With all the interaction of the military overseas in the Middle East, this is an excellent read for military members and civilians alike who want to try to get a better understanding of some of the events that took place during the initial months of the war. It's an up close and personal look at a platoon from the eyes of an embedded reporter, Evan Wright. It can be a bit graffic at times, but hey, that's life isn't it? I feel he reveals the good and bad of how things run inside a platoon. Overall, it's nice to read something from a news reporter that isn't showing the military in a negative light like the news does on television from day to day. You can tell Wright had a true appreciation for those Marines he worked with, if only we can get everyone in that mindset!