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One Bullet Away

The making of a US Marine Officer
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( 11,635 ratings, 533 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
One Bullet Away is a gripping memoir by Nathaniel Fick, which recounts his experiences as a Marine officer during the early years of the War on Terror. It provides an insightful look into the challenges and moral dilemmas faced by soldiers in combat, exploring themes of leadership, courage, and the complex realities of warfare. Through Fick's personal journey from training to deployment, readers gain a vivid portrayal of military life and the human aspects of conflict.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by personal accounts of military life, leadership challenges, and the ethical dilemmas faced during combat. It's well-suited for readers interested in a firsthand perspective of the complexities and realities experienced by a Marine officer during deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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The most eloquent and personal story of a young man at war since Geoffrey Wellum's FIRST LIGHT

A deeply moving and thought-provoking memoir: the opposite of JARHEAD or GENERATION KILL! Praise for ONE BULLET AWAY: 'One can hardly imagine a finer boots-on-the-ground chronicle of this open-ended conflict, no matter how long it may last' Kirkus 'Harrowing ... deserves close reading and serious discussion' Washington Post 'Fick's descriptive and exacting writing ... guarantees One Bullet Away a place in the war memoir hall of fame' USA Today 'We're all losers compared to ... blond, square-jawed, Nathaniel Fick, former elite USMC officer, Afghan and Iraq war vet, Classics scholar, talented writer (damn him) and all round gent. Fick is one of that strange minority of men who isn't interested in what it's like to go to war. He's one of those oddities: someone who actually goes to war. Voluntarily' Independent on Sunday 'A terrific account of basic training and active service ... an excellent book which is timely and thought-provoking' Glasgow Herald

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In 1998, Nathaniel Fick was just another history student on a comfortable career trajectory from high school to college to a white-collar job. Then he attended a lecture by a Wall Street Journal reporter who had just published a book on the US Marines. Inspired, he passed the gruelling selection course and joined the Marine Corps upon graduation.

Posted to a Marine Regiment in the wake of 9/11, he took part in the invasion of Afghanistan, then led a platoon of their elite Recon Battalion during the invasion of Iraq.

One Bullet Away is not a book about the Iraq invasion per se; it is an articulate and deeply thoughtful young man's account of what it means to fight on the frontline, risking not just death or injury, but psychological harm.

Nathaniel 'Nate' Fick took 65 men to war and returned home with all 65. He proved himself an excellent officer and earned a promotion, but resigned in 2003 to write this book and attend Harvard.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick has been praised for its honest and engaging depiction of a Marine officer's experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reviewers appreciate Fick's reflective and insightful narrative, noting the authenticity and depth in his recounting of both the challenges and moral complexities faced during conflict. The book is often highlighted for its clear writing, combining personal anecdotes with broader commentary on military life and leadership.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780753821879

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 384

About the Author

After receiving a BA in classics from Dartmouth in 1999, Nathaniel Fick passed the US Marines officer training course and joined the Corps just before 9/11. He saw action in Afghanistan and Iraq in the elite First Recon Battalion (the Marines' equivalent of the Navy SEALs or British SBS). Among the first US soldiers to enter Baghdad in the Iraq war, he left the service after being promoted to captain. He is now in a joint degree programme at Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Government.

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One Bullet Away (TPB Jan 06)

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