Anthony Swofford, Jarhead

This is not an easy book to read. That doesn't mean it isn't well-written, which it is, or that it lacks action, because it doesn't. Instead, it is an often uncomfortable book. It dispels the illusion we all harbor to one degree or another that war is noble and that warriors are likewise noble. Instead, Swofford recounts his own experience in the Marine Corps, first as a line grunt in training and then as a member of the elite Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon (that is, a member of the sniper squad). He tells with stark honesty of life in the corps, the hard men living a hard life. The brutality and futility are almost palpable. Gone, or at least greatly altered, are pictures of the upright and driven soldier, fighting selflessly for the greater good. The portrait Swofford builds, of himself and his fellow platoonmates, is one of great skill coupled with often senseless violence: violence itself becomes a rush, an addiction. Soldiers fight because they have no choice, because even though they wish they had never joined they're stuck there now, and because that is where the outlet for their addiction is provided.

Along with his colorful portrait of life in the Marine Corps, Swofford recounts his own participation in and understanding of the first Gulf War, an interesting inside portrait of a quick victory to reclaim valuable oil fields.

Both as a piece of first-hand history, and as an insider tale of life at war, this is an important book. Especially for the myths it dispels, it is important reading. Because as long as we glamorize war, we don't really comprehend it, and as long as we valorize the experiences of our soldiers, we won't really be able to even begin to both honor their service and enfold them again into society. And, maybe most important of all, if we don't come face to face with the yawing void that is war, with all of its tragedy, violence, and futility, we will be too quick to go down that path again and again.