Buying Options

Read for Free

OR

Kindle Price: $4.99

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Letting Go: A Marine's Journey Through War and His Search for Meaning by [Jeff Sands]

Follow the Author

Jeff Sands

Letting Go: A Marine's Journey Through War and His Search for Meaning Kindle Edition

by Jeff Sands (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

153 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$4.99

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$14.99

$3.48

Kindle
$0.00 Read with Kindle Unlimited to also enjoy access to over 3 million more titles $4.99 to buy
Paperback
$14.99

4 Used from $3.48 4 New from $14.99

Not only a gripping memoir about war and the Marine Corps with gut-wrenching and heartfelt scenes, but also an introspective story about life after the Marine Corps and finding your purpose in the world. Letting Go: A Marine’s Journey Through War and His Search for Meaning takes the reader deep inside the authors head, giving them an unfiltered view of his struggles with war, and the difficulty he faced trying to adjust as a civilian to a world out of touch with his values.

“I looked inside, compelled to stare, staining the image of a dead body into my memory. I did not deserve to look away. I had to know the awfulness of war; the wickedness of our species.” - Page 162

MORE FROM THE BACK COVER

Letting Go is an excellent account of a Marine before, during, and after 9/11. Through the eyes of Jeff Sands, he retells his story with brutal honesty, describing what possessed him to join the Marine Corps, his experiences while serving, to include deploying to Iraq during the initial invasion, and the demons he endured while trying to readjust to civilian life.

This book was begun as a diary of sorts. It was written to try and understand the chaos that exists inside one’s own head, especially after experiencing war and seeing its effects. It was flushed out over many sleepless nights, and refined over time with clarity. It’s more than just a story about war and struggle, it’s a story about what compels someone to join the Marine Corps, risking his life for something greater than himself. It’s a story about how the Marine Corps molds not only men’s bodies, but their minds. It’s a story about war, and its effects... good and bad. It's a story about heartbreak. And it’s a story about trying to adjust to a corporate world out of touch with the values of the Marine Corps; a world without a purpose.

Follow Jeff as he takes you through the streets of Baghdad, giving you an unfiltered description of what he experienced and the injustice he saw. Then, watch him try to adjust as a civilian, eventually leaving behind his job, his marriage, and everything he owns, in order to pursue the ideals that were the reasons he joined the Marine Corps; ideals that were reinforced by war. See how he deals with his tortured mind, eventually teaching himself how to let go.

ABOUT LETTING GO: A MARINE’S JOURNEY THROUGH WAR AND HIS SEARCH FOR MEANING

Released December 15th, 2014, this is the first book by Jeff Sands about his own life and his own experiences.

Print length

327 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

December 13, 2014
File size

789 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
See all details

Theo Aronson
130
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $3.99

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00QZMRZU0
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jeff Sands; 1st edition (December 13, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 789 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 327 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,892,631 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #249 in Biographies of the Marines
- #500 in Iraq War History (Kindle Store)
- #741 in Iraq War Biographies

Customer Reviews:
153 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Jeff Sands

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jeff Sands was born in Saranac Lake, New York, and moved to the small town of Montpelier, Vermont at the age of five. After completing his bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Vermont, he joined the Marine Corps in 2000. Soon afterwards, he found himself deploying to Kuwait and invading Iraq with 7th Marine Regiment.

After the Marine Corps, he entered the corporate world, where he worked for 9 years and moved up the corporate ladder. During that time he received his Master's Degree in Political Science, got married, and settled down in California. However, something didn't sit right with him - there was a feeling that there was more to life than settling down and making money; that life should be more enjoyable rather than an undercurrent of anxiety and dissatisfaction. Unsatisfied with his situation, he found himself leaving his old life behind and heading to Costa Rica to pursue a more fulfilling life. Over the following year and a half he finished his book Letting Go: A Marine's Journey Through War and His Search for Meaning.

Jeff currently lives in California with his fiancé Michelle who is due to have their baby boy, Paxton, at the end of May.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

153 global ratings

5 star		72%
4 star		17%
3 star		7%
2 star		1%
1 star		3%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Peterson2

Excellent, honest "Search for Meaning"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 24, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is a very well written, honest and blunt life story that shows the struggles our veterans face and even more, shows the difficulty we all face in finding our purpose. The descriptions of day to day living through the Iraq war make you feel you are part of something you want no part of, but are thankful there are those brave men and women who are willing to accept the challenge.
The honest portrayal of leaving the service and struggling to get back into the rest of the world are frightening but necessary to understand for those of us who have never been in the military.
Most rewarding to read about is the challenge to find that purpose or meaning that makes life "worth it". And to know that the true meaning is to serve others in whatever way we each can.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2021

Verified Purchase

Brought forth many things and times of my life. Deeper understanding of the real happiness of living your dream. I have lived happy and sad and happy is my choosing. This book may well start you on your way to happiness.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

the more I wanted the book to conclude in a way which made sense to me and in a way where he lived happily ever after

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

I was a "green beret" in Africa and now wear a floppy hat in Australia whilst I sit in my garden reading my kindle.

I chose Jeff's book because his life seemed to have many parallels to my own and his book reviews mentioned his challenges with integration back into "normal" life.

It is hard to explain but the more I read, the more I wanted the book to conclude in a way which made sense to me and in a way where he lived happily ever after. So much so that I wanted to stop reading when I was half way through because I did not want Jeff to find there was no answer or his answer was found in the arms of God.....no use to me of no faith.

Well he smashed it and could not have hoped for a more profound finale which resonated with me at every level. I am researching cost of living expenses and volunteer work in 3rd world countries because I know that is where I will be happy. I was there before I read the book but thankyou Jeff for reiterating my beliefs with your courageous story and outcome.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Veteran's Private War

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 17, 2016

Verified Purchase

I read Jeff Sands book with great interest as a former US Army officer that commanded a combat engineering company in Vietnam. I had simular issues fighting in a land I did not understand. Fortunately I had a strong faith that helped me deal with stresses of that terrible war that ruined so many lives.

Even though our situations where different, combat makes you a different person. Like the author, I had a great job when I returned to civilian life and I kept my anger under control because of my faith. It took over twenty years for me to pull the Bronze Star I was presented in Vietnam out from storage and put it on display.

Thank you Jeff for sharing your struggles. I look forward to reading your next book.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Majid

Honest, refreshing, entertaining – A life story well told!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

Truth be told, I wasn’t looking to read another book about a larger- than-life marine straddling the line between truth and fiction. This book is neither the self aggrandizing tale told by Chris Kyle, nor is it the Pat Tillman Odyssey revealed posthumously. Letting Go is an honest and beautiful story of what could have been an ordinary life told in a thoughtful and entreating narrative. Sands takes us through a challenging childhood, difficult teenage years, a demanding marine life, and a healthy return (if that is possible) from a war theater, back to an “ordinary” life. To me, that’s Extraordinary. That‘s Refreshing!
This is a great read for anyone who is continuously exploring extraordinary in an ordinary life. There are many lessons in this book, especially for veterans re-entering the civilian world. Letting go is an emotional ride that tells you the truth and most of all you come to appreciate that there is nothing ordinary about a life fully lived.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tamara King

An amazing read!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

As the mother of a 15 year old in MJROTC, I was interested in reading this book to learn about Jeff's journey with the Marines. I also had friends in Desert Storm and found the book interesting from that perspective. However, now having finished the book, I feel so much like Jeff and wonder why we work so hard without being truly happy in what we do. I think Jeff give us pause in reevaluating our lives, needs, desires and wanting to help the less fortunate feeds us in ways nothing else can. Jeff, I truly enjoyed your book and I do hope people will realize we can be wealthy in so many ways that don't include materialism.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Louise Keith

Well-written, honest, excellent autobiography!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 26, 2016

Verified Purchase

Jeff Sands writes with clarity and candor about his struggle to find his place in the world. Going into the Marine Corps forced him to choose not to fail and made him a person of excellence, while working in the corporate world afterward showed him that excellence isn't always rewarded as it should be. I look forward to his pursuit of fictional books, they will be full of action, adventure and actual deep thoughts! Thanks for showing us your side of the war and for writing so honestly about how it felt to come home to those who don't get it, and for not staying in that sad place.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mark

There are already plenty of war memoirs out there, ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

There are already plenty of war memoirs out there, and most of them are engaging. What makes this book unique is the author's path outside of war - both before and after. Not only does he explain the characteristics of his childhood and how they prepared him to be a Marine, but he also goes into detail on how his experiences as a Marine - on the battlefield as well as the aftermath's effect on his personal life - helped shape his path for the future.

It is an engaging read and one of the more fascinating books I have read in years. The author has really opened a vein here, and his brutal honesty about himself and those around him make the book all the more interesting.

24 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Markymark

Heartfelt modern war story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

I read it in a couple of days, the story moves along well. As with many modern day war tales it's less 'gung ho look what I did' and more heartfelt. Although the author only did a couple of actual patrols, the stories of helplessness and impotency that he tells do send a shiver down your spine. At one point aft the main fighting is over, the author and another officer are sent to help the local police. But they are speaking through an interpreter, don't really understand the situation or know who to trust. How are two men with guns actually expected to help?

MJA

A decent book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

Was good reading about the marine training and his time in Iraq from another aspect of the usual soldier gun hoe we normally hear about. I sort of lost interest just other half way through in the book but wanting to no if he did 'let it go' kept me going. Nice to no he did find happiness however at the end.

Fred

well written and a good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

having been there I could relate to much of this book, well written and a good read

hugh brown

Great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

Well written, very readable account.....
Well written, v readable
Well written, v readable
Have to write 20 words, not easy!

C. T. Rochford

The title does not do this book justice

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on August 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

For some months after I had purchased this book I avoided reading it. That was a big mistake. While this book is in the beginning about war and the "tough” American Marine, it is so much more than that. It is up there with many of the best selling personal development books and courses that you can buy, including those by people like Anthony Robbins. Buy it, read it, live it. You will not be disappointed.

Buying Options

OR

Buy for others

Buying and sending eBooks to others

Follow the Author

Letting Go: A Marine's Journey Through War and His Search for Meaning Kindle Edition

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Product details

Videos

About the author

Jeff Sands

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries