American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

Product Information

Tony Perry (5 March 2012). "Book review: 'American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History' by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 6 October 2016. The memoirs of the most lethal sniper in US military history gives a lot of insight into Chris Kyle as a man from the South, a cowboy, a navy SEAL, a sniper, a leader and a father. Andy Lewis (February 6, 2015). " 'American Sniper' Book Sales See Continued Bump From Movie's Success". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 7, 2015. Listen, Chris Kyle is a man I would never date. A violent man with a bad temper is my nightmare. I'm not rating this highly because I think he is a perfect person or anything. The way he treats his wife and children is very poor, in my opinion. He always brushes aside his wife's constant pleas not to re-enlist. Every time he comes home from Iraq he reestablishes his position as "man of the house," what he says goes - with no thought or respect to the schedules and routines his wife has already established in her time alone with the kids. His penchant for physical violence, killing, drinking heavily, and bragging non-stop are not attractive qualities to me. These qualities are OBVIOUSLY NOT a result of the war/combat. These are qualities (except for the killing) exhibited long before he ever joined up. As a teenager he breaks his hand twice from striking cattle in the head. On two separate occasions. I don't know whether this proves he's dumb or just can't control his temper. He's also very involved with the rodeo and loves hunting. Impatient, violent, and hot-tempered are character traits he's had seemingly since birth. Verrier, Richard (April 23, 2014). "Eastwood starts shooting 'American Sniper' at Santa Clarita ranch". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 5, 2014.

An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq--a humanizing, brave story that’s extremely readable.” — PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times Book Review I also agree with the way Eastwood decided to end the film. Without spoilers I don't think there's any other way you could have served the film and it's real life characters better. American Sniper is a difficult film to watch, but it's one of the better ones this year. But I don't really care. Him lying or exaggerating in his war stories is just something I can't bring myself to care about. Ditto with the Ventura thing. American Sniper is Chris Kyle’s account on the Iraq war where he’s deployed 4 times. To most people one time is more than enough. You serve your country, do your duty the best you can and then return home. But not for Chris. He needed to be there among his fellow countrymen, covering them, taking fire for them and protecting them with his life if it meant that was the last thing he'd do. You can see plenty of quotes from the book in my status updates. They are only a sample. There are a plethora of such gems scattered throughout the book.)The author comes across as an unsympathetic, often racist, gun-ho "shoot first, think later"-type - some of the best quotes: It was very familiar reading Chris's experience and understandings and recognizing myself when I join the Marine Corps both to fight for my country and to prove myself right before the first gulf war. I was both a patriot and a romantic. Now I am neither, but instead I wish for liberty for all people and see that most evil and suffering is caused by governments going to war for their various agendas - rarely for defense of their people which is the only valid reason for violence. Buiso, Gray (January 1, 2012). "Meet the big shot – SEAL is America's deadliest sniper". New York Post . Retrieved October 6, 2016. Joshua Sinai (13 January 2012). "BOOK REVIEW: 'American Sniper' ". Washington Times . Retrieved 6 October 2016. Fiction or narrative nonfiction it still comes down to voice and good storytelling and this book has it.

Subers, Ray (January 15, 2015). "Forecast: 'Sniper' Sets Sights on January Record". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved January 17, 2015.Whether it's a voice you hate or don't agree with this book gives you insight into that gung-ho, patriotic and loving America culture that many ordinary Americans live and how that feeds into their military. It feels like little is hidden and you get the undocumented truth of the devastation done to Iraq by America and its allies, and paradoxically, and great from a reading point of view, the truth of the immense strength, love and hard-work done by many in the US military and what happens to them when they come home. A poignant and important book in many ways, one who's core message is that violence gets results, I don't agree with. A compelling read nether the less. 8.5 out of 12 firing Four Stars. And the violence! I'm not talking about warfare here...I'm talking recreational violence. Bar fights. Destruction of property. Beating a fellow up because the victim's girlfriend was in an argument with another SEAL. Maybe he figured the other SEAL couldn't handle her? I cannot believe this chap didn't end up in jail. In one chapter he gleefully tells about beating a celebrity because he thought the celebrity (a former governor) was disrespecting a SEAL wake or some such BS. He neglects to mention that the celebrity is now in his 60's. Look it up on Youtube - you can see the "hero" chortling about it on a radio interview. The book takes readers on an intense journey through the rigors of military training, the harrowing experiences of combat, and the toll it takes on both the physical and mental well-being of a soldier. He was a complicated man. I'll give him that. I don't think I could have taken being in his wife's place. She has parts of this book told in her voice and honestly it kept me from not liking Kyle completely that he added them in. Like you and I doing our job, that’s what Chris did: his job. People might or might not agree with his cold-blooded attitude toward the people he killed. But before you throw that stone let me ask you something: if you disagree with Chris why didn't you stand to protect this country?

I was a sniper trained for the SWAT team and was deployed as such on numerous occasions so this book had a little more meaning for me. Some critics have said that Kyle was an egotist. While I have never known a SEAL who wasn’t, the book does little to dissuade that opinion. In the section on equipment he says that his headgear of choice was a baseball cap because ‘you look so much cooler wearing a ball cap.’ He also wasn’t above expressing the typical enlisted man’s tongue-in-cheek scorn of officers with such remarks as ‘but then I’m just a SEAL and obviously don’t understand those sorts of complicated issues’. The book touches on all aspects of his life, so not only do we get all the gory war details and the hardships faced during wartime but also the toll all the deployments had on his wife and family. It's not sugar coated, he did not try to make himself look good, it was real. The letters from his wife especially toward the end broke my heart, as a mother myself I can't imagine how difficult it was for her with an infant and a toddler, no help and constantly worrying if your husband is dead or alive. The events of the story take place in the United States and Iraq after 9/11. Chris Kyle completes four tours in Iraq from 1999 – 2009. What about his slogan, "violence does solve problems". And to close out, Chris attempts to save face "I think America does a lot to support people". Yeah, sure, buddy.I'm tempted to say more, but I won't as I can't do justice in a review to what's covered in the book. It's I suppose that I've just finished it and it's in my mind. American Sniper' Chris Kyle's Record Under Fire, But Is It a Memorial Day Rush to Judgment?". The Hollywood Reporter. 28 May 2016.

His unwavering loyalty to his country. He pushes himself to the limits and then goes past them when he needs too. Then I felt that he put that same country ahead of his family time and time again. Almost unreadable on both subject material and writing style fronts. I will admit upfront that I sharply disagree ideologically with the author and knew that going into the book. I thought it would still be a good read for a viewpoint that I couldn't otherwise get and a firsthand account of a subject I haven't read a whole lot about. And it's good to read things I disagree with. Chris never makes any mention of why he felt that he was doing the right thing by being in Iraq, besides an off-hand comment here and there about how he wanted to kill Saddam Hussein for planning 9/11. The abhorrent ignorances only continue throughout the book, and he adds to the loveliness by constantly reminding the reader how much he enjoys killing. In fact, he discusses his love for the marines, because they are a group of people who "just really love to kill." The irony in that statement is self explanatory.

So, what is ‘American Sniper’ about? It is the autobiography of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the person with the most recorded career sniper kills in the United States’ history. As a general summary, in this book he details his past, how he came to join the Navy SEALS, and his career with them from 1999 to 2009. He writes honestly about his experiences, recounting them to the best of his memory whilst not revealing currently classified information. The pains of war are detailed honestly in the book, including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates, and in first person passages from his wife about the strains of war on their family and Chris himself. It is, above all, an honest book holding a lot of the thoughts of the author himself, and as such makes for a great memoir for a figure such as Chris Kyle. American Sniper tells the story of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who completed four tours in Iraq from 1999 to 2009. The book describes Kyle's upbringing in Odessa, Texas, Navy SEAL training, and combat experiences in Iraq. [5] [6]