Un-American
A Soldier's Reckoning of Our Longest War
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Narrated by:
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Christopher Ragland
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By:
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Erik Edstrom
About this listen
"Eloquent, devastating . . . packed with gimlet-eyed analysis — cultural, economic, historical — of how American life came to look the way it does . . . Edstrom’s keen observational powers encompass both the physical world and social nuance." —Los Angeles Review of Books
A manifesto about America’s unchallenged war machine, from an Afghanistan veteran and new kind of military hero.
Before engaging in war, Erik Edstrom asks us to imagine three, rarely imagined scenarios: First, imagine your own death. Second, imagine war from “the other side.” Third: Imagine what might have been if the war had never been fought. Pursuing these realities through his own combat experience, Erik reaches the unavoidable conclusion about America at war. But that realization came too late—the damage had been done.
Erik Edstrom grew up in suburban Massachusetts with an idealistic desire to make an impact, ultimately leading him to the gates of West Point. Five years later, he was deployed to Afghanistan as an infantry lieutenant. Throughout his military career, he confronted atrocities, buried his friends, wrestled with depression, and struggled with an understanding that the war he fought in, and the youth he traded to prepare for it, was in contribution to a bitter truth: The War on Terror is not just a tragedy, but a crime. The deeper tragedy is that our country lacks the courage and conviction to say so.
Un-American is a hybrid of social commentary and memoir that exposes how blind support for war exacerbates the problems it’s intended to resolve, devastates the people allegedly being helped, and diverts assets from far larger threats like climate change. Un-American is a revolutionary act, offering a blueprint for redressing America’s relationship with patriotism, the military, and military spending.©2020 Erik Edstrom (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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Story
A decade ago, the soldiers of Bravo Company deployed to Afghanistan for a tour in Kandahar’s notorious Arghandab Valley. By the time they made it home, three soldiers had been killed in action, a dozen more had lost limbs, and an astonishing half of the company had Purple Hearts. In the decade since, two of the soldiers have died by suicide, more than a dozen have tried, and others admit they’ve considered it. Written with an insider’s eye and ear and drawing on extensive interviews and original reporting, Bravo Company follows the men from their initial enlistment on.
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Inspiring and well written
- By Britanny on 03-07-23
By: Ben Kesling
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Imperial Grunts
- On the Ground with the American Military, from Mongolia to the Philippines to Iraq and Beyond...
- By: Robert D. Kaplan
- Narrated by: John H. Mayer
- Length: 18 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Plunging deep into midst of some of the hottest conflicts on the globe, Robert D. Kaplan takes us through mud and jungle, desert and dirt to the men and women on the ground who are leading the charge against threats to American security. These soldiers, fighting in thick Colombian jungles or on dusty Afghani plains, are the forefront of the new American foreign policy, a policy being implemented one soldier at a time.
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Excellent book
- By Rob on 10-03-05
By: Robert D. Kaplan
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American Commander
- Serving a Country Worth Fighting for and Training the Brave Soldiers Who Lead the Way
- By: Ryan Zinke
- Narrated by: Daniel Butler
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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As a 23-year veteran of the United States Navy SEAL Teams, Ryan Zinke received two Bronze Stars for battle valor and eventually rose to command the elite members of SEAL Team Six. During his career Zinke trained and commanded many of the men who would one day run the covert operations to hunt down Osama bin Laden and save Captain Phillips ( Maersk Alabama). He also served as mentor to now famous SEALs Marcus Luttrell ( Lone Survivor) and Chris Kyle ( American Sniper).
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Really disappointing
- By Harvey Hyman on 03-10-17
By: Ryan Zinke
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What It Is Like to Go to War
- By: Karl Marlantes
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1969, at the age of twenty-three, Karl Marlantes was dropped into the highland jungle of Vietnam, an inexperienced lieutenant in command of a platoon of forty marines who would live or die by his decisions. Marlantes survived, but like many of his brothers in arms, he has spent the last forty years dealing with his war experience.
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Destined to become a Classic
- By Lynn on 09-05-11
By: Karl Marlantes
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Enduring Vietnam
- An American Generation and Its War
- By: James Wright
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The Vietnam War is largely recalled as a mistake, either in the decision to engage there or in the nature of the engagement. Or both. Veterans of the war remain largely anonymous figures, accomplices in the mistake. Critically recounting the steps that led to the war, this book does not excuse the mistakes, but it brings those who served out of the shadows. Enduring Vietnam recounts the experiences of the young Americans who fought in Vietnam and of families who grieved those who did not return.
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Great
- By Rebecca Delgado on 03-20-23
By: James Wright
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The Mirror Test
- America at War in Iraq and Afghanistan
- By: J. Kael Weston
- Narrated by: J. Kael Weston
- Length: 22 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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J. Kael Weston spent seven years on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan working for the US State Department in some of the most dangerous frontline locations. Upon his return home, while traveling the country to pay respect to the dead and wounded, he asked himself: When will these wars end? How will they be remembered and memorialized? What lessons can we learn from them?
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A Must Read
- By Jessica Myrick on 06-04-16
By: J. Kael Weston
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The Fighting 69th
- By: Sean Michael Flynn
- Narrated by: Erik Steele
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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On the eve of September 11, 2001, New York City's famous National Guard regiment, the fighting 69th Infantry, was not fit for duty. Most of its soldiers were immigrant kids with no prior military experience, and their equipment was derelict. The thought of deploying such a unit was laughable. Sean Flynn, himself a member of the 69th, memorably chronicles the transformation of this motley band of amateur soldiers into a battle-hardened troop at work in one of the most lethal quarters of Baghdad.
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Impressive and inspiring
- By Gryphon on 02-23-08
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The Patriot's Creed
- Inspiration and Advice for Living a Heroic Life
- By: Kris Paronto
- Narrated by: Kris Paronto
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Patriot's Creed, Kris Paronto uses the seven core army values that all soldiers learn in basic combat training, and the experiences of other servicemen and women and first responders, to explain how anyone can improve themselves and the world around them, and live a heroic life. The stakes are dramatic for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to fight for America, and too many of their acts of courage and honor are unknown. The examples of their persistence and discipline will be inspiring to anyone facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
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RLTW
- By Kindle Customer on 10-29-19
By: Kris Paronto
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All Secure
- A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront
- By: Tom Satterly, Steve Jackson
- Narrated by: Tom Satterly
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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As a senior non-commissioned officer of Delta Force, the most elite and secretive special operations unit in the US military, Command Sergeant Major Tom Satterly fought some of this country's most fearsome enemies. Tom is a legend even among other Tier One special operators. Yet the enemy that cost him three marriages, and ruined his health physically and psychologically, existed in his brain. Told through Satterly's firsthand experiences, it also weaves in the reasons for his career-long battle against the most insidious enemy of all: post-traumatic stress.
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- One of those books that truly make a difference
- By henry on 12-21-19
By: Tom Satterly, and others
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Super Soldiers
- A Salute to the Comic Book Heroes and Villains Who Fought for Their Country
- By: Jason Inman
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and former host of All Access, DC Comics' web show, Jason Inman, discusses the influence war has had on some of the most memorable superheroes in comics.
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Not what I expected
- By dgm on 03-25-21
By: Jason Inman
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The Fifth Act
- America's End in Afghanistan
- By: Elliot Ackerman
- Narrated by: Elliot Ackerman
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Elliot Ackerman left the American military ten years ago, but his time in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Marines and later as a CIA paramilitary officer marked him indelibly. When the Taliban began to close in on Kabul in August 2021 and the Afghan regime began its death spiral, he found himself pulled back into the conflict. Afghan nationals who had worked closely with the American military and intelligence communities for years now faced brutal reprisal and sought frantically to flee the country with their families.
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A painful but necessary read
- By Tom Hanks on 08-22-22
By: Elliot Ackerman
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Always Faithful
- A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter
- By: Thomas Schueman, Zainullah Zaki
- Narrated by: Patrick Kirchner, Wali Habib
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Band of Brothers meets Argo in this dramatic and heartfelt dual memoir of the war in Afghanistan told by two men from opposite worlds. Always Faithful entwines the stories of Marine Major Tom Schueman, and his friend and Afghan interpreter, Zainullah “Zak” Zaki, as they describe their parallel lives, converging paths, and unbreakable bond in the face of overwhelming danger, culminating in Zak and his family’s harrowing escape from Kabul.
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Great Read!
- By justin on 08-13-22
By: Thomas Schueman, and others
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Hammerhead Six
- How Green Berets Waged an Unconventional War Against the Taliban to Win in Afghanistan's Deadly Pech Valley
- By: Ronald Fry, Tad Tuleja - contributor
- Narrated by: Ronald Fry
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2003, the Special Forces soldiers entered an area later called "the most dangerous place in Afghanistan". Here, where the line between civilians and armed zealots was indistinct, they illustrated the Afghan proverb "I destroy my enemy by making him my friend." Fry recounts how they were seen as welcome guests rather than invaders. Soon after their deployment ended, the Pech Valley reverted to turmoil. Their success was never replicated.
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A compelling read from start to finish
- By Gregory on 03-05-16
By: Ronald Fry, and others
What listeners say about Un-American
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- John Sestak
- 02-02-21
Unbelievable Must Read Book
When we first went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, I was stunned. Having grown up during the Vietnam War, I immediately saw the similarities. My gut feeling was this was not a war we would win. My reasons were as follows:
1) An army can not win a guerilla war. They are not trained to compete on that level.
2) We would not fight to win. We would fight to fight.
I was also saddened by the number of patriotic Americans signing up to go off to fight the war on terror. This wasn't like WWII where we would be entering a normally fought war. This was different. No one would know what to expect.
When a friend first told me about this book, and the premise of the book, I was intrigued. The interview I first read with Erik Edstrom sold me. Not being a veteran, not having first hard knowledge of the details, I finally found someone who believed as I did - and they had the details!!! This book is a required read/listen for anyone that considers themselves a true American.
Erik starts with his beliefs, then he tells you his story. You need to know his story before he can unload the facts upon you -and unload them he does. Now, the story is from his perspective, but it does not make it any less factual. He then goes on to provide you with insight on how our country can truly become great again. Truly become great again and not continue to help terrorize the rest of the world.
This book is not anti-anything. The story is intended to open your eyes and to get your to think on your own without following the national pied piper. And I believe it does this.
My father, two uncles, and cousin are all veterans. My uncles in WWII, my dad at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, my cousin as a Vice Admiral and commander of the George Washington Task Force in the WOT. I can tell you that my dad, who fought for veterans rights his entire life, would appreciate this book because he lived his own version of military incompetence.
This book may not be for you. But if accumulating knowledge and having your eyes opened to injustice is part of your nature, then it is for you.
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- Kevin H.
- 06-26-22
This Veteran supports many of the points in this book!
A great book regarding the wasteful global encounters the USA has been involved in for decades. A necessary read/listen for every American so as to reconsider how we need to change moving forward. You don’t have to agree with everything here, but at least consider there’s a different way to do things besides the republican and democrat way.
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- G. William Walster
- 03-10-21
Must read/listen by every US citizen.
This masterpiece is an honestly devastating description of our current wars and all their direct, indirect, and opportunity costs. The last chapter is the only recipe for the survival of our country and life on planet earth.
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- Tyson Bumgardner
- 05-12-21
USA Infantry Officer tells his story. 2000s GWOT
An excellent memoir of a West Point graduate American infantry officer telling of his journey from naive teenager to jaded infantry officer in the Afghanistan war. Loaded to the gills with visceral personal reflections on the friends he made and lost the people he killed and who tried to kill him and the serious social capitol sacrificed by all Americans on the slab of freedom in pursuit of "political violence" in America's longest war. book could have also been called a series of bloody unforced errors.
Book is well read on audible but the reader does get a lot of the acronyms wrong typical of this type of military fare. EG. 5.56mm bullets being pronounced 5 hundred 56 mm bullets. if that bugs you it's noticeable otherwise not a problem.
Don't pass this book up the guys earned the right to say what he has to say. It's perfectly timed at the ending of the Afghan war. An excellent way to take stock of what the guy on the ground pays for our military adventurism.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-16-21
A Must Read
I had the distinct honor of working with Erik Edstrom when I was a Private in the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard. To this day, it is strange for me to address him by his first name because I knew him as Captain Edstrom or simply and respectfully as Sir. Erik Edstrom was my first Platoon Leader (PL) in the Army and he set a high bar for me to measure all subsequent PL's to. In my eyes, he was Captain America incarnate and that is what we lower enlisted Soldiers sometimes called him when he was out of earshot. I respected the Hell out of him and looked up to him as a role model. This is the idealized view of him that I have held for all these years and I still hold him in high esteem now that I have read his book.
Un-American: A Soldier's Reckoning of Our Longest War is a hard pill to swallow for anyone who serves, or who has served, in the Military, but it is a necessary pill for the health of our profession and the Nation. It strives valiantly to right the wrongs of so many decisions made by civilian and Military leaders over the past 20 plus years spanning four Presidencies. At the very least, the book's message pleads with us to be more aware and to question the legitimacy and morality of the conflicts we as warriors and responsible citizens are endorsing with our service and political consent. I encourage all of us honorable and dedicated citizens and service members to read this book with an open mind and a humble heart. I must warn you now that it won't be an easy task for some of you. I will admit that it was a struggle for me to put aside my personal biases and emotional reactions to get to the end. If I can do it, then anyone can.
I am a Sergeant First Class in the Army Infantry now; a far cry from the naive and impressionable Private I started out as. I have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and I have experienced firsthand the loss of my Soldiers dying. Reading Un-American definitely brought back a lot of hard memories and forced me to face them head on. As a seasoned Non-Commissioned Officer, I was initially defensive and critical of Edstrom's views at the outset of the book. It took me to the final section before a switch finally was flipped inside me, and I understood where he was coming from. He was not attacking my 11 years of faithful Military service; he was shedding a light on the shadows that haunt our country's past and plague our current foreign policy. He forces you to look head on in the mirror and ask yourself to reconcile your patriotism with your humanity. We all must conduct a moral and ethical compass check to determine if our collective azimuth is on course. This book has helped me re-zero my sights on what my duties are as a responsible leader in today's modern Army. It has inspired me to take the torch that Edstrom holds out to us all to light the way forward as citizens and responsible, servant leaders and lead in a way that honors all that have fallen in this war and protect the lives of those who are still alive with dignity and respect.
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- Tom Griggs
- 02-03-21
Some valid points-some not so valid points
The author clearly has an axe to grind. As vet myself I can relate to the points made about the GWOT. But the points about inequality, diversity and global warming read straight out of the DNC talking points on victim-ocracy as a political ploy to pit classes against each other. There are real issues in the growing disparities of economy in America. These issues are not explored with any intellectual depth or balance.
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