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Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles Hardcover – February 25, 2003

by
Anthony Swofford (Author)
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Anthony Swofford (Author)
3.4 out of 5 stars 466 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 260 pages
  • Publisher: Scribner; 1st edition (February 25, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743235355
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743235358
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (466 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,037,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsAn honest account.
By Ziln on February 24, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Jarhead puts you through the experiences of an enlisted Marine Corps sniper who never got to fire his rifle in Desert Storm. It's the story of men with a lot of pent up rage who never have a release for it, naturally it finds a way to manifest itself in other ways. Jarhead is a really interesting take on military memoire. It's way more honest than the majority of others and puts the author in a vulnerable and unflattering place at times. In the same way Swofford sometimes comes off as unreliable in the way he describes himself at points, constantly describing himself as a physical beast which I wasn't completely sure about. Nevertheless, Jarhead is an excellent read. The fact that so many senior enlisted marines and officers hate it should be enough of an indicator that it's worth it.
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4.0 out of 5 starsNothing to do with the movie by the same title
By Sam Collins on April 18, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback Verified Purchase
I read this book before I watched the movie and it did take me a second to figure out what was going on, but I really enjoyed it. I hate telling people that it's a good book because anyone who's seen the movie discredits me because they are associating their bad taste for the movie with my contradictory review of the book.

Yes, the movie is loosely based on the book, but the book goes through each person's life from the time he met them to their death. It's really a collection of a bunch of short stories. It takes you a second to figure that out, but the reason they wanted to make this book into a movie is because it was good. I just think it was too hard for them to make it close to the book because of all those short stories.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it was amazing, it's not Shakespeare, but I was entertained and it wasn't a chore to get through.
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn Honest Account of a Terrible Situation
By Maggie on September 9, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Coming to this book, I had little knowledge of any branch of the military, much less the marines, other than through a few third degree connections. But I knew that I didn't like war, particularly the wastefulness of war, which is something Swofford touches on quite a bit. But what most stuck with me was the description of sand: a material which "makes futile every effort or endeavor"--the perfect metaphor for this book. If you want an honest depiction of every side of what it meant to be a Marine in the Gulf War, read this book. Even if you don't like it (and maybe you shouldn't?), it will change you. Swofford has some opinions, which people may or may not agree with, but he's validated to have those opinions because he lived through it.
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4.0 out of 5 starsQuite Jarring
By Mr. M on June 8, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Wow, this portrait of war is funny in the Catch-22 mode of humor, profane and graphically realistic. It is a sad statement about our society that young men and women can be manipulated by hateful propaganda to develop the Gung ho spirit that undermines morals and morality, mental health, and view life as a cheap, expendible commodity. The writer's self examination reveals a increased understanding of himself and the machinations of war. Difficult to read, but entertaining and enlightening. This should be mandatory reading for any young person who has allowed parents, movies, video games, recruitment personnel, etc. to influence them to think that war is glamorous or good. Not for the faint of heart.
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2.0 out of 5 starsanti-war chronicle
By CCC on February 1, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I wished this book's summary would've been clearer. I thought I was getting a good pro-war chronicle, not an anti war, existential complain. I don't care if someone wants to write about how senseless war is, etc. but let me know that's what the book is about, don't sell me the super marine sniper profile, and then end up being the one who's going to be complaining and not believing in anything he does.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Great Read
By Marg-Lo on November 22, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I picked up this book because Swofford blurbed Mary Pauline Lowry's *Wildfire,* which is my new favorite novel EVER. War books usually aren't my thing, but I really enjoyed this one. Swofford is smart and funny and insightful. I think anyone who likes Lowry's *Wildfire* will like *Jarhead,* and vice versa.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA REAL life narrative
By Dr. John T. Webb on June 29, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
While I was an ARMY person for 33 years, I could and did see corollaries in life. Some of the language varies from one service to the other, the situations all rang bells non-stop. In my case, it just kept on going a few years longer. And I did feel like a fish out of water upon retirement, This was all too familiar to me and to most of my cohorts.
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5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent read.
By Roy Kubicek on June 24, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Nowhere near a gung ho patriotic book about the US military, this portrays a realistic, albeit though very pessimistic, view of life as a US Marine during the 1st Gulf War. Very interesting to read the book and contrast it to the film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsSelf-Centered Awfulness

As a career Marine and Desert Storm veteran, I instantly recognized Mr. Swofford as one of the lazy, smart-assed, crybaby ten percent on which ninety percent of leadership's energy... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Carter L.
4.0 out of 5 starsA page turner that transports you back in time to Desert Storm

This is the book that gave birth to the movie Jarhead. The movie is one of the few that strongly follows the book. If you enjoy the movie you will enjoy the book. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Thomas M. Magee
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Life changer.

Published 4 months ago by ZZBottom
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Seemed to be a very whiny story that didn't really sit well with me.

Published 4 months ago by Dw8man
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great read

Published 5 months ago by Cari Hager
5.0 out of 5 starsFascinating Story.

Incredible story. I really enjoyed getting inside the head of a Marine like this. I plan on rereading this regularly

Published 7 months ago by Tom
1.0 out of 5 starsWay to much sexual comments. Had a reall hard ...

Way to much sexual comments. Had a reall hard time finishing it. Some may be true but not for making a profit.

Published 7 months ago by Mel Nefstead
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent Product, Excellent Price, Shipped very quickly! WDBA! A+++

Published 12 months ago by Bruce R. Martin Jr.
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book and good author!

Published 12 months ago by Andrew Sommers
5.0 out of 5 starsStill His Truth

I loved the book and it is extremely well written.I just read the 5 star and the many 1 star reviews,and I must put in with the 5.This book is the memoir of only ONE man. Read more

Published 13 months ago by CMBeachgirl

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