One Bullet Away

Good story badly abridged

I listened to the audiobook and then happened to correspond w/ the author. He recommended I read the book itself b/c the abridgment wasn't good in his estimation. After reading it I agree w/ him. It's a great and prescient account of a young Marine officer's training and the earliest days of the Iraq War by a thoughtful, dedicated leader of troops, and I recommend the story itself highly. But whoever abridged it did Capt Fick and his men a disservice. Better to listen to the audiobook than not experience the book at all, but the audio book does not do it justice.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Captures both the heroism and frustration

If you're looking for support of your view on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this is not the book to find it. Rather it is a compelling listen from a dedicated Marine who begins his career with idealistic patriotism, and sees it morphed into a love of his comrades. You'll witness the journey from gung-ho officer candidate to combat leader to sober veteran. I finished this book with a greater appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice we ask of our military men and women, not only in terms of the risk to their lives, but the cost to them after their part in the wars are over. This book toned my political rhetoric down a few notches and it just might yours.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great book on the war experience of a Marine

I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone interested in what our troops are currently experiencing. It helped me to understand what U.S. troops go through and how much they sacrifice. Great book for any military guru.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Book incomplete.

Would be 5 stars except that someone decided not to tape the whole book. Instead this Audible version only presents excerpts. A fact not mentioned when I bought it. C'mon Amazon-Audible please DO NOT DO THAT.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great story but abridged

Worth listening to but the full book is so good that it's a shame that it's shortened.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great insight and a great read

My particular interest was in the making of a recon marine, as my dad was one in the Korean War. The rest was secondary for me. Thankyou, Nathaniel Fick. It was an insightful and interesting and amazing account of tough warriors who handle small children like butterflies, in the midst of war.
His account of the psychology of the Iraqi people was wonderful to read, and puts tv reports in so much better perspective.
This is a page-turner, and a gift to the informed American reader.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Sincere and straightforward book

The author creates a no-nonsense, straightforward image of who he is and what he experienced. I was particularly impressed with the complexity of his thought and the skill of his writing.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Captivating listen.......

This audiobook had me hooked from the start. The story is down to earth, not pro political propaganda or full of brovado, just an individual's experiences, both good and bad. The author shares his fears, thoughts and views and shares a very personal insight as to what it's like to got to war and then to come back home and readjust. I felt like I had come to know the author and was saddend when the audiobook came to an end. This is one book where I wish it was unabridged. Of particular interest was the descriptions of the pro's and cons of the military organisation, things they do well, things they don't do well - working for a large company I could relate exactly to these descriptions.
The narration was excellent, low key but never boring or monotone, but added to the personalisation of the story (the author, Nathaniel was also the narrator).
Congratulations Nathaniel on an excellent book - this is one of the most balanced down to earth accounts of life in the US Military that I have read/listend to.
This is a must listen. One of the best audio books that I have listed to.
Nathaniel should consider a followup story of his life after the military and how his experiences in war have influenced his path in life....

Steve

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Abridged

I did not know this was an abridged version, as it is not marketed as such

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Ok book but missing parts

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I think that anyone who is interested in the life of a solider would like this.

Any additional comments?

It was not a bad book. I found it very interesting, especially since I was in high school when the author was at war. What I did not like, was that the audio book was missing parts of the story that was in the hard copy of the book. I was using both the book and audio book in order to read through quickly for a class that I was taking, and it made it difficult.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful