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America's Covert Warriors: Inside the World of Private Military Contractors Hardcover – Bargain Price, December, 2010

by
Shawn Engbrecht (Author)
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Shawn Engbrecht (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 19 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.; 29462nd edition (December 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159797238X
  • ASIN: B00AK3Z48A
  • Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 6.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,963,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 starsdisillusioned
By DubiousDave on January 25, 2012
Format: Hardcover
This is the first time that I've felt significantly mislead by the Amazon review process (particularly regarding books). Perhaps I should have been tipped-off by the unlikely volume of five-star ratings. This is not to say that there isn't merit to this book. There is. My opinion is that it is largely confined to a few chapters (not the ones stuffed with peculiar anecdotes). I suspect that this product was a very good essay tortured into book form.

To be fair, this book came third on a reading list including "Not a Good Day to Die" and "Imperial Grunts". As an essay, this piece may have found its place among them, but for tenacious redundancy and a filler of anecdotes that appear to be paraphrased. I don't know what other than paraphrasing would explain the similarity between his subjects' speaking styles and his own -that is, when he is writing in his third-person anecdotal style (quoting himself as "the author"). His style is markedly different elsewhere in the book (the portion which composes a convincing essay). I might dismiss the similarities of voice between the various accounts and reflections (including his own), based on common military service but for two reasons:

A) Neither the subjects in the two other books I reference, nor my personal friends who've served (as relatively lowly 68w, 25s, 21b and marine) are so ineloquent, glib, and/or sensational.

B) The commonalities seem to reflect more literary style than colloquialism.

I think this guy had a lot of help crafting this book by people who found him marketable. I suppose a fine paper is less marketable. I propose than more harm than good was done by rounding it out and filling it up.Read more ›
3 Comments 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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3.0 out of 5 starsThe Real Deal ??????
By Warrior 1 on April 28, 2011
Format: Hardcover
I am pleased those of you who read this book enjoyed it, but please take it for what it is, Its a book written by someone who has spent very little time at the sharp end of Private contracting and most of the stories in it are second hand and have been somewhat embellished. Claiming to be a world authority on PSC's and private security is easy if you call reading lots of books and listenning to PSC operators war stories being an expert. He writes well and as I said if you enjoyed it then it was worth the money, just dont believe all you read. There is mixture of fact and fiction in there. Those of you who provided the stories will know what I am saying is true.
5 Comments 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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1.0 out of 5 starsA waist of time
By Amazon Customer on December 26, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I stopped reading it. Keeps saying the same thing over and over. Boring. I'm sorry but I just simply did not connect on this one.
1 Comment 8 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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1.0 out of 5 starsTotal garbage
By Tom Savages on April 7, 2012
Format: Hardcover
This was the biggest load of crap since the new deal. The guy has a ego problem that is for certain.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a must read!
By ***** on January 21, 2011
Format: Hardcover
This guy did his homework. A really interesting book, well written and very insightful. I found some of the details absolutely fascinating. Like how the Clinton Administration went around the arms embargo to defeat Serbia, or the fact that we currently have tons of Spec Ops troops in Kenya which was something I never knew about. The book is well balanced, with the right mix of background information and personal anecdotes, of which the author found some really moving ones. It has certainly changed my opinion about how we should be conducting operations in Afghanistan.
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5.0 out of 5 starsReality Check
By RRZ on March 22, 2011
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This book is like the movie "Crash" that won so many awards. Hard to explain but worth the trip to the bookstore. It's not really a memoir but is full of highly readable accounts of life and death in Iraq. It's not really a history book but does a better job of bringing history to life and making it relevant than most history books. The writer reminds me of David Hackworth, another of my favorites. The author's suggestions are valid and seem more intelligent than most of the stuff coming out of Washington DC. I really enjoyed it and would endorse it to others.
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5.0 out of 5 starsHighly recommend!!
By Matty on July 8, 2011
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Where to start as there are so many great parts to this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested about Private Military Contracting. The first thing with America's Covert Warriors, it is neither left wing or right wing. As you find with most Military books they are either one or the other. The book hits all aspects from history, personal stories from contractors, and also the authors solution benefiting everyone for the future of private military contracting. The greatest thing to me, the book is not hearsay or written from a political, or journalist stand. It is written and also has input from past and current operators from all parts of the world. I have learned so much from this book with the history of how private military contracting was started, where it has gone, currently at and what the future holds/can hold.

I could not get enough of this book and read it every chance I got, I am sure I will read it over a few more times as well. Every chapter has something different and so much to offer. Some books say the same thing over but in different ways, but not this book. The best thing is the book gets even better as you go. As I said to anyone interested in learning about PMC, if you are politically interested, have family that is involved or looking to yourself. You MUST read this book as the info it provides is priceless. Thank you Shawn for writing such a great book and I look forward to reading more of your work.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting and enlightening.

Enjoyed Shawn's stories about his time working as a private contractor.

Published 8 months ago by Live4HimOnly
5.0 out of 5 starsI think my favorite review here started with

I think my favorite review here started with, "It was a WAIST of time...". Mmmmk. Tell us more from your infinite experience on the subject. Read more

Published 15 months ago by bricioppo
1.0 out of 5 starsDon't buy

Book was completely one sided and liberal. I expected much better from a former Ranger from the 75th. Read more

Published on March 4, 2014 by ksmccormick
5.0 out of 5 starsbook

If you are into private military compnaies over in iraq then this book is a must read.very good read and recommened

Published on January 24, 2014 by william harland
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is a good presentation of what's entailed to be a private...

If you're evaluating the possibility of being a private military contractor, or want to know what it's like on the front lines this book will help give you a complete picture. Read more

Published on January 28, 2013 by David E. Hansen
5.0 out of 5 starsRead and Make your own opinion

This book contains alot of information and explanations for why we lost the "win the hearts and minds" campaign in Iraq. Read more

Published on August 1, 2012 by bodaciousbobby
5.0 out of 5 starsHONESTY

Had this book been written in 2003 it would have been a best seller. Not light reading nor for idiots, ACW is a serious read with far reaching ramifications for the Private... Read more

Published on February 17, 2012 by Em
5.0 out of 5 starsIf you are more interested by reality than fiction...

This book give you an opportunity to understand the complexity and the evolution or modern wars, with the apparition of PMC on the battlefield. Read more

Published on February 16, 2012 by clouseau
5.0 out of 5 starsBest Book

OK, OK, OK, People if you want a book that from front to back will keep you wanting to read, make you stay up all night reading because you can't put it down, Americas covert... Read more

Published on August 11, 2011 by rainman

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