Synopses & Reviews
The unforgettable story of a young soldier who survived one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan and lived to pursue his dream of playing Division I college football At 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, Daniel Rodriguez was an unlikely recruit for the gridiron. But on the battlefield, under the daily rain of sniper fire, he made a promise to his best friend. and#8220;When I get out of this shithole, Iand#8217;m going to play college football.and#8221;
Daniel had joined the army just weeks after graduating from high school, having recently suffered a devastating loss. At age nineteen he had no idea what war really was; he just wanted to get out of town. Almost immediately, he was deployed to Iraq (and would later serve in Afghanistan).and#160;And he grew up fastand#160;and#8212; stopped sleeping, started smoking. Killing became second nature. He fought in the infamous Battle of Kamdesh and for his bravery he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. But his best friend was not so lucky.
Against all odds, Daniel returned home and#8212; broken, but still alive. Stuck in the clutches of PTSD, Daniel remembered that fateful promise to his friend and knew he had to make good on it. He embarked on a grueling training regimen and when he postedand#160;a video of his efforts, it went viral overnight.and#160;By some mix of grit, determination, and the power of the Internet, he earned a spot on the Clemson University football team.
A powerfully delivered narrative of a young soldier, his unlikely dream, and how he found his way out of darkness, Rise is inspiring, quintessentially American, and will resonate with anyone who has ever fought for what they what they wanted.
Review
"Analyzing the consequences of decisions, large and small, is what makes Tapper's book so important...for those wishing to understand the middle years of the war, they could do no better than to read THE OUTPOST."--Time
Review
"[Jake Tapper] has woven an intricate account about battlefield bravery hamstrung by military bureaucracy...[his] voice is understated, not polemical-just a good reporter letting the facts speak for themselves."--Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
Review
"[A] fascinating history...Tapper delivers a blow by blow account of [the soldier's] actions, their personal stories, and the tortured, often incomprehensible command decisions that kept them fighting despite inadequate support and an ally, Pakistan, that actively encouraged the enemy."--Publishers Weekly
Review
"One of the most important [books] of the year. Jake Tapper's book is meticulously researched, excellently written and a must-read for everyone who does more than just mouth the phrase, 'I support the troops.' "--Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Review
"Jake Tapper has written perhaps the best book set in Afghanistan to date...He provides a window into the false hopes and visions that enabled this failed experiment, an attempt to create government in spaces that had actively avoided such."--Douglas Ollivant, Foreign Policy
Review
"Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live-and die-at the point of the spear."--Bob Woodward, author of PLAN OF ATTACK, THE COMMANDERS and OBAMA'S WARS
Review
"The power of THE OUTPOST lies in Tapper's development of the main characters ... He juxtaposes dramatic battles, complete with limbs blown off and eyes dangling from sockets, with poignant scenes of wives and parents first learning of the deaths of their loved ones."--Seth Jones, Washington Post
Review
"The seminal work of documentary journalism to emerge out of the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan."--Business Standard
Review
"Mr. Tapper lays bare the poor decision-making that shattered dozens of American lives in the pursuit of an ill-conceived goal."--Wall Street Journal
Review
"A heartbreaking chronicle of the rotation of soldiers asked to oversee an underfunded, often thankless mission."--Huffington Post
Review
"The Outpost is a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book."--Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air and Where Men Win Glory
Review
"As Rudyard Kipling did in the nineteenth century, now, in his magnificent book, Jake Tapper takes us to an untamed part of Afghanistan at war. Journey to THE OUTPOST to understand what our troops go through-and why they go through it.--James Bradley, author of FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, FLYBOYS and THE IMPERIAL CRUISE
Review
"Meticulously researched, excellently written and a must-read...It may prove one of the most important [books] of the year."--Curt Schleier, Seattle Times
Review
"This is a narrative, not a polemic, and Tapper patiently lays out the history of what happened at Keating in a gripping, forceful style...[T]his unadorned, powerful account challenges the purposes and wisdom of America's ongoing military presence [in Afghanistan]...A timely indictment of a thoughtless waste of young American lives."--Kirkus
Review
"[An] incredible account of how this outpost was horribly jeopardized."--Booklist
Review
""The Army uses the term 'BLUF' - bottom line up front. The BLUF on Jake Tapper's new book on Afghanistan, THE OUTPOST, is that you need to read it."--breitbart.com
Review
"A chronicle of the commitment and heroism of individual soldiers. As such, it can rarely have been surpassed in the history of military writing."--powerlineblog.com
Review
"Tapper always finds just the right personality traits and stories about [the troops'] backgrounds, allowing readers to respect them and relate to them...The Outpost is an alternately exhilarating, heartbreaking and maddening book. But ultimately...it's a testament to the fact that the brave men and women who serve and sacrifice for the United States deserve our appreciation."--Patheos.com
Review
"What is evident in THE OUTPOST is the sacrifice made by dozens of men who answered the call of their country."--Erica Blake, Toledo Blade
Review
andquot;Daniel Rodriguezandndash;a decorated combat veteranandndash;doesnandrsquo;t sugarcoat the hard parts of his life. A warrior who fought on the battlefield, wrestled with PTSD, and now wins victories on the gridiron, his story reminds us that with grit and determination we can move through suffering to strength. Rise is an inspiring story of a resilient warrior who knows what it means to keep a promise.andquot; andndash;Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL and author of New York Times bestseller, The Heart and the Fist
andquot;RISE is a surreal look at what todayand#39;s youth should aspire to accomplish. From Virginia to Iraq, from Afghanistan to South Carolina, Daniel Rodriguez shows the grit and determination it takes to rise above the hardships life throws at you. Life is designed to beat you down. Daniel shows you how to kick its ass.andquot; andndash;Major Rusty Bradley, U.S. Army (ret.), bestselling author of Lions of Kandahar
andquot;Danieland#39;s service to his country and his ability to follow his dreams is what is truly right with America. His story, as movingly told in Rise, is a great example of where hard work, determination, and a never-quit attitude can get you.andquot; andndash;Sal Giunta, Medal of Honor recipient and author of the New York Times bestseller, Living with Honor
Review
andldquo;A valuable contribution to a hefty body of work on the American war in Afghanistan that has become stale and somewhat hackneyed. It provides a raw, unvarnished and important look at one of the darkest and least understood parts of the Afghan war . . . Ms. Gall, a reporter for the
New York Times in Afghanistan and Pakistan for more than a decade, beginning shortly after September 11, is in an extraordinary position to write this important and long overdue book.andrdquo; andmdash;
New York Times andldquo;The Wrong Enemy is a timely survey of a military and diplomatic undertaking that has exacted a stiff tribute from Afghans and NATO forces in lives, treasure, and national prestige. Gall is right to confront the uneasy truths involving Pakistanandrsquo;s double-dealing while also identifying coalition shortfalls . . . When it comes to informative, credible reporting from Central Asia over the past decade, Gall ranks with journalists like Dexter Filkins and David Rohde who have written about Afghanistan with authority and context. But Gall is perhaps uniquely positioned to tackle the troubling questions she raises about Pakistanandrsquo;s alleged support of terrorism . . . As the US and NATO prepare to possibly withdraw all forces from Afghanistan at the close of this year, Gallandrsquo;s book qualifies as a must-read.andrdquo; andmdash; Christian Science Monitor
andldquo;Galland#39;s long years of reporting for the New York Times from the front lines of the war are clear in this book, particularly in her vivid reconstruction of how things went rapidly downhill after the easy U.S.-led victories over the Taliban at the end of 2001 . . . To her credit, Ms. Gall gets the most important thing right. She underscores the danger of the U.S. turning its back on Afghanistan, which, while still fragile, shows more signs of modernity than ever before. The repercussions of the U.S. drawdown andlsquo;are already inspiring Islamists, who are comparing it to the withdrawal of the Soviet Unionandrsquo; after its defeat at the hands of the mujahedeen. Unlike the Obama administration, Ms. Gall recognizes that radical Islam canandrsquo;t be ignored or wished away.andrdquo; andmdash; Wall Street Journal
andldquo;A strong, well-crafted account by an informed observer.andrdquo; andmdash; Economist
andldquo;The author offers a compelling account of the attack on bin Ladenandrsquo;s compound, the repercussions of which are still being felt. Gall admirably never loses sight of the human element in this tragedy.andrdquo; andmdash; Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
The epic story of Daniel Rodriguez, a soldier who fought in one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan, and against all odds, lived to pursue his dream of playing Division 1 college football
Synopsis
The inspiration behind the 2020 film starring Orlando Bloom and Scott Eastwood,
The Outpost is the heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of America's deadliest battles during the war in Afghanistan, acclaimed by critics everywhere as a classic.
At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Though the 53 Americans there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war for the U.S. that year. Four months after the battle, a Pentagon review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place.
In The Outpost, Jake Tapper gives us the powerful saga of COP Keating, from its establishment to eventual destruction, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of soldiers and their families, and to a place and war that has remained profoundly distant to most Americans. A runaway bestseller, it makes a savage war real, and American courage manifest.
"The Outpost is a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book." --Jon Krakauer
Synopsis
The heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of America's deadliest battles during the war in Afghanistan, acclaimed by critics everywhere as a classic. At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Though the 53 Americans there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war for the U.S. that year. Four months after the battle, a Pentagon review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place.
In THE OUTPOST, Jake Tapper gives us the powerful saga of COP Keating, from its establishment to eventual destruction, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of soldiers and their families, and to a place and war that has remained profoundly distant to most Americans. A runaway bestseller, it makes a savage war real, and American courage manifest.
Synopsis
A sweeping history and powerful indictment of America's longest overt war, by the veteran New York Times journalist who was stationed in-country throughout the entire conflict.
Synopsis
andldquo;Provides a raw, unvarnished and important look at one of the darkest and least understood parts of the Afghan war . . . [Gall] is in an extraordinary position to write this important and long overdue book.andrdquo; andmdash; New York Times andldquo;A strong, well-crafted account by an informed observer.andrdquo; andmdash; Economist
Combining harrowing personal accounts of battles and betrayals with searing portraits of the ordinary Afghans who endured a terrible war of more than a decade, veteran New York Times correspondent Carlotta Gall reveals the full history of how the United States has been fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong country. Gall has reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan for almost the entire duration of the American intervention, beginning shortly after 9/11. She knows just how much this war has cost the Afghan people, and American and NATO soldiers, and how much damage can be traced to Pakistan and its duplicitous military and intelligence forces. The Wrong Enemy is a sweeping account of a war brought by American leaders against an enemy they barely understood, and could not truly engage.
Synopsis
andldquo;An enthralling and largely firsthand account of the war in Afghanistan.andrdquo;andmdash;Financial Times and#160;
Few reporters know as much about Afghanistan as Carlotta Gall. She was there in the 1990s after the Russians were driven out. She witnessed the early flourishing of radical Islam, imported from abroad, which caused so much local suffering. She was there right after 9/11, when the US special forces helped the Northern Alliance drive the Taliban out of the north and then the south, fighting pitched battles and causing their enemies to flee underground and into Pakistan. She knows just how much this war has cost the Afghan people. And she knows just how much damage can be traced to Pakistan and its duplicitous government and intelligence forces. Combining searing personal accounts of battles and betrayals with moving portraits of the ordinary Afghans who were caught up in the conflict of more than a decade, The Wrong Enemy is a sweeping account of a war brought by American leaders against an enemy they barely understood and could not truly engage.
and#160;
andldquo;A strong, well-crafted account by an informed observer.andrdquo;andmdash;The Economist
and#160;
andldquo;Gall is perhaps uniquely positioned to tackle the troubling questions she raises about Pakistanand#39;s alleged support of terrorism . . . a must-read.andrdquo;andmdash; Christian Science Monitor
About the Author
Daniel Rodriguez isandnbsp;a wide reciever for Division I football,andnbsp;honors student,andnbsp;and decorated war hero.andnbsp;He has served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, rising through the ranksandnbsp;to Sergeant. In 2009,andnbsp;he fought inandnbsp;the Battle of Kamdesh, one of the bloodiest battles in the Afghanistan conflict, earning a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal With Valor Device. He has been interviewed by Dan Rather,andnbsp;profiled in
The New York Times, Washington Post, Esquire, USAandnbsp;Today, and
andnbsp;ESPN, and has gained internet fame for his viralandnbsp;Youtubeandnbsp;video.andnbsp;He attends Clemson University in South Carolina on the GIandnbsp;Bill. andnbsp;
An award-winning journalist and bestselling author, Joe Layden has written more than thirty books, including the New York Times bestsellers Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir, No Regrets, and Living with Honor.