The Unforgiving Minute

A Soldier's Education

By: Craig Mullaney

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Craig M. Mullaney's education had been relentlessly preparing him for this moment. The four years he spent at West Point and the harrowing test of Ranger School readied him for a career in the Army. His subsequent experience as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford couldn't have been further from the Army and his working-class roots, and yet the unorthodox education he received there would be surprisingly relevant as a combat leader.

Years later, after that unforgettable experience in Afghanistan, he would return to the United States to teach history to future Navy and Marine Corps officers at the Naval Academy. He had been in their position once, and he had put his education to the test. How would he use his own life-changing experience to prepare them?

The Unforgiving Minute is the extraordinary story of one soldier's singular education. From a hilarious plebe's-eye view of the author's West Point experience to the demanding leadership crucible of Ranger School's swamps and mountains, to a two-year whirlwind of scintillating debate, pub crawls, and romance at Oxford, Mullaney's winding path to the battlegrounds of Afghanistan was unique and remarkable.

Despite all his preparation, the hardest questions remained. When the call came to lead his platoon into battle and earn his soldiers' salutes, would he be ready? Was his education sufficient for the unforgiving minutes he'd face?

A fascinating account of an Army captain's unusual path through some of the most legendary seats of learning straight into a brutal fight with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, The Unforgiving Minute is, above all, an unforgettable portrait of a young soldier grappling with the weight of his hard-earned knowledge while coming to grips with becoming a man.

©2009 Craig Mullany (P)2009 Tantor

excellent listen

great story of one Americans journey to leading his men into battle and the ups and downs that comes with that great responsibility

Loved the story!

This book was really well written and narrated. The overall story depicted the human side of most soldiers and it related the common feelings and fears that are felt. The narrator did an excellent job of telling the story with energy and accents. Both story and narrator kept me enthralled the whole time.

Nicely Done!

I found this very interesting without it being totally gung ho or overly jingoistic as other similar stories I've read. Craig gives a nice insight into the blending of a military life with an academic bent to it. It gave me a view that I haven't really appreciated before. Good story but I wanted more at the end. I'm sure his story will continue.

A Modern Warrior Tells His Story

Would you listen to The Unforgiving Minute again? Why?

Because it tells how a member of a current generation of Twentysomethings makes choices that define them.

What does Todd McLaren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He makes it feel like a personal narrative.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His first time dealing with the death of soldiers under his command.

Any additional comments?

This was required for my rising freshman at the University of Kentucky to read. I am glad I experienced it.

Highly recommended

First off, the author makes me feel like a serious underachiever. Secondly, he gives very good descriptions of life at West Point, Ranger training, Airborne training, being a Rhodes Scholar, and life as a young officer at war time.

One more good book to add to your military history books.

Long Gray Line - Continued

Craig Mullaney shares with us his struggles, pain and triumphs as he grows from youth to manhood and command in this very touching and very personal account of his military training and service. This is a must read for anyone who thinks the youth of this nation have somehow not gotten the message of history.

I enjoyed Todd McLaren's narration.

Wars reallity.

A West Point grad. depicts what war is really about, and that even his parents change and are not as you see them as you grow up. There are adjustments, in life.

Pretentious reading, great story

This is one book I wish I'd read (not audio). I think the narrator thought he was being "militaristic", but I took it as pretentious. I saw a few videos of the author and he didn't come across that way at all. This guy was a poet - I thought the narration should have been "softer". So I'd give the book itself 5 stars, but I couldn't get over the narration - it changed how I felt about the story.

interesting contradictions

A West Point graduate becomes a Rhodes Scholar becomes an Army Ranger becomes an Infantry platoon leader in Afghanistan. Interesting look at life at West Point (spoiler alert: not the usual college experience) and the Rhodes Scholar experience (spoiler alert: reading history at Oxford is more fun than West Point).

God knows we need more really smart, highly educated people in the upper ranks of the military but I have the feeling that those people will not become Head of the Joint Chiefs anytime soon, alas.

I highly recommend this "thinking man's" look at the Army, modern warfare and casualties.

Such and honest and well written book

Read this book years ago and it’s one of my all time favorite books. As a veteran I can relate to so many things but it’s also so honest about more than just the military. His doubts and questions are ones we all have if we are being honest with ourselves. It’s beautifully written and as an enlisted soldier I had some new respect for all West Point graduates. This is a must read. You will not be disappointed.