Time for Outrage by Stephane Hessel
Publisher Comments This controversial, impassioned call-to-arms for a return to the ideals that fueled the French Resistance has sold millions of copies worldwide since its publication in France in October 2010. Rejecting the dictatorship of world financial markets and defending the social values of modern democracy, 93-old Stéphane Hessel -- Resistance leader, concentration camp survivor, and former UN speechwriter -- reminds us that life and liberty must still be fought for, and urges us to reclaim those essential rights we have permitted our governments to erode since the end of World War II. Hardcover
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Broken Bodies Shattered Minds A Medical Odyssey from Vietnam to Afghanistan by Ronald J Glasser
Publisher Comments Told in the narrative, and from personal experience, author traces changing nature of warfare from jungles of Vietnam to streets and mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan and the physical and psychological damage of wounds to troops in U.S. Army and Marine Corps. And what it has come to realize. The efficiency of evacuation units has led to quick treatment of IED-caused wounds resulting in life-saving amputation, most since American Civil War. Amputation on women soldiers and their difficulty using prosthetics designed for male soldiers is examined and, large scale concussive cerebral damage, a new phenomenon in military medical treatment requiring lifetime care of the wounded, is examined and the escalating, hidden costs of lifetime care put into perspective. New, previously unpublished studies on the concussive effects on the brain are presented. Something also relative to NFL interest.Using narrative vignettes, the rising medical and sociological costs of the Afghan War are clearly defined and the escalating hidden costs of long term medical care are put into projection.Lt. General Harold Moore wrote the Foreword. Trade Paperback
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Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery (2008) by Terri Tanielian
Publisher Comments The wounds described in 'Invisible Wounds of War'; are, of course, the mental health problems of military personnel; specifically, the book summarises a study of US personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan ... Its strength lies in a comprehensive and clearly defined review that is well distilled into key facts... Overall, this is not the easiest of reads, but it is doubtful one would expect a cocktail of mental health, geopolitics, and health economics to be so. What it does well is advance a set of problems, attempt to quantify them, and to suggest how the state may be able to address them. This has to be a core text for anybody in the field of military mental health, its lessons are universally applicable. he Lancet, Vol 372, November 15, 2008 Trade Paperback
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Last Journey A Father & Son in Wartime by Darrell Griffin
Publisher Comments Staff Sergeant Darrell "Skip" Griffin Jr. was killed in action on March 21, 2007, during his second tour of duty in Iraq. Prior to his death, Skip was writing a book tentatively titled The Great Conversation, an attempt to rationalize the destruction he had seen in Iraq. His father, Darrell Griffin Sr., was going to help him finish writing it when Skip returned home in July. After losinghis son, Darrell Sr. vowed to finish the book himself and traveled to Iraq, witnessing the war close up and meeting his son's comrades. Last Journeyis their shared account of everyday life for soldiers in Iraq; it is also an intimate portrait of a lost son, a meditation on faith, and a tribute to the lively philosophical debates in which the Griffins used to engage.
Passionate and inspiring, Last Journeyserves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of war. Trade Paperback
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Top Secret America The Rise of the New American Security State by Dana Priest, William Arkin
Publisher Comments After 9/11, the United States government embarked on an unprecedented effort to protect America. The result has been calamitous: after ten years of unparalleled spending and growth, the result is that a system put in place to keep America safe may in fact be putting us in even greater danger-but we don't know because it's all Top Secret. In TOP SECRET AMERICA, award-winning journalists Dana Priest and William M. Arkin lift the curtain on this clandestine universe. From the companies and agencies keeping track of American citizens and the military commanders building America's first "top secret city" to a hidden army within the U.S. military more secret than the CIA, this new national security octopus has become a self-sustaining "Fourth Branch" of government. A tour de force of investigative journalism, TOP SECRET AMERICA presents a fascinating and disturbing account of government run amok and a war on terrorism gone wrong in a post-9/11. Hardcover
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Dudes of War by Tupper Benjamin and Benjamin Tupper
Synopsis "Dudes of War" is an enlightening and uncensored introduction to modernAmerican soldier culture. As told through personal vignettes ofmen serving in Afghanistan, this revealing account of life on the basesand in the hootches explores the good times and bad habits of today'ssoldier at war. From the pranks and humor and heartbreaks, to the hobbies, lingo, and vices, "Dudes of War" is a no-holds-barred tour of life down range."Tupper is a sharp, honest guy...He's no meathead, but he's still a dude"- Newsweek.com" Tupper deploys a razor wit and an unusual level of sensitivity and compassiontowards profiling the men of his combat unit while in Afghanistan. "Dudes of War" is a fantastic glimpse into the lives of soldiers in Afghanistan."- Johnny Rico, Author, Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green
Your price $15.95 New Trade Paperback
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Wrong War Grit Strategy & the Way Out of Afghanistan by Bing West
Publisher Comments America cannot afford to lose the war in Afghanistan, and yet Americans cannot win it. In this definitive account of the conflict, acclaimed war correspondent and bestselling author Bing West provides a practical way out. Drawing on his expertise as both a combat-hardened Marine and a former assistant secretary of defense, West has written a tour de force narrative that shows the consequences when strategic theory meets tactical reality. Having embedded with dozens of frontline units over the past two years, he takes the reader on a battlefield journey from the mountains in the north to the opium fields in the south. West—dubbed “the grunt’s Homer”—shows why the Taliban fear the ferocity of our soldiers. Each chapter, rich with vivid characters and gritty combat, illustrates a key component of dogged campaigns that go on for years. These never-ending battles show why idealistic theories about counterinsurgency have bogged us down for a decade. The official rhetoric denies reality. Instead of turning the population against the Taliban, our lavish aid has created a culture of entitlement and selfishness. Our senior commanders are risk-averse, while our troops know the enemy respects only the brave. A fighter who understands strategy, West builds the case for changing course. As long as we do most of the fighting, the Afghans will hold back. Yet the Afghan military will crumble without our combat troops. His conclusion is sure to provoke debate: remove most of the troops from Afghanistan, stop spending billions on the dream of a modern democracy, transition to a tough adviser corps, and insist the Afghans fight their own battles. Amid debate about this maddening war, Bing West’s book is a page-turner about brave men and cunning enemies that examines our realistic choices as a nation. Hardcover
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EFT for PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Gary Craig
Synopsis Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a terrible burden to bear. It not only affects people psychologically, robbing them of peace of mind and inner tranquility; it damages them physically. Traumatic stress can result from negative emotional experiences during childhood. It can also arise in adults as a result of war, assault, or similarly traumatic experiences. Some of the symptoms of PTSD are:. Insomnia. Digestive disorders. Flashbacks and nightmares. Irritability, jumpiness, being easily triggered by events. Rage, grief and guilt. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression. Feeling isolated and unsafeIf you or someone you know has these symptoms, EFT can help. In scientific studies of war veterans and other traumatized groups, EFT has been shown to reduce or eliminate PTSD, sometimes in just a few short sessions. Not only do PTSD sufferers experience immediate relief, but the positive results extend long after treatment. This manual is a lifeline for those suffering from PTSD and their families. It also contains special sections that gather together the experience of many physicians, psychotherapists, social workers and coaches who have used EFT. Your price $10.95 Used Trade Paperback
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None of Us Were Like This Before: American Soldiers and Torture by Joshua E. S. Phillips
Publisher Comments Sergeant Adam Gray made it home from Iraq only to die in his barracks. For more than three years, reporter Joshua E. S. Phillips-with the support of Adam's mother and several of his Army buddies-investigated Adam's death. What Phillips uncovered was a story of American veterans psychologically scarred by the abuse they had meted out to Iraqi prisoners. How did US forces turn to torture? Phillips's narrative recounts the journey of a tank battalion-trained for conventional combat-as its focus switches to guerrilla war and prisoner detention. It tells of how a group of ordinary soldiers, ill trained for the responsibilities foisted upon them, descended into the degradation of abuse. The location is far from CIA prisons and Guantanamo, but the story captures the widespread use and nature of torture in the US armed forces. Based on firsthand reporting from the Middle East, as well as interviews with soldiers, their families and friends, military officials, and the victims of torture, None of Us Were Like This Before reveals how soldiers, senior officials, and the US public came to believe that torture was both effective and necessary. The book illustrates that the damaging legacy of torture is not only borne by the detainees, but also by American soldiers and the country to which they've returned. Hardcover
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The Enemy Within: One Vietnam Veteran Helps Others Cope with Ptsd by Gregory A. Helle
Publisher Comments Why would you want to read this book? There are several reasons. First of all, it is my hope that victims of all types of traumas, whether war-related or not, can find some comfort in these pages. If you are a victim of PTSD, you need to know that there is hope for a better quality of life. That is one of the core messages in this book. There is no cure for PTSD, but through medications and counseling, it is possible to exercise more control over the illness. But you must take the first step and be your own best advocate. You will hear me say this more than once. If you do not advocate for your own needs, it is unlikely that you will achieve your goals. I hope that some of the information in these pages will guide PTSD victims to seek the help they need. I feel this book also has much to offer those who don't suffer from PTSD. It is the story of how a normal eighteen-year-old farm boy from a small town in Iowa went to war and, over thirty years later - at the age of fifty-two - became totally disabled with PTSD. It is my hope that this will help the public understand not only Vietnam vets, but also vets from all wars, as well as victims of other traumas such as I mentioned above. There are so many fears that hold PTSD victims back from seeking help or even admitting to themselves that they need help. Even though all those around them can see the changes in the victim, it is hard for the victim to admit a problem. They see themselves as having some kind of mental illness. Victims are often paranoid and worry about what others are thinking or saying about them, even those people who have no inkling that there is a problem. Sometimes, it can seem to the victim that everyone knows there issomething wrong, and that everyone is talking about him or her. The public must become aware of the disease and offer compassion rather than rebuke. Vietnam vets in particular have been a source of fear in the general public. The media has exacerbated this situation by its frequent portrayal of the vet as an imbalanced, rage-filled time bomb, just waiting for the circumstances that will set him off. Perhaps this has made for some entertaining movies, but it has also kept many veterans from seeking the help they needed, lest they find themselves branded with this ugliest of clichs. Even if the victim knows there is a problem, it is so difficult to ask for help, especially from a government that loaths to acknowledge the existence - much less, the debilitating nature - of this disorder. It should come as no surprise, then, that many victims do not want anyone to know about their weakness. Very simply, it is time to end the silence and the shame. I realize that parts of this book will be difficult for the public to read. Reading a true account is not at all the same as watching violence on TV or at the movies. In these situations, the dead are not really dead and the cast is not really experiencing the events being portrayed. It is much more difficult when the dead stay dead, bodies are permanently mutilated, and the effects of the war will stay forever with those who experienced them. . The violence presented in modern entertainment should be taken as it is intended (though sometimes the level of violence in our entertainment is disturbing). True violence should be taken very seriously because it can happen to any one of us - at war or at home. Where a particularly violent movie canleave one unsettled for a day or so, actually living through a violent situation can produce a nightmare that lasts a lifetime. I do not intend for this book to be political, nor do I want it to be an attack on the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). However, I do believe that the policies enacted by the government have played a significant part in weaving the intricate web of my life. Nor do I intend this to be a self-help book. Your price $17.50 New Trade Paperback
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