What It Is Like To Go To War cover art

What It Is Like To Go To War

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

What It Is Like To Go To War

By: Karl Marlantes
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Karl Marlantes left University at 22 to serve in the Vietnam War. Matterhorn was the bestselling novel based on his experiences. Now Marlantes takes us back to Vietnam, but this time there is no fictional veil. It is part exorcism of Karl's own experiences of combat, part confession, part philosophical primer for the young man about to enter combat. It is also a devastatingly frank answer to the questions ‘What is it like to face death?' and 'What is it like to kill someone?'

©2011 Karl Marlantes (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd Historical Military Military & War Vietnam War Veteran War

Listeners also enjoyed...

 On Full Automatic cover art
Most relevant  
I didn't know what to think when I ordered this, as I just found it by browsing and of course we only ever get to hear a little snippet when we sample online - but it's excellent.

Jeff is a very good narrator (which often makes a good book better). For his part, Karl has led what by any measure would be an interesting life and he writes about it very well. His thoughts on the philosophy of war (and life) are very enlightening. I shall listen to this one again.

I suspect that bright as Karl is (and he certainly is smart) getting that scholarship probably wasn't hindered by his dad being school principle. I would also guess that his recollections of the mass for the dead might just possibly have been influenced by the special herbal medication that he used to self prescribe around that time. But these two little points are just me reading between the lines and in no way detract from the book.

I'm pleased that Karl wrote this book and I'm glad that I listened to it.

This is a very good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
one of the very best books on what it takes to deal with war, on the ground and in the soul. a sure modern classic.

modern classic right here folks,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Honest account of how it feels to have been a warrior. Very human and bleak and uplifting all at once. Will listen again.

Magnificent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a really great listen. I'd recommend it to anyone, whether they are interested in the history of the Vietnam war (which is the book's touchstone) or not, as it gives a balanced and insightful view into the minds of those who have experienced combat. I can't say that I agree with Marlantes' view that war is an inevitability, but if it is, this book should serve as a great reference work for those who will cause it, experience it, and be left to deal with its after effects.



As a UK listener, I initially found the narrator to be quite leaden in his delivery, but persevere and you will soon start to pick up on the nuances in the narration.

Compelling philosophy of war

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very compelling and wellwritten. A must read for warriors, their famlies and especially the decisionmakers who sent them into combat ... and should prepare fir their return

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent description of his experiences, with sage and frank life advice. A little preachy for my tastes towards the end, but I would still highly recommend.

Excellent overall, if a little preachy at the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The more I hear and read of Karl Marlantes, the more I like and respect him

Loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is harrowing and memory-generating for those of us who are war veterans, and illustrative and instructive for those who are not.

Realistic and believable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Should be essential reading for anyone contemplating joining the army or marines. Blunt honest brutal

Warts an' all

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I will probably buy this as a paperback in the near future because I was really enjoying it.. BUT!
unfortunately the narrator has fallen in to what I call the 'news reporter' voice.
Almost every sentence ends with an upward inflection in tone which after awhile started grinding on me.
Just tell the story and drop the end of sentence voice inflections.

Probably a fantastic book but could not finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews