What It Is Like To Go To War

By: Karl Marlantes

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Karl Marlantes left University at 22 to serve in the Vietnam War. Matterhorn was the bestselling novel based on his experiences. Now Marlantes takes us back to Vietnam, but this time there is no fictional veil. It is part exorcism of Karl's own experiences of combat, part confession, part philosophical primer for the young man about to enter combat. It is also a devastatingly frank answer to the questions ‘What is it like to face death?' and 'What is it like to kill someone?'

©2011 Karl Marlantes (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd

Excellent and enlightening

What a book, loved it start to finish. A lot of good stories and life lessons

Target audience

This, when heard by someone outside its target audience (someone going to/ returning from war or someone close to someone going to/ returning from war), contains a great amount of fluff.

An interesting insight at times, an elongated sermon/therapy session in others. This is not a judgement for or against its value.

A great insight on what it was like in Vietnam.

What was one of the most memorable moments of What It Is Like To Go To War?

The best part for me was the thought of being 25 years old, Being in command of 10+ other soldiers in a life or death situation, and a simple request on the radio will call in an artillery strike on the enemy. Or possibly a Napalm strike to burn the enemy. that thought makes me feel really strange even after finishing this book some time ago.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Harding’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First book i listened to but it was still a very good first book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. This book is quite long and there is alot of infomation to take in. With each chapter focusing on one aspect of the war. Such as one chapter being about combat, one being about the lies that are told in war with another being all about what it was like to come home.

Any additional comments?

If Vietnam or just what it is like to go to war, this is a recommended book. I also quite like the Narration.