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Jeff Dawson –
Excellent perspective from one who served. Seldom do I condemn other reviewers in their stance, but this is the rare exception. To all those who thought or think this is American propaganda, then you either did not read the book, or your mind was made up before you started or you have not read any other memoirs from any other conflicts in the world.This is the insight of a man who was on the ground and answered the call of his country and performed to exemplary levels of honor, bravery and comradeship. You will find the same type of writing in “Last Dead Hero”- Robert Lamon, “Blood Red Snow”- Gunther K. Koschorrek, “The Forgotten Soldier” Guy Sajer “Patton” Ladislas Farago and a host of others. These men fought for their country and sought to defeat and destroy the enemy. Plain and simple, waris about killing people to win. It’s not a walk in the park and handled through diplomacy where everyone holds hands and smiles. War is ugly, destructive and dehumanizing. Ask the Russians how many they lost during World War Two. Ask the British if they had, as Neville Chamberlain proclaimed, “Peace in our time.” You win by killing your enemy!Chris gives the reader a frontline look at how the battle in Iraq was fought. Does he come across as inhumane? Perhaps. But as a sniper, his job isn’t to sit back and observe, it’s to protect his fellow soldiers in harms way. And he does this by killing the enemy.I have talked, not interviewed, many men who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan. The common thread all of these men and women hold is, they are fighting for the man/woman by their side. Politics and grand strategies are the farthest thing from their minds. Protecting their fellow soldiers is front and foremost.His insight to his commanders is a common theme you’ll find in most biographies-incompetent. His description of one of these, “0% casualties, 100% effectiveness.” galled him. How do you go out in the field to ambush or become a target for your foe and not expect to incur casualties? I’m sure those were the words Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery, Patton, Truscott, Roosevelt, King, Schwarzkopf and Franks told their men as they were going into the fray. No!The other side of this tribute is his family life. Was it all rose gardens and happy-go-lucky? Far from it. His wife Taya had her own battles to fight. She was responsible for raising their two children while he was off fighting. Her insights to their fiery, troubled relationship are well timed and placed through this work. She does not hold back how much she despises the military but also understands that her husband is bound and determined to keep the bad guys from coming to the states and making sure he does everything in his ability to make that happen. For her, it is a Catch-22. She loves her husband and is proud of his service, but sooner or later, he’s going to have to make family number two on the list. When Chris realizes that he’s not immortal during his last deployment and reenlistment is coming up, he will have to decide if he wants to continue his service which could result in him losing his family. He chooses the later. This alone is an excellent testament of two people not taking the easy road. They overcame their differences and remembered why they fell in love in the first place.I recommend this warrior’s story to anyone who wants a glimpse into the day to day life of a man who is dedicated to his God, Country and Family.
TUCSON ROBERT –
AMERICAN SNIPER, Autobiography by Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. This book is not about grand military strategy; it is a detailed and very descriptive narrative on the life of Chris Kyle, an American warrior. Kyle devotes a lot of ink describing tactics peculiar to special operations as a sniper. He describes his participation in battles in Fallujah, Romadi and other hot spots of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Kyle covers in great detail descriptions of weapons and munitions he studied and used in his profession—killing bad guys. He also discusses the equipment he carried on his person, emergency medical supplies, body armor, etc. He talks about the confidence he learned to have in the Air Force and Navy air depositing ordinance as close as a few hundred feet from friendly forces. He mentions his longest confirmed kill of 1,600 yards—the length of 16 football fields and admits there might have been a bit of luck involved. He talks about working closely with Army and Marines special ops and how he took it upon himself to help train them. Chris Kyle was a story teller. Some have criticized his writing as amateurish and crass. I found it candid, descriptive and often humorous. As someone said, Kyle writes like he talks. His dialogue is often laced with guttural profanity. His descriptions of various combat venues are so vivid I felt I was there with him. Some have characterized Chris Kyle as bloodthirsty and thoughtless when it comes to human life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every military person who has been to war sees war and combat differently. Some thoroughly enjoy it, others despise and loath it. Chris Kyle liked what he did; he was good at it and couldn’t wait to get back with his fellow SEALS and to be a key player in killing bad guys—savages as he called them. He believed every savage he killed saved an American life. He does not apologize for liking his job. One thing I found surprising, Chris Kyle did not like water; he did not like being at sea. He particularly disliked submarines. He called shipboard duty the most boring part of his career. He admitted his Texas roots made him a land lover.Chris’s wife, Taya, interjects her very welcome thoughts throughout the book. They both admit their marriage was a troubled one during the time Chris was in the Navy. Each deployment brought new issues and tensions to the marriage. Taya was left alone most of the time to raise a baby and a toddler. She resented it. She felt that Chris had more allegiance to the SEALS and his buddies than to his own family. As she put it, Chris’s priorities were—God, Country, Family; hers were God, Family, Country. I found Taya’s comments candid, honest and at times humorous. Her views provide a warm personal touch to understanding Chris Kyle and their family. If you read this book from cover to cover you learn a lot about the SEALS, their profession, their private lives and the camaraderie, trust and ironclad friendships inherent to their profession. During his career, Chris Kyle earned two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars, all for valor. Chris Kyle is a great American hero and should be remembered in that context. His wife, Taya, is a hero too. She is the embodiment of all military wives. Without them, military families could not survive. I know this to be true having spent 28 years in the military myself. I give the book 5 stars.
Mark Lynott –
Always such an easy experience!
Mark Lynott –
Always such an easy experience!
Steven –
“American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History” is a gripping and powerful autobiography that provides a profound insight into the life of an American hero. With its compelling storytelling, raw emotions, and unflinching accounts of sacrifice and bravery, this book has far surpassed my expectations, leaving a lasting impact on my perspective.The standout feature of “American Sniper” is the authentic and candid narrative of the author, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, who shares his experiences, struggles, and triumphs on and off the battlefield.The book takes readers on an intense journey through the rigors of military training, the harrowing experiences of combat, and the toll it takes on both the physical and mental well-being of a soldier.The autobiography sheds light on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and the challenges they face in protecting their country and fellow soldiers.The courage, dedication, and sense of duty displayed by the author are truly inspiring and provide readers with a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military personnel.”American Sniper” is a testament to the human spirit and the unwavering commitment of those who serve in the armed forces, making it a captivating and emotionally charged read.In conclusion, “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History” is a must-read for anyone seeking a gripping and honest account of the life of a military hero. Its powerful storytelling and profound themes of courage and sacrifice make it the ultimate choice for gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by our military personnel. If you’re looking for an autobiography that leaves a lasting impact and evokes a sense of gratitude, “American Sniper” is the perfect option. I highly recommend this book for its outstanding storytelling and the profound insights it provides into the life of an American hero.
SLIMJIM –
I could not believe how fast I read the book–I could not put it down and finished within 24 hours while finishing my prep for a sermon and sunday school (I’m a preacher). This is the autobiography of the nation’s top sniper with the most confirmed kill in history, by Navy Seal Sniper Chris Kyle. This is not the pansy book and movie “Jarhead” by Anthony Swafford or whatever his name is…Chris Kyle is the real deal. I have not read any military book in a long time, and what makes this work different than others is the fact that this guy is talking about a war and country that has defined the last decade and our generation. Well, some portion of our generation I should say. For those who have been there, readers will be amazed at God’s providence in having the author being engaged in combat over every bad parts of Iraq–Nasariyah, Fallujah, Ramadi, Bahgdad and the slums of Sadr City. Readers must be cautioned that the author does write with profanity. But there is something that I am drawn with Kyle’s story– his humility, his honesty in describing situations that reveal that SEALs are very human just like other fighting force, and his stories of the men around him. He begins the book with a bit of his upbringing and like most SEAL books, his experience with BUD/S (though he keeps it brief). Reading his account makes me realize I would never even try out for BUD/S and glad that there are men who would actually go through that massive pain for six months to even try out to be a SEAL. Unlike other SEALs book out there, I thought an interesting twist was the angle that Kyle took was the family aspect. He talks about the toll four deployments had on his wife, and new family, and even something I’ve never seen in any other SEALs or sniper books: The wife contributes to the book by writing about her perspective! Pimple faced teenage SEALs wannabes might not appreciate it, but those more older and mature–or have served in the military in general or have loved ones in the service would appreciate this angle that Kyle’s book took. One of the reason that I’m so drawn to the book is that this is a book about our times, and our generation–like anyone who has lived in the post 9/11 world, Kyle talks about that day hearing it in the news and how that affected him, and readers will probably think back of their own moments with 9/11 as well. It also describe an amazing warrior who went four tours to the war in Iraq, that shaped so much of the last decade’s politics and lives of many fine men and women. Prior to the invasion of Iraq, I have always treasured Black Hawk Down as the story of modern warfare, and whereas that book describe the 90s Clintonian wars, pseudowars and military operation short of wars (all political speak, but ask the ones who have bullets flying over them!), then this book has defined the account of modern warfare in the early 2000s. I have to say that personally for me, the author has brought back a lot of emotions, memories and spirit I had as a Marine, with his humour and account of things. Of course, I realize Marines are not SEALs but my greatest respects goes to the SEALs for the things they go through is so much more tougher than anything else out there. His stories about serving alongside Marines and Army soldiers moves me much, and I am so glad for the countless lives Kyle has saved. Throughout the book the theme of which priority to take (God, Country then Family vs God, Family then Country) makes this more than just a book of bagging terrorists and fanactics, it is the story of the dire human condition and value in patriotism, faith, service and love. Very moving. I highly recommend it especially for those veterans and those veterans who are injured, to be inspired and seeing life after the military.
Corey –
An amazing war memoir told by one of the greatest warriors to ever walk the Earth.
Mike –
On the surface, some may see Kyle’s book as a great war story–it is that. But a deeper read of the book shows this to be a highly personalized account of the evolution of a man over the back-drop of war.Overlayed onto the story of Mr. Kyle’s war time experiences is the story of Chris’s evolution as a man, as a soldier, but most of all as a father and husband. Woven in throughout the book is story of his courtship and marriage to Taya, and to their starting a family. The book shows the not so pleasant realities of the difficulty imposed on our military families by fathers and husbands answering the call of duty. I admire Kyle’s candor about his putting country (and the SEALs) ahead of his family. Some authors would not be so willing to display their personal pocks like this.I was afraid the story of his marital relationship and its difficulties would take away from the narrative, but far from doing so it enriched it especially with the commentary written by his wife which added dimension to the personal drama of Kyle’s 4 deployments. One has to appreciate a man whose patriotism and sense of duty called him away from home and family so many times. Some might condemn his priorities. But without such men, who would fight our battles?As mentioned, the book shows Mr. Kyle’s evolution away from a priority list of God, country and family and turning it into the more correct sequence of God, family country. At the end of 4 long, eventful deployments, Mr. Kyle clearly came to realize what’s most important in life and that a man should only be asked to sacrifice so much for his nation–and that his family needed him more than the war did. You have to give Chris credit for this awakening. Not that what he did in taking 4 deployments was wrong–far from it–I believe he was doing what God intended for his life. But he did the right thing leaving the military when he did. Clearly it was time.The events he was involved in during the Iraq War are of course the main focus of the book and for me the most engrossing. Chris is a great story teller and the battles he fought are well drawn and really pull you in. The Fallujah chapters were particularly interesting. I felt like I was there in the thick of the battle with Chris and his team. The story of the 2400 yard kill he made near the end of his final deployment was truly amazing. Mr. Kyle’s wicked sense of humor also shines through the narrative as well. This is anything but a dry read.Not as big a page turner as his buddy Marcus Lutrell’s book “Lone Survivor,” “American Sniper” nonetheless deserves its own honored place in the realms of recent war literature. While “Lone Survivor’s” chapters on Seal training I felt were stronger, Kyle’s book nonethless does a nice job describing this grueling process. This book is certainly more personal than Lutrell’s book, and I think I came away with a better sense of who Chris Kyle is than I did from Lutrell and his book.My only quibbles with the book are I wish he had used less profanity. I know that’s how soldiers talk and I don’t want to rob the book of Chris’s personality (which comes out abundantly in the volume). I just thought it was a bit excessive.I would have been interested too in having more dates to the events described to give us a better idea of the time line of Chris’s tale. I think the book could have used a little more disciplined editing too, eliminating some of the one and two sentence paragraphs and the sections describing the guns Chris used which didn’t really interest me not being much of a gun guy. But I’m sure this will be of great interest to gun enthusiasts. I just thought that aspect could have been blended into the war stories. Despite that, the book is well-paced and never bogs down at any point other than perhaps the gun section, but even then just barely. But these are minor critiques.To the left wing scolds reviewing the book on here who want to dismiss Chris as a “warmonger,” stop playing so predictably to type with your tiresome self-righteousness. I have my doubts you even read the book. Chris isn’t some blood thirsty fiend. He was a man who had a job to do and did it well and took justifiable pride in it–even if you don’t understand that or agree with the Iraq War. He truly felt what he was doing made the world a better, safer place. Instead of simpering over people who’d gladly kill you and your family merely for being an American try thinking of the lives he saved, both American and Iraqi, by taking out the terrorist beasts who wanted to use Iraq to impose their nihilistic, oppressive and monsterous perversion of Islam on Iraq and the region. Who are those of you who never served and were never in Iraq to question Chris’s motives?Overall a book that will draw you in and hold you. Well told, unafraid, candid, honest, unvarnished. Admirable traits for a war biography in such PC times as ours that discourage the idea of there being any glory to be had in war. Mr. Kyle does a competent job putting the lid on that sentiment. Thank you Mr. Kyle for all you did for me and for all you did for all of us.
Don Pruitt –
A very enjoyable read, I finished the book start to end in two days. I knew about Chris Kyle from watching some of his television interviews where he discussed his book and his run in with Jesse Ventura and later the reports of his death at the gun range at the hands of Eddie Ray Routh.As I was reading the book I was reminded of my experience with some UDT guys in the early 1960s while I was serving on submarines as a radioman on the USS Trumpetfish SS425 out of Squadron 4 in Charleston S.C. The operation was for us to drop them off while stilled submerged just offshore of Jacksonville FL and they were to go ashore and survey the beach and then come back and be picked up again while still submerged. On the way to Jacksonville they wanted to get in an hour or two of exercise every day. Chris mentioned in the book that it was difficult for them exercise on a nuclear boat due to the cramped space and I just thought, you should have tried it on a WWII era submarine. The best they could do was a few calisthenics and run in place. When we were submerged a few miles offshore of Jacksonville Beach a few of the guys made egress via the escape trunk with their rubber raft that was fitted with a small outboard motor. After they were clear of the boat we surfaced and the off duty watch section got to go topside so we could watch them in action. A young LTJG who was in charge of the operation was watching the progress via binoculars and after they were a couple of miles away he said “Damn, the motor stopped and Jones will never get it started again”. He stripped to his swim trunks and put on the largest set of swim fins that I have ever seen and went over the side and took off swimming and it looked like he was moving faster than I could have run. He got to the raft and climbed aboard and restarted the engine and was back in the water and swimming back to the boat. He made it back just as fast as he went out. When he climbed back aboard about ten of us white hats were talking to him and ask him how long he could hold his breath. Without hesitation he said, “I can stay underwater without tanks about five minutes” to which we all said, “No way”. So that was the basis of a bet and all of us pooled our money and came up with about $50 that said he couldn’t do it. He took the bet and went back over the side. We all spread out and posted some guys at the bow and stern and each side to make sure that he wouldn’t surface and sneak a breath. After about 5 and ½ minutes he resurfaced and was not out of breath or looked like he was stressed in any way and with a big smile he collected his winnings. The ashore crew headed back to the boat and we submerged again and raised the observation scope and very slowly made a pass by the raft where the UDT guys lassoed the scope and we towed them back into deeper water where they came back aboard via the escape trunk without us having to surface.It wasn’t till later that the LTJG owned up and told us that he had swam under the submarine and climbed through one of the flood ports into a dry ballast tank where he waited the requisite 5 minutes. We tried to protest but he maintained that the bet was that he could stay underwater without tanks for 5 minutes and not that he would hold his breath that long. We relented and let him keep the $50 just for having the balls to climb up in a dark ballast tank in the first place.Ever since that trip I have had the upmost respect for the UDT and later the SEALS for their skill, conditioning and training.
TUCSON ROBERT –
AMERICAN SNIPER, Autobiography by Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. This book is not about grand military strategy; it is a detailed and very descriptive narrative on the life of Chris Kyle, an American warrior. Kyle devotes a lot of ink describing tactics peculiar to special operations as a sniper. He describes his participation in battles in Fallujah, Romadi and other hot spots of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Kyle covers in great detail descriptions of weapons and munitions he studied and used in his profession—killing bad guys. He also discusses the equipment he carried on his person, emergency medical supplies, body armor, etc. He talks about the confidence he learned to have in the Air Force and Navy air depositing ordinance as close as a few hundred feet from friendly forces. He mentions his longest confirmed kill of 1,600 yards—the length of 16 football fields and admits there might have been a bit of luck involved. He talks about working closely with Army and Marines special ops and how he took it upon himself to help train them. Chris Kyle was a story teller. Some have criticized his writing as amateurish and crass. I found it candid, descriptive and often humorous. As someone said, Kyle writes like he talks. His dialogue is often laced with guttural profanity. His descriptions of various combat venues are so vivid I felt I was there with him. Some have characterized Chris Kyle as bloodthirsty and thoughtless when it comes to human life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every military person who has been to war sees war and combat differently. Some thoroughly enjoy it, others despise and loath it. Chris Kyle liked what he did; he was good at it and couldn’t wait to get back with his fellow SEALS and to be a key player in killing bad guys—savages as he called them. He believed every savage he killed saved an American life. He does not apologize for liking his job. One thing I found surprising, Chris Kyle did not like water; he did not like being at sea. He particularly disliked submarines. He called shipboard duty the most boring part of his career. He admitted his Texas roots made him a land lover.Chris’s wife, Taya, interjects her very welcome thoughts throughout the book. They both admit their marriage was a troubled one during the time Chris was in the Navy. Each deployment brought new issues and tensions to the marriage. Taya was left alone most of the time to raise a baby and a toddler. She resented it. She felt that Chris had more allegiance to the SEALS and his buddies than to his own family. As she put it, Chris’s priorities were—God, Country, Family; hers were God, Family, Country. I found Taya’s comments candid, honest and at times humorous. Her views provide a warm personal touch to understanding Chris Kyle and their family. If you read this book from cover to cover you learn a lot about the SEALS, their profession, their private lives and the camaraderie, trust and ironclad friendships inherent to their profession. During his career, Chris Kyle earned two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars, all for valor. Chris Kyle is a great American hero and should be remembered in that context. His wife, Taya, is a hero too. She is the embodiment of all military wives. Without them, military families could not survive. I know this to be true having spent 28 years in the military myself. I give the book 5 stars.
Mark Lynott –
The autobiography, American Sniper, is an engaging story of Chris Kyle’s career as a Navy SEAL sniper. He goes over nearly everything about his life during the time he was a Navy Seal. With an astounding 150 confirmed kills, Chris Kyle broke the record for the deadliest sniper in history. The reader learns about Kyle’s childhood along with getting into fights at bars, meeting the love of his life, trying to make it through Hell Week during SEAL training, and saving lives in the cities of Iraq.With a captivating storyline and a wide array of topics, this story kept me hooked throughout the entire book. Chris Kyle has many near death experiences which keeps the plot suspenseful at all times. Mixed in with clever jokes and funny stories, Chris tells the reader detailed Navy SEAL information. The only drawback to this book is that some chapters are not for everyone. Some chapters get extremely gory and in others he just talks about different types of guns. Although I enjoyed these chapters I can see how some people may not appreciate them. Another reason I enjoyed this book is because I can relate to it personally. My father was in the Navy and even went through dive school. He was a surgeon and often worked with Navy SEALs. I was young at the time but still remember similar stories that my father told. I was motivated to read this book because I watched the movie and I had heard that the book was even better.Overall, this book was fascinating and written extremely well. I would recommend this book to anyone even slightly interested in war stories. The story of Chris Kyle should be shared around the world for his bravery and skill.
Jeff Dawson –
Excellent perspective from one who served
seabee1981 –
American Sniper, The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History was written by the late Navy Seal Chris Kyle. Because of my military background I found the book extremely interesting but I also believe it would be enjoyed by civilians having never served. Chris was an ordinary guy. He grew up of a middle class, Christian family in Texas. He went to high school, tried college and did some time as a real cowboy working on a ranch. He went on to join the military and become a Seal, a feat in itself considering that only 10% of the sailors who enter the rigorous training program go on to complete it. He continued on to be one of the best Seal snipers in history. Writing was not one of Chris’s fortes though. His book is written in plain language and can be rough at times. I found that down to earth, every day, brutally honest, not sugar coated approach very appealing. Others, who are looking for a great literary piece may not.American Sniper is not all blood and guts, as many war stories are. It is heartfelt. It has some graphic details but it also shows emotion, good and bad. Chris talks of his loves; God, Country and Family, even telling of the trouble he sometimes had with the order of Country and Family. It includes sections written by Chris’s wife Taya that show the emotion the military family waiting at home experiences. My wife read the book and loved it.