The Hardest Place Audiobook By Wesley Morgan cover art

The Hardest Place

The American Military Adrift in Afghanistan's Pech Valley

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The Hardest Place

By: Wesley Morgan
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
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COLBY AWARD WINNER • “One of the most important books to come out of the Afghanistan war.”—Foreign Policy

“A saga of courage and futility, of valor and error and heartbreak.”—Rick Atkinson, author of the Liberation Trilogy and The British Are Coming

Of the many battlefields on which U.S. troops and intelligence operatives fought in Afghanistan, one remote corner of the country stands as a microcosm of the American campaign: the Pech and its tributary valleys in Kunar and Nuristan. The area’s rugged, steep terrain and thick forests made it a natural hiding spot for local insurgents and international terrorists alike, and it came to represent both the valor and futility of America’s two-decade-long Afghan war.

Drawing on reporting trips, hundreds of interviews, and documentary research, Wesley Morgan reveals the history of the war in this iconic region, captures the culture and reality of the conflict through both American and Afghan eyes, and reports on the snowballing missteps—some kept secret from even the troops fighting there—that doomed the American mission. The Hardest Place is the story of one of the twenty-first century’s most unforgiving battlefields and a portrait of the American military that fought there.

©2020 Wesley Morgan (P)2020 Random House Audio Afghan War Military Politics & Government Wars & Conflicts War

Critic reviews

“The Hardest Place captures the heroism, fear, and exultation of combat while laying out a damning portrait of military leaders who rushed into battle against an enemy they didn’t understand and ultimately couldn’t beat.” (Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill)

“[An] impressive debut ... Required reading for anyone who wants to understand the war in Afghanistan.”(Kirkus Reviews)

“Superbly researched and smoothly written ... an essential, thoroughly reported work.” (Library Journal, starred review)

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Comprehensive History • Thorough Research • Chronological Clarity • Holistic Approach • Informative Storytelling
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Narrator could have done better at pronouncing some of the words but that’s easy to get by when you hear the content. Stories get you wrapped up

Great book with a full history!

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This was a phenomenal listen, was totally engaged from start to finish. God bless these men

Hardest Place

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a chronological record of the American military's experiences, lessons, and foibles. Very interesting to listen to as a veteran.

Informative and Entertaining

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Ever wonder why we’re still fighting in Afghanistan two decades after 9/11? Morgan explains why.

Worth It

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great book, the readers pronunciation of "Afghanistan " was annoying and detracted from the reading.

cjomment

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As a member of the Army who joined after the Afghanistan conflict, I have read over a dozen books to gain perspective on what happened over there. This book was referred to me by a buddy who was in the Ranger Regiment, serving in Afghanistan, and he told me this was the best book on the topic Having read it, I agree. Thoroughly researched, and unlike several books that focus primarily on the stories of the individuals, this book wove those stories effectively to explain the broader conflict.

Terrific book

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For persons that want to understand on a deeper level the "so what" behind America's longest war, look no further. This book dives deep into the Afghan conflict and offers a holistic approach on when events occurred that resulted in critical 2nd, and 3rd order effects. From beginning to end, a complete attention grabber. By far the best book I've read!

Kunar Syndrome

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In 2011, I was a captain in the 2-27th infantry. I flew up to Bostick one day only to witness the daily onslaught of .50, 7.62, and 2,000lb bombs being brought. On my way home I caught a glimpse of the mouth of the Pech, and wondered what was up there. I have listened to this book three times and it only gets better each time. Very well done.

A must read

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Another must read on our misadventures in Afghanistan. Thus should be required reading for every member of our NSC staff and every junior officer in our services.

Important HistoricL Accounting

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All firsthand story telling. Truly addictive. it's a long book to listen to, but it goes fast.

Addictive writing

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