Customer Reviews

A Myth in Action: The Heroic Life of Audie Murphy

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I have just finished reading Ann Levingston Joiner's book, "A Myth in Action, the Heroic Life of Audie Murphy." As an avid Audie Murphy fan I read everything I can about him. All of his fans know the story of his life, but Ann has told this familiar story in a new and unique way that holds your attention and is a real page turner. No other author has related Audie's story with mythical concepts.

Ann ends her book with a description of Audie Murphy I have never seen before and I quote: "Murphy taught us to win with humility, lose without complaining, to fight when fighting was necessary, but at the same time, 'never hurt others willingly, including ourselves.' He told us that unfaced fear leads to 'selfishness, cruelty, and lack of self-respect.' He emphatically insisted that 'we are our brother's keeper.' His words can perhaps best be summed up by saying that what is important is not how much you take from the world, but how much you contribute to it. But Audie Murphy did more than tell us how we ought to live, he lived that way himself. He was a quietly generous man who shared what he had with others; he was humble, and made light of his own heroism, talents, and successes, he valued his family, he chose friends according to what they were rather than according to what they could do for him. He was honest, he accepted responsibility even when it was thrust upon him, as a child, as a soldier, and as a man, he protected others by putting himself in the line of fire, not only in battle, but in his later life as well."

This book is a must for the library of all Audie Murphy fans, as well as anyone who wants to know the story of a real, genuine hero.

SHUTTERS AND BOARDS
(Scott Turner - Audie Murphy)
« © '62 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

(Shutters and boards cover the windows
Of the house where we used to live)
All I have left is a heart full of sorrow
Since she said she'd never forgive

The house that we've built was once filled with laughter
But I changed that laughter to tears
And now I must live in a world without sunshine
Oh how I wish you were here

Shutters and boards cover the windows...

Last night I dreamed that you came to our house
And took an old book from the shelf
If you'll open the shutters I'll tear down the boards
Cause I drove every nail by myself

Shutters and boards cover the windows...
All I have left is a heart full of sorrow
Since she said she'd never forgive

My first introduction to Audie Murphy was through his westerns. I absolutely loved him and placed him on a plateau with one of my all time favorite actors, James Stewart, who Audie Murphy incidently did some acting with. But I knew nothing of Audie Murphy's real life before that until much later. Ms. Ann Levingston Joiner, through extensive research and an obvious personal commitment to a passion of her own, has delivered a story about Audie Murphy that I don't think has been told before. Ms. Joiner tells her story beautifully and articulately with care and respect for the legacy of the extraordinary life that Audie Murphy lived. For a refreshing perspective on the life on Audie Murphy, A Myth in Action, The Heroic Life of Audie Murphy by Ann Levingston Joiner is a must read. Five stars, Ann. Reviewed by Joshua Berry, author of Andrea's Dream.

A Myth in Action - The Heroic Life of Audie Murphy by Ann Levingston Joiner

Brilliant in style and concept in writing about a war hero!

This carefully researched story delves into the psyche of the warrior and the man. The author not only gives the reader insights into the prewar life of the books character but also the postwar trauma/problems of fighting men in general. The author's study of mythology and mythological heroes comes to the fore in the characterization, motivation and actions of the warrior - the qualities that inspire and govern the lives of great men. This book is not a narrative story about Audie Murphy, the war hero, but much more. War is not glorified by the writer or by the hero as exemplified by his life and post-war activity.
A Myth in Action is a must read for anyone who has experienced war and/or for anyone who believes that war is to be glorified.

I bought this book hoping to learn more about Audie Murphy, but was disappointed. The book just compares Audie and other heroes to mythological heroes. It's not at all a biography, just a scholarly study.

Good for a college mythology class I suppose, but useless for a fan of Audie Murphy.