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The Fifth Act

America’S End in Afghanistan
By Elliot Ackerman
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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
The Fifth Act by Elliot Ackerman is a profound exploration of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan, interwoven with the personal experiences of a Marine veteran. The narrative delves into the complexities and consequences of war, reflecting on the moral and political challenges faced by those involved. Ackerman, drawing on his own military background, offers a poignant and critical look at the end of a prolonged conflict.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in a detailed examination of the final days of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, offering an insightful blend of history, military strategy, and personal narrative. With vivid storytelling, it provides a thought-provoking look at the complexities of war and its human impact, appealing to those fascinated by contemporary military affairs and personal reflections from a veteran's perspective.

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A Times Political Book of the Year 2022

A powerful and revelatory eyewitness account of the American collapse in Afghanistan, its desperate endgame, and the war’s echoing legacy.

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

A Times Political Book of the Year 2022

A powerful and revelatory eyewitness account of the American collapse in Afghanistan, its desperate endgame, and the war’s echoing legacy.

Elliot Ackerman left the American military ten years ago, but his time in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Marines and, later, as a CIA paramilitary officer marked him indelibly. When the Taliban began to close in on Kabul in August of 2021 and the Afghan regime began its death spiral, he found himself pulled back into the conflict. The official evacuation process was a bureaucratic failure that led to a humanitarian catastrophe. Ackerman was drawn into an impromptu effort to arrange flights and negotiate with both Taliban and American forces to secure the safe evacuation of hundreds. These were desperate measures taken during a desperate end to America’s longest war, but the success they achieved afforded a degree of redemption: and, for Ackerman, a chance to reconcile his past with his present.

The Fifth Act is an astonishing human document that brings the weight of twenty years of war to bear on a single week at its bitter end. Using the dramatic rescue efforts in Kabul as his lattice, Ackerman weaves in a personal history of the war's long progress, beginning with the initial invasion in the months after 9/11.

It is a play in five acts with a tragic denouement. Any reader who wants to understand what went wrong with the war’s trajectory will find a trenchant accounting here. And yet The Fifth Act is not an exercise in finger-pointing: it brings readers into close contact with a remarkable group of characters, who fought the war with courage and dedication, in good faith and at great personal cost. Understanding combatants’ experiences and sacrifices demands reservoirs of wisdom and the gifts of an extraordinary storyteller. In Elliot Ackerman, this story has found that author. The Fifth Act is a first draft of history that feels like a timeless classic.

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?

Elliot Ackerman's The Fifth Act has been lauded for its intellectual depth and raw honesty, offering a striking portrayal of the chaotic American retreat from Kabul. Reviewers praise its powerful storytelling and reflection on war's impact, both personally and society-wide, bridging individual experiences with broader historical narratives. The book is described as an intensely personal yet expansive account, capturing the sense of betrayal and providing insights into American foreign policy over two decades.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008532710

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 August 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: William Collins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 288

Collections

Biography & Memoir Education & Reference Elliot Ackerman History & Archaeology History & Military Military History Non-Fiction Political Biographies

About the Author

Elliot Ackerman is a former White House Fellow and Marine, serving five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. He has written five novels including 2034 which was a New York Times bestseller. His books have been nominated for the National Book Award, three times for the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and non-fiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize among others. His writing often appears in Esquire, The New Yorker, and The New York Times where he is a contributing opinion writer.

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