surprise publication was delayed a year while the author retooled the book. I'm not sure if further delay would have fixed things, but as it stands this is a good book that misses becoming a great book. ( )

This is probably a 3.5 star book. Any other author I'd give the benefit of the doubt; given that it's Captain Swarthy himself I have to reserve a bit harsher judgment. When this book is on, it's really on. I read it in 3 sittings, swept up in a narrative I already knew the conclusion to (and hoped would turn out otherwise). The prose left me breathless, and with an overwhelming sense of righteous indignation at 6 years of unjust war and outright lies from those perpetrating it. But - and this book would have received many more stars if there weren't a but - this book was supposed to be about Pat Tillman, a character ripe for the Krakauer treatment ("Kraking," in my personal parlance). All the elements were there: an exceptional individual governed by an unassailable moral code. Thoughtful and intense, a peaceful warrior driven by an inherent sense of mission, and led to an unfortunate end by a world far more susceptible to petty hubris. But Krakauer never really gets into Tillman's head. He's a character in the story, but we never get to know him like we did Chris McCandless or the Lafferty brothers. It's no surprise publication was delayed a year while the author retooled the book. I'm not sure if further delay would have fixed things, but as it stands this is a good book that misses becoming a great book. ( )

This is probably a 3.5 star book. Any other author I'd give the benefit of the doubt; given that it's Captain Swarthy himself I have to reserve a bit harsher judgment. When this book is on, it's really on. I read it in 3 sittings, swept up in a narrative I already knew the conclusion to (and hoped would turn out otherwise). The prose left me breathless, and with an overwhelming sense of righteous indignation at 6 years of unjust war and outright lies from those perpetrating it. But - and this book would have received many more stars if there weren't a but - this book was supposed to be about Pat Tillman, a character ripe for the Krakauer treatment ("Kraking," in my personal parlance). All the elements were there: an exceptional individual governed by an unassailable moral code. Thoughtful and intense, a peaceful warrior driven by an inherent sense of mission, and led to an unfortunate end by a world far more susceptible to petty hubris. But Krakauer never really gets into Tillman's head. He's a character in the story, but we never get to know him like we did Chris McCandless or the Lafferty brothers. It's no surprise publication was delayed a year while the author retooled the book. I'm not sure if further delay would have fixed things, but as it stands this is a good book that misses becoming a great book. ( )

Krakauer is my favorite author in the mountaineering genre. Recently he has expanded his purview to investigative journalism with Under the Banner of Heaven, in which he revealed his talents as a top rate and courageous reporter of sensitive subject matter. In tackling the Tillman death, he is less successful; although the reader is left with the conviction that the case is thoroughly investigated and explained in the book, the style is less gripping than usual, partly because Krakauer is forced to rely on extensive quotes from historical or official documents. The book tells an important story, presents it fairly (although not without reaching some compelling and controversial conclusions), but lacks the gripping storytelling quality that one has come to expect from the author. ( )

Another winner from an excellent nonfiction writer. Krakauer embeds himself into whatever situation he is writing about; this time, it is Afghanistan and the untimely and unnecessary death of a young patriot, Pat Tillman. Many people first knew of Pat as a football player for Arizona State and then the Arizona Cardinals. Much has been made of the fact that he turned down a multi-million dollar contract to enlist in the army after 9/11.

Pat was an alpha male who lived for adventure on one hand, but was a deep thinker and a man who stood up for his beliefs on the other. He was curious about many things and wasn't afraid to question what he read or what others said. He was loyal to friends and family...and his country. He served with courage and integrity, even though he disagreed with many of the politics behind the Iraqi and Afghanistan Wars. What a waste of a promising young life. I just wish Krakauer would have pointed out that there are many equally promising young people losing their lives in war.

War is hell and "friendly" fire is the cruelest of oxymorons. In his lengthy Postscript, J.K. cites some very disturbing conservative estimates of fratricide. I was shocked to learn that approximately 51% of the casualties in the Gulf War were attributed to friendly fire. Something is wrong with this picture. Even more disappointing is the suppression of the truth. "Chaos is indeed the normal state of affairs on the battleground, and no army has figured out a way to plan efffectively for, let alone alleviate, the so-called fog of war. When the military is confronted with the fratricidal carnage that predictably results, denial and dissembling are its time-honored responses of first resort." (Page 202). Well, that's pretty much how Washington (under any administration) and the military handles sensitive matters. If Krakauer had been more objective in telling this astounding story, it would have had more of an impact on me. I'm a bit like Pat Tillman in being able to question what I read and determine for myself what is going on. ( )