Read this Book - Where Men Win Glory...The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

This is not a funny blog, for a change.

With winter in sight, now is a great time to read a good book. I have just the one for you. It's by one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with his writing back in 1996 and I still have the magazine article that started this all (Outside - September 1996 - Into Thin Air...this article grew into a book of the same title). Now, the book that I'm going to suggest is not an easy read. It's a slow read. But a GREAT read. The author is Jon Krakauer and the book I am currently reading is the story about Pat Tillman (Where Men Win Glory...The Odyssey of Pat Tillman).

If you lived under a rock for the last few years, Pat Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals, who left the NFL just as his career was taking off. He quit after 9/11 and joined the US Army. He met his end in Afghanistan...as a result of friendly-fire. This book is his story, but also links up how his life played out as the US/Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts have ebbed and flowed (here's a tidbit with weapons that the US gave to Afghanistan in the 1970s to help fight the Soviet Union in that conflict - yes, you read correctly). Anyhow, 99% of Americans probably have no clue about how al-Qaeda or the Taliban came to exist; probably have no clue how the US has slept with all the enemies in some way, shape or form throughout time; probably have too much on their plate to even care (sadly). This is a good book to get a better understanding of how it has all played out (and continues to play out), as well as learn a little more about a truly unique individual, named Pat Tillman and how he made the most out of his time on this earth. This book has many excerpts from the journal that he kept while in the army. I especially like this one...

"Passion is what makes life interesting, what ignites our soul, drives our curiosity, fuels our love and carries our friendships, stimulates our intellect, and pushes our limits...A passion for life is contagious and uplifting. Passion cuts both ways...Those that make you feel on top of the world are equally able to to turn it upside down...In my life I want to create passion in my own life and with those I care for. I want to feel, experience and live every emotion. I will suffer through the bad for the heights of the good."

Wow. Not what you'd expect from an NFL player, huh? Awesome quote.

It's these nirples from Tillman's journal that make this book haunting. It's Krakauer's attention to detail of the fire fight that ended Tillman's life(and the blatant cover-up by the Army and US Government for FIVE weeks after) that glues you to the book. And it's his writing style that make the history lessons in this book so valuable for all of us to take the time to understand.

Jon Krakauer writes with such ease and is amazingly gifted. When I heard that he was authoring the story on Pat Tillman, I knew it would be a must-read. He has not disappointed. And, if you like this story, then you will absolutely love two of his other books - Into Thin Air (his thorough dissection of the tragedy that occurred on Mt. Everest in May, 1996 - awesome book) and Into the Wild (Krakauer's look at Christopher Johnson McCandless, a college graduate who left everything behind to find himself, journeyed to Alaska and lived off the land until his tragic end).

Great reads! Pick any of them. You can't go wrong. But do yourself a favor and start with Where Men Win Glory - The Odyssey of Pat Tillman. I'll loan it out to you.