Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 62
 Authenticity July 7, 2009
OldSchoolie (Norfolk, UK)
35 out of 37 found this review helpful
Patrick Hennessey is to be congratulated on capturing the authentic voice of the young officer. He writes in a spare and muscular style and accurately reflects the pains, terrors and satisfactions of both training and high intensity operations. As one who watched from the sidelines some years ago I can only wonder at the resilience and courage of soldiers and officers today.
Boredom and fear... July 4, 2009
S. Brown
37 out of 40 found this review helpful
Well-written, amusing and intelligent book. Grips right from the beginning manages to re-capture that sense of adolescent adrenalin rush and adventure that most of us have long forgotten. Touching too in its examination of relationships among the platoon in Iraq and Afghanistan and at home. I enjoyed the re-telling, to horrified girl friend and parents. of the immediate posting to Iraq. A book that is refreshing in its honesty and sheer verve.I think the army lost a great soldier here.
Will time temper Hennessey's arrogance? January 11, 2010
Mobinsyd (Singapore)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Despite my view that the author demonstrates an immature arrogance regarding REMFs, other services, journalists, females and generally anyone not part of his team, this is an excellent book that I recommend to anyone wanting to better understand the psyche of the British Army.
The stories from Sandhurst are the best reflection I have read of a hopelessly outdated institution that paradoxically provides probably the finest leadership training in the world.
I would suggest that the dismissive views Hennessey has of the 'non-combat' element of the war effort are mirrored by very close to 100% of combat arm junior officers in the British Army. Therefore I have no gripe with this honest, immediate depiction of training and deployment into operational theatres. Note that, alongside every other junior officer, he will criticise senior officers, other Arms, other forces and politicians but never has a single bad word to say about anyone in his own team.
He is clearly an intelligent and courageous young man - his thoughts on bravery and the buzz he continues to get from engagements are fascinating.
I cannot help but wonder if the author will moderate his unconcealed contempt for the essential support elements as he gains in maturity and perhaps reflects on the essential requirement for a necessary mix of people, and skills. Of course, no army could function with 100% Lt Hennessey's. In the book there is already a clear progress from the contemperaneous emails and the more considered later writings.
Shame he has left the Army; I would have loved to be able to read his biography as a retired General!
Essential Reading Club October 8, 2009
Keven Smith (England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought this book for my son, in preparation for him undertaking officer training in the Royal Marines. He loved it and is grateful for the insight into military training and military life that it gave him. I am approaching the end of my military career, when I read the book I felt that I was reading an abridged history of my time, full of vignettes of my experiences and those of many of my colleagues. Military technology has changed through the years but the character of military people has not; this book will strike a chord with anyone with military experience, be they a WW2 veteran or a "sprog" fresh out of training. If you are seeking to form an honest and accurate opinion of the officers and men of todays Armed Forces, not just the hollywood view peddled by the blow-flies of the press, read this book!
A War classic up there with sniper one. June 25, 2009
Peter A. Colwill (England)
78 out of 88 found this review helpful
Firstly I was quite put off by the title. I thought it would be another boring account of politics within the military but I was proved very wrong. If you get the chance to listen to the readings from radio 4's book of the week (download from BBC I player) then you are in for a treat. This is compelling stuff and now having read the whole book I can honestly say it is up there with Dan Mills and Sniper One and Robert Mason's Chickenhawk.
The real ups and downs of a soldiers life in war at peace and when it is downright unfair. All here to digest. Written in plain speak making it easy to follow and digest unlike some more boring accounts by journalists or so called established writers this is written by a soldier for soldiers. If you buy one book this year then make it this one!!!
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 62
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