What It Is Like to Go to War

By: Karl Marlantes

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

From the author of the bestselling and award-winning Matterhorn comes a brilliant nonfiction book about war and the psychological and spiritual toll it takes on those who fight.

“I wrote this book primarily to come to terms with my own experience of combat. So far—reading, writing, thinking—that has taken over thirty years.”

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. In his first work of nonfiction, Marlantes takes a deeply personal and candid look at what it is like to experience the ordeal of combat, critically examining how we might better prepare our soldiers for war.

Just as Matterhorn is already acclaimed a classic of war literature, What It Is Like to Go to War is set to become required reading for anyone—soldier or civilian—interested in this visceral and all-too-essential part of the human experience.

Karl Marlantes, a cum laude graduate of Yale University and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, was a marine in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten Air Medals. He has lived and traveled all over the world and now writes full time. He and his wife, Anne, have five children and live on a small lake in Washington.

©2011 Karl Marlantes (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A staggeringly beautiful book on combat…[Marlantes] is a natural storyteller and a deeply profound thinker.” (Sebastian Junger, New York Times bestselling author)

american bushido

i was only 17 years old when the vietnam draft ended
the guys, a year ahead of me, were the last to " get a number "
it was a ranking system based solely on your date of birth

? do you ever wonder what really makes warriors tick
? do you think you have the willful talents that combat requires
? does war's brutal majesty hold some fascination for you

karl marlantes has written a more than thoughtful book for you
it is a sequel to his excellent vietnam novel " matterhorn "
this book beautifully outlines for americans " the way of the warrior "

marlantes is obviously a troubled and more than talented man
from a blue collar childhood in oregon to rhodes scholar at yale
but then his almost visceral need for combat pulls him to vietnam

? how can i love a mean and evil thing so deeply, marlantes asks
? why does war make me feel alive, in a way, nothing else does
? how do i turn off my warrior self as i try to return to civilian life

marlantes' post-vietnam life has been spent answering those questions
in a way, the book is a deeply personal, philosophical wrestling match
if those same issues churn in your soul; this book is a great guide

An important book

What did you love best about What It Is Like to Go to War?

Marlantes' insight into what it is to be a battlefield killer is powerfully frank and intensely thoughtful. Going well beyond superficialities of matters like political pacifism or hawkism, he speaks unflinchingly of the horrible but unavoidable necessities of war at the personal level, its impact on the individual psyche and its possibly righful place in personal philosophy (and sometimes its ramifications in popular culture). It is not pro-war. It is not anti-war. It is, rather, a sane look into the primal darkness that can be called upon within us all. Profound content and excellent narration. Easily one of my most satisfying Audible purchases.

Thank you Karl for your honesty

What did you love best about What It Is Like to Go to War?

I loved his honesty, how Karl told the truth even though our socity does not accept the truth. It was very refreshing as he showed the truth underneath throughout the book

Which character – as performed by Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

Canada, I think they can make a movie out of that guy. But it would be a sad ending

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What a good solider goes through

Any additional comments?

I thank you the reader Bronson Pinchot who read the book like he wrote it. Because of the way he read the book, I thought he had written it. very well done. However, in all of Kar's truth and feeling put into the book, I believe Karl wasn't honest in one part of the story he told. I think he wrote what people wanted to hear and I was very disapointed.

Should Be Required

A straight through read/listen because it was just that good. Author explains the development, employment and reflection of himself as a warrior. Then, he reflects upon solutions that could be implemented to advance society into the realm of enlightenment. Also, some creative ideas that will ease warrior transition back to society and give them some feeling of their role in human history. It's a poignant book that should be on the best seller list as well as required reading lists by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine service chiefs.

Dan Carlin was right

Excellent first hand account of combat. The author skillfully brings you in to the psychology of warfare, the horrors, role of warriors in society, and the toll it can take on the human psyche.

Recommended for all adult listeners who wish to empathize and understand friends family who have experienced combat, or for those wishing for insight of the greater societal impact of war.

At times, it is difficult to follow along, as foot notes or quotes are read in-line and unannounced which can be slightly confusing at times.

Overall, very good.

Deeply insightful, masterfully performed

Karl Marlantes illustrates a picture that is neither idealized nor simplified. He talks about the personal shockwaves of warfare in ways we know but don't often speak, and ways we may never have consciously understood. Every prospective soldier, current soldier, and veteran, every family member of a soldier, and every legislator who turns the gears of war in to action will gain much from Marlantes' perspective.

Bronson Pinchot did the job perfect justice. The book is written from a first person perspective, and Pinchot tells the tale convincingly, as though he had gone to war himself.

I'll be getting this book for my army veteran father for Christmas.

A Deep Examination of the Warrior and Society

A thought-provoking examination of the psyche and needs of the ethical warrior, his role in our modern society, and society's impact on him, from a master of the dramatization of the real and the mundane. Marlantes teases out incredible depth, thoughtfulness, and introspection as he lays bare the mind, past and present, of a front-line Vietnam Marine (himself) and discusses the successes and failings of how our society deals with its warriors. A true must-read for anyone considering a vocation in the armed services, or any career path that involves the potential for violent action.

Destined to become a Classic

Karl Marlantes [Matterhorn: A Novel of the Viet Nam War] returns with What It is Like to Go to War. His new book is a nonfiction, philosophical, historical, memoir and reflection on his days as a Marine in Viet Nam. Frankly, I have never read anything quite like this book and suggest that anyone who is concerned for the country or has a friend, son, daughter, brother, sister, or lover who has experienced battle (virtually or otherwise) will find it very helpful. This book is beautiful, gut wrenching, and deeply moving. Marlantes has done us all a great service and has shown great courage in revealing his personal story. He has rewarded us many times over for his thoughtful analysis and reflection on war and what it means to the human spirit. The sections on how to welcome the veteran home and to help one with post traumatic stress are worthy of group discussion. I hope that this book gains a wide readership immediately. It is, in my view, going to become a classic of the genre. Please make time for this book. Bronson Pinchot's narration is excellent.

Good Psychology Lesson

Explains in detail the thought processes, human needs, and resultant feelings of survivor guilt. I really don't know what Marlantes' qualifications are to expound on these. Definitely NOT as good as his novel "Matterhorn".

The tribulations of a brave combat veteran

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is.in a sense, a companion piece to his novel Matterhorn. In this book, the author tries to bring understanding to the realities of combat, the post traumatic stress disorder, and how to prepare our troops for this.It is a good read, and I recommend Matterhorn also.

What other book might you compare What It Is Like to Go to War to and why?

I don't know of another book on this topic.

What about Bronson Pinchot’s performance did you like?

I thought has did very well. He appeared to understand what he was talking about.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It brought sharply to mind the futility of war, especially all the imperial wars our country has fought since WW2.