Publisher Description
The revised and updated edition of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s modern classic about the psychology of combat, hailed by the Washington Post as “an illuminating account of how soldiers learn to kill and how they live with the experiences of having killed.”
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In World War II, only 15 to 20 percent of combat infantry were willing to fire their rifles. In Korea, about 50 percent. In Vietnam, the figure rose to more than 90 percent.Â
The good news is that most soldiers are loath to kill. But armies have developed sophisticated ways sophisticated ways of overcoming that instinctive aversion. The psychological cost for soldiers, as evidenced by the increase in post-traumatic stress, is devastating. This landmark study brilliantly illuminates the techniques the military uses to help soldiers kill and raises vital questions about the implications of escalating violence in our society.Â
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“Powerfully argued…Full of arresting observations and insights.” —New York Times
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“This book was very interesting. I was not as up to date as I was expecting (it was written in the mid-1990’s), but it is still relevant. It was interesting to read how people/soldiers are desensitized, and how that is at play in our media (and even worse now than it was when the book was written). Being the wife of a veteran I felt like it gave me some insight into some of the things my husband has experienced, and I hope it helps me to understand and support him better. This book should be read by anyone who supports a soldier (family and/or friends), and especially by politicians (particularly the president, governors, senators, etc.) as they often make choices about where to wage war. It really made me sad to see how Vietnam Vets have been overlooked and mistreated. I also think that anyone who is interested in the military should read this book as it shows the dark side of being a solider rather than the guts and glory of battle. It seems that there are a lot of people out there who think they understand soldiers because they have watched Band of Brothers and play Halo. Anyhow there’s a lot I could say, but just not enough time. Oh, this book isn’t for the faint of heart, or at least they shouldn’t be surprised.”
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Marjanne (5 out of 5 stars)
