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This title in other editions

eBook editions

Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda

by Sean Naylor

Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda Cover

ISBN13: 9780425207871
ISBN10: 0425207870
All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In this New York Times bestseller, award-winning combat reporter Sean Naylor reveals how close American forces came to disaster in Afghanistan against Al Qaida-after easily defeating the ragtag Taliban that had sheltered the terrorist organization behind the 9/11 attacks.

At dawn on March 2, 2002, over 200 soldiers of the 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions flew into the mouth of a buzz saw in the Shahikot Valley. Believing the war all but over, U.S. military leaders refused to commit the troops and materiel required to fight the war's biggest battle — a missed opportunity to crush hundreds of Al Qaida's fighters and some of its most senior leaders. Eyewitness Naylor vividly portrays the heroism of the young, untested soldiers unprepared for the ferocious enemy they fought; the mistakes that led to a hellish mountaintop firefight; and how thirteen American commandos embodied "Patton's three principles of war" — audacity, audacity and audacity — by creeping unseen over frozen mountains into the heart of an enemy stronghold to prevent a U.S. military catastrophe.

Review:

"Naylor does an admirable job of exposing the many shortcomings that plagued this chapter of the Afghanistan war, although he does not sort the major from the minor failings or linger over the broader lessons. What the book lacks in analytical heft, however, it more than makes up in drama." Washington Post

Review:

"Prize-winning Army Times reporter Naylor has written the best full-scale history of Operation Anaconda to date." Booklist
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About the Author

Sean Naylor, a senior writer for the Army Times, has covered the Afghan mujahideen's war against the Soviets, and American military operations in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His coverage of Operation Anaconda earned him the White House Correspondents' Association's prestigious Edgar A. Poe Award. Naylor was named one of the 22 most influential "unsung" print reporters in Washington by American Journalism Review in May 2002.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
Mary Butler, July 7, 2007 (view all comments by Mary Butler)
If Naylor attributes "audacity, audacity, and audacity" to Patton, I'd say the rest of his information is suspect. "L'audace, l'audace, et toujours l'audace" was Napoleon's principle.
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amisha bachoo, July 7, 2007 (view all comments by amisha bachoo)
well the first story i ever read which had even a little to do with things like revolution was animal farm by George Orwell, followed by A Grain Of Wheat by NGUGI WA THIONG'O.....else i read short stories..reading the reviews by the other readers has aroused my interest in reading about wars.
because now even if we do not realise it many people have died to keep this world a safe place to live in.
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megcampbell3, July 1, 2007 (view all comments by megcampbell3)
With a family member serving in Iraq, I decided it was time to read some war narratives (outside of Tim O?Brien on Vietnam, who, I think, is one of the best and most important storytellers of all time). Not a Good Day to Die was recommended to me as a starting point. While there were times I had a hard time following what was technically going on, since I?m not educated in military language, maneuvers, etc.; overall, I was surprised at what a fluid read this was. I was also impressed by the narrative, since it goes so far beyond news headlines and gives readers an understanding (in as far as possible) of what modern warfare is really like. This was indeed an excellent starting point for a whole world of information on war and on war in the Middle East.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780425207871
Subtitle:
The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda
Author:
Naylor, Sean
Publisher:
Berkley Trade
Subject:
Military - United States
Subject:
Asia - General
Subject:
Military - Other
Subject:
Operation Anaconda, 2002
Subject:
Military - General
Subject:
Military-General History
Edition Description:
Mass Market
Publication Date:
20060307
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
from 12
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
448
Dimensions:
9.03 x 6.05 x 1 in 1.01 lb
Age Level:
from 18
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Related Aisles

Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda New Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$17.00 In Stock
Product details 448 pages Berkley Publishing Group - English 9780425207871 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Naylor does an admirable job of exposing the many shortcomings that plagued this chapter of the Afghanistan war, although he does not sort the major from the minor failings or linger over the broader lessons. What the book lacks in analytical heft, however, it more than makes up in drama."
"Review" by , "Prize-winning Army Times reporter Naylor has written the best full-scale history of Operation Anaconda to date."
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