The Forever War

The Forever War

  • by Dexter Filkins
  • Narrated by Robertson Dean
  • 11 hrs and 40 mins
  • Unabridged Audiobook
4.29 (361
Ratings.
)

Publisher's Summary

National Book Critics Circle, Nonfiction, 2009
From the front lines of the battle against Islamic radicalism, a searing, unforgettable audiobook that captures the human essence of the greatest conflict of our time. Through the eyes of Dexter Filkins, the prize-winning New York Times correspondent, we witness the remarkable chain of events that began with the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, continued with the attacks of 9/11, and moved on to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.Filkins' narrative moves across a vast and various landscape of amazing characters and astonishing scenes: a public amputation performed by the Taliban, children frolicking in minefields, skies streaked white by the contrails of B-52s, a night's sleep in the rubble of Ground Zero.We venture into a torture chamber run by Saddam Hussein. We go into the homes of suicide bombers, meet Iraqi insurgents, and an American captain who loses a quarter of his men in eight days.The Forever War allows us a visceral understanding of today's battlefields and of the experiences of the people on the ground, warriors and innocents alike. It is a brilliant, fearless work, not just about America's wars after 9/11, but ultimately about the nature of war itself.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful

A memorable "read"

This book transports you to places in Afghanistan and Iraq before and after the wars began, fraught with danger, intrigue and surprises. Filkens writes not with just a reporter's eye but with that of a keen observer of people and events. You can all but smell the air of cafes, homes and the battlefields of the streets.

I was impressed by the brutal honesty of Filkens, which is not always flattering to him. One story in particular -- which I won't give away -- is haunting, not only for the listener, but for Filkens. But for all that happened, this man is certainly no coward. He's more of a daredevil. What kind of person goes jogging in Iraq OUTSIDE of the Green Zone? Filkens certainly tempts fate throughout the book.

This is one of those books that sticks with you after you've finished. While it's expensive at a hefty two credits, it's worth every one.
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- b2b4

Engaging

At times the subject matter is extremely grim, but you can't put this down. You feel like you're there.
This is exceptionally well written and the narrator does an excellent job.
My respect and admiration for journalists, though usually high, has been notched up even higher.

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- Brian Healy

Book Details

  • Release Date: 09-23-2008
  • Publisher: Books on Tape
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