Synopses & Reviews
Philosopher, ethicist, and psychoanalyst Nancy Sherman explores the psychological and moral burdens borne by soldiers. By illuminating the extent to which wars are fought internally as well as externally, this book expands the national discussion about war and the men and women who fight our nation's battles. With close-up looks at servicemen and -women preparing for, experiencing, and returning home from war, Sherman probes the psyche of today's soldiers-examining how they learn to kill and to leave the killing behind. Bringing to light the moral quandaries soldiers face-torture, the thin line between fighters and civilians, and the anguish of killing even in a just war-Sherman bares the souls of our soldiers and the emotional landscape of soldiering. At the heart of the book are interviews with soldiers, from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also from Vietnam and World Wars I and II.
Review
"Starred Review. At a time when suicide rates among veterans is increasing sharply, this empathic examination of 'the moral weight that soldiers carry on their shoulders' is essential reading." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Humaniz[es] soldiers by enabling us to see them as individuals with distinct, particular responses to psychological and physical wounds." The New York Times
Synopsis
draws on revealing interviews with servicemen and -women to offer keen psychological and philosophical insights into the experience of being a soldier. Bringing to light the ethical quandaries that soldiers face--torture, the thin line between fighters and civilians, and the anguish of killing even in a just war--Nancy Sherman opens our eyes to the fact that wars are fought internally as well as externally, enabling us to understand the emotional tolls that are so often overlooked.
Synopsis
No ordinary reflection on war . . . a powerful and moving reminder of war's long-term consequences and the cost to soldiers and society.For anyone seeking to understand 'the inner war' soldiers fight on the battlefield and at home, Nancy Sherman's book brilliantly maps soldiers' dark inner landscapes.Starred Review. At a time when suicide rates among veterans is increasing sharply, this empathic examination of ‘the moral weight that soldiers carry on their shoulders’ is essential reading.Humaniz[es] soldiers by enabling us to see them as individuals with distinct, particular responses to psychological and physical wounds.
Synopsis
"Brilliant . . . a must read for veterans and those who seek to understand them."--
About the Author
Nancy Sherman, University Professor at Georgetown University, served as the Inaugural Distinguished Chair in Ethics at the Naval Academy. Trained as both a philosopher and a psychoanalyst, she lectures on resilience, trauma, and military ethics. She lives in Kensington, Maryland.