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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsOne Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officerby Nathaniel Fick
Review-A-Day"Few if any of the Iraq war memoirs that have been published so far are likely to endure. But the best of them, their narratives as yet immune to the wisdom of time, offer vivid, immediate glimpses of the dust and smoke of war. Such is One Bullet Away, a tale told by an intelligent, dedicated warrior seduced by the ethos of the Marines." Sarah Courteau, The Iowa Review (read the entire review from The Iowa Review) Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:If the Marines are "the few, the proud," Recon Marines are the fewest and the proudest. Nathaniel Fick's career begins with a hellish summer at Quantico, after his junior year at Dartmouth. He leads a platoon in Afghanistan just after 9/11 and advances to the pinnacle — Recon — two years later, on the eve of war with Iraq. His vast skill set puts him in front of the front lines, leading twenty-two Marines into the deadliest conflict since Vietnam. He vows to bring all his men home safely, and to do so he'll need more than his top-flight education. Fick unveils the process that makes Marine officers such legendary leaders and shares his hard-won insights into the differences between military ideals and military practice, which can mock those ideals.
In this deeply thoughtful account of what it's like to fight on today's front lines, Fick reveals the crushing pressure on young leaders in combat. Split-second decisions might have national consequences or horrible immediate repercussions, but hesitation isn't an option. One Bullet Away never shrinks from blunt truths, but ultimately it is an inspiring account of mastering the art of war.' Review:"This is one of the best books on the Marine Corps in a long time. If you want to understand what it takes to become a Marine today, read this. Then, if you want to really understand what it takes to serve in today's wars, read it again. One Bullet Away is a terrific book by a natural writer." Tom Ricks, military correspondent, Washington Post, and author of Making the Corps Review:"Fick sounds like precisely the kind of thoughtful, mature commander any soldier would revere." Cleveland Plain Dealer Review:"Nathaniel Fick shares a powerful account of the bravery of the Marines and the simple truth every soldier shares: that war is hell. Our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are heroes who have sacrificed to serve our country, and in these pages we are reminded of their courage under fire. Fick's story is testimony to their struggle." Senator John Kerry Review:"Essential...candid and fast-paced....Like the best combat memoirs, Fick's focuses on the men doing the fighting and avoids hyperbole and sensationalism. He does not shrink from the truth, however personal or unpleasant." Publishers Weekly Review:"The best sign of military intelligence." Gentleman's Quarterly Review:"A compelling and exciting memoir of military service, swift in its pacing and sure in its details. The courage, selflessness, and skill of Marines are intensely portrayed here and are — in the highest and rarest praise for a military memoir — unmistakably authentic." Senator John McCain Review:"Makes a compelling argument for an oft-overlooked military virture: competence." The New York Times Review:"What One Bullet Away accomplishes, in a way all the blather on cable TV never will, is to give readers real insights into the modern war and its warriors." Rocky Mountain News Review:"Much more than a simple dispatch from the fronts of Afghanistan and Iraq, One Bullet Away finds Nathaniel Fick reaching deep within his heart and soul. culling up the irony, frustration, humor, tragedy, and — more than anything else — the pathos that informs the enterprise of war." Military.com Review:"The Marines develop leaders who are not only skilled, courageous, and tough, but also humane. Join one of them as he leads a Recon platoon to Baghdad and beyond. One Bullet Away is a riveting and highly charged account of modern war as seen through the eyes of a young lieutenant." Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor, USMC (ret.), author of Cobra II Review:"A gripping account of twenty-first-century war by a twenty-first-century warrior. Perhaps most astounding is Nathaniel Fick's candor concerning his own emotions, fears, and moral quandries as he rises to the challenge of leadership. Fick has written the story of our times." Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill Review:"A splendid story of a young Marine officer's journey from a promising begining to the truth and horror of combat. He pulls no punches in a book that is hard to put down." Joseph L. Galloway, coauthor of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young Review:"A superb account of the challenges that confront a young officer in today's conflicts. Fick offers exceptionally vivid descriptions of leadership, duty, and brotherhood under fire. One Bullet Away is brilliant, a must-read for anyone who wants to truly understand what our troops face." General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (ret.), former commander in chief, U.S. Central Command, and coauthor of Battle Ready Review:"A remarkable book that will give today's readers a much fuller picture of the realities of their military, and that will be read for many years to come because of its vivid, humane, unsparing but also humorous portrayal of the making of a warrior." James Fallows, national correspondent, Atlantic Monthly Review:"The psychological distance between those who serve and fight and those who publish and pontificate is vast. Nathaniel Fick has closed the gap considerably with this fine book." Robert D. Kaplan, author of Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground Review:"One Bullet Away is much more than a war story. It recounts a young officer's daily duty to lead, to make ethical decisions, and to balance the immense responsibilities of accomplishing missions and saving lives. These lessons are as useful in the boardroom as on the battlefield." Marshall N. Carter, retired Fortune 500 CEO and two-tour Marine infantry officer in Vietnam Synopsis:Fick unveils the process that makes Marine officers such legendary leaders and shares his hard-won insights into the differences between military ideals and military practice. In this deeply thoughtful account of what it's like to fight on today's front lines, Fick reveals the crushing pressure on young leaders in combat. About the AuthorNathaniel Fick, after receiving a B.A. in classics from Dartmouth in 1999, served in the Marines' elite First Recon Battalion (the analogue of the Navy's SEALs or Army's Delta Force). He saw action in Afghanistan and Iraq before leaving the Corps as a captain. He is now in a dual-degree program at Harvard's Business School and Kennedy School of Government. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
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