American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

I was all excited when I purchased this book, expecting a Carlos Hathcock type tale of derring-do. What a letdown - I was sick of Mr Kyle by page 5.To begin with, I'm not sure who to credit for this bit of writing; I suspect that Kyle contributed little but the anecdotal accounts and his name to the effort, as two other names are listed with his on the cover. Interestingly, his wife is not given any co-author status although she provides significant input throughout the book.Now all feelings abo [...]

I tried, I really tried but I just couldn't make it through this book. I wanted to like it because I'm ex military and I live in Texas but about half way through I put the book away for good. The writing was dull and choppy, the sentences short and non descriptive. It read as if it had been written by my nine year old son. I found the repeated referral to bar fights and the continuous boasting of kill numbers to be a complete turnoff. I had hoped for colorful narrative like that of Black Hawk Do [...]

Excellent read, absolutely enlightening to how thoroughly enjoyable, not to mention competitive, war can be to those that are obviously hooked on the adrenaline rush. The author is such a man, and when promoted out into an office job, a planner, turns it down because what he wants to do is be right in the middle of the action with a gun and his mates and was willing to put up with all kinds of hardship and danger, not to mention turning down a pay rise in order to do so. If people honestly still [...]

Oh my goodness. I really wanted to like this book. I tried hard to like this book, even if it started out with Chris describing Iraqi women and children as "evil savages" who he enjoyed killing. His only regret was that he did not get a chance to kill more of them. I respect the sacrifices that the members of our military have made over the course of our relatively short history, and the trials that they face when they return back home. So, even if I was disgusted with the first few pages, I rea [...]

Before reading this book I had heard of Chris Kyle. I have not seen the movie and honestly I didn't know much about the controversy surrounding this man. I'm very conflicted on reviewing this book. I almost just threw up my rating and walked away but I tend to forget the books I've read and I try and review for myself so that I can remember the book later. This one. I just don't know.I don't know if they paint Chris Kyle in the movie as he has bared himself in the book. I'm curious enough that I [...]

I'm hesitant to write a review of this book. I'm not a military reader, nor do I usually delve into autobiographies. But, I saw Kyle on a tv interview, and liked how he appeared there. I have come away from the book with a better understanding of what the guys on the ground experienced vs. what the news media has shown us here at home. A long time ago when I was studying political science, I studied a mission that failed back in the '70's. I read first hand accounts from the military commander i [...]

This book was, without a doubt, one of the worst pieces of literature I have ever wasted my time with.I was recommended this book by a colleague; and I wish I had the hours back that it took to read. The author comes across as an unsympathetic, often racist, gun-ho "shoot first, think later"-type - some of the best quotes:* "I don't shoot people with Korans - I'd like to, but I don't"* "At times, [killing] was a game"* "Giving them [the Iraqi people] the tools they needed to progress is not what [...]

The other night, watching the show ‘Stars Earn Stripes’, my son recognized Chris Kyle, the author of “The American Sniper”, a biography he read for a school assignment. Curious about it, I picked up the book and browsed through it. Needless to say, I finished it in 1 and 1/2 days.I come from a country where patriotism used to be forced down our throat on a daily basis, a continuous lie the communists told us for generations. The result of it? We all hated it. After moving to the US I alw [...]

July 6, 2015I watched the movie yesterday. While it's brilliantly shot and exceptionally well-directed, it left me cold. I just could not sympathise with gun-crazy, sociopathic protagonist.I need to read the book now. I do not think I will like it, to judge from a popular quote:“I am a strong Christian. Not a perfect one—not close. But I strongly believe in God, Jesus, and the Bible. When I die, God is going to hold me accountable for everything I’ve done on earth. He may hold me back unti [...]

This is a book written by a Navy SEAL Sniper, not a professional author. Yes, he did get some help, but it's ultimately his tale. Could it have been written better? I don't know, maybe, but I think it would have made the book feel more like a "story", and less like an account of his experiences. Personally, I loved this book. There is no sugar coating, no PC koombyah. This is an account of war, and it seems pretty realistic and gritty. I don't feel like the author was grandstanding or bragging, [...]

I loved this book, I thought it was excellent. I never, ever planned on reading it or picking it up. The thing that changed my mind about reading it was that a best friend of mine, a man who is about as far from a Navy SEAL as you can get (LOL) told me that he had read it and thought it was amazing. That got my attention. I really know and trust this man and if he was telling me the book was great, I was going to give it a shot.I'm so glad I did. This is a fun, wild ride - which is EXACTLY what [...]

I have never really given a book review please bear with me.I have seen several posts by people that have said that the writting is not funcionalor displaced ? That might be true. I did find a couple of places where I had to reread a sentance or 2 to understand it.However, after reading maybe close to 500 + Novels.I would have to place this on the TOP Shelf.What I found very interesting was it was from his perspective and his inner ordeals. I heard about this book becasue he did an interview on [...]

Just saw the movie.Clint Eastwood certainly presents the case very efficiently: if only we could kill all the people who hate America, the world would be a better place. Though at times I did suspect him of reductio ad absurdum.

To start with this book is poorly written which makes it a pain to read, but the real point taken from this book is just how clueless the author can be.I've known plenty of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, they signed up for the military to DEFEND our country then they're shipped overseas to OFFEND other countries. Most soldiers I've known have had the good sense to realize they've been lied to and used by the U.S. government for war profiteering. This author however thinks Iraqis are "evil" fo [...]

This is without doubt an interesting and I believe a valuable book. I note several reviewers which note that the book isn't well written. This is somewhat true in that the writer makes use often of short declarative sentences. There are no literary flourishes no genteel turns of phrase. On the other hand the writing style is direct, clear and (again) interesting. The book is often much like reading a letter from a friend.This story takes us into the training life, the professional life, and also [...]

This book made me sad - both for the Americans who were killed or maimed, and for the people who are killed and maimed by the Americans. War sucks, and is almost always wrong.This book did nothing to change my opinion on that. It was very familiar reading Chris's experience and understandings and recognizing myself when I join the Marine Corps both to fight for my country and to prove myself right before the first gulf war. I was both a patriot and a romantic. Now I am neither, but instead I wis [...]

I’m torn.On one hand, this book was an interesting look into the day-to-day life of a soldier. Mr. Kyle seems to have no qualms admitting to the less glamorous sides of war, including the bureaucracy surrounding everything a soldier does. On the other, he seems to have not pondered much the implications behind the war that he helped fight. I’m not anti-war, though I know it is a complicated topic. Kyle doesn’t seem to agree. He didn’t seem to have time to think about such things when he [...]

This book showcases a pathological lack of introspection on behalf of its author. It takes a complex world at a chaotic time and reduces it to black and white so that he doesn't have to feel remorse or contemplate the root causes of violence and how it might have been avoided in the first place. I respect Chris Kyle's service and hoped to find a thoughtful reflection on his experience in Iraq but this cowboy turned Navy Seal's lack of self-reflection was really hard to read.

“e insurgents put out a bounty on my head.They also gave me a name: al-Shaitan Ramadi—“the Devil of Ramadi.”The American troops he worked with called him, "The Legend." So take your pick "the Devil of Ramadi" or "The Legend?" They both sound pretty bada$$ to me!!!! Chis KyleNavy SEALSniper.andfatherleader.iot!“The Navy credits me with more kills as a sniper than any other American service member, past or present."What fascinated me most with this book was being able to understand the t [...]

On my own, I probly wouldn't have picked this up nothing against these types of books, just not my normal read. I got this as a christmas gift from my Aunt Eileen so I figured why not step out of my book zone and try it?:)I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this I may not agree with everything Chris says but I admire and respect him he's a got a strong sense of faith and patriotism. He made things that would normally have my eyes gloss over sound interesting and compelling. I loved when his wi [...]

There have been so many wildly differing opinions about Chris Kyle, his memoir, and movie Clint Eastwood made from it that I long ago decided that the only opinion I could trust is my own, so here goes. After just a few pages it became apparent that to fairly review Kyle’s book one must first, and separately, express one’s views on Kyle himself. Then, and only then, will I be able to review the book itself.In my younger days I served as a Navy corpsman assigned to a Marine Corps unit. I foun [...]

This is hard for me to review. I do not have a military background, and I fear that my comments here might upset those who do. I chose to read the book after Chris Kyle was killed while on a gun range. I have not seen him on any TV interviews nor have I read any other articles about him. I saw the brief news report about his murder, and I remembered reading a review of his book. Some of Kyle's descriptions fascinated me with his direct honesty while others repulsed me with his cavalier attitude/ [...]

I really liked the movie that was based on this book. That was until I read the book unfortunately poetic licence from the film makers has taken over again. Why take a great book then mess around with the truth of it had Chris kyle still been around I think the movie would of been totally different. That being said I loved the bookhonest and captivating and written with a bit of wit in harrowing and horrific circumstances its a very good read. Recommended.

This book is presented from the perspective of Navy Seal Chris Kyle and I listened to it via Audiobook.I had seen the film advertised and before I watched that thought I would check out this book before hand. Chris is a American loving, God-fearing, gun enthusiast who tells us his tale. It goes from his youth working a ranch, to joining up with Buds/ Seal induction course, to his action packed gun-totting life and times as a Seal member and it gives us sometimes quite brutal first hand scenes of [...]

4 Stars. Straightforward, not politically correct, raw, honest story of a SEAL at war. Very good at his main job of killing his enemy, honest in his description of his evolution from young, idealistic warrior to hardened combat veteran. I appreciated his wife's contributions to the story. She provides an alternate view of his combat deployments and how his service impacted their relationship. Non-military readers will gain an appreciation of how the family has to deal with someone deployed to th [...]

I can't believe Chris Kyle is gone, he has left a void in this world that can't be replaced. I really enjoyed the writing in his own words. I felt like I got to know him, feel what he was feeling, experiencing. The man was a American Hero, he did what his country ask of him, he did more than ask of him, there needs to be more Americans with the same values and beliefs as Chris.

Wow. This book is amazing.First, as this is a book about a soldier who killed people in a highly controversial war, I'm going to say that my review will be as devoid of politics as possible. I saw the movie prior to reading the book and most of the reviews of the movie are worthless; half are "he was a murderer of poor, innocent, oppressed minorities" and the other half were "we messed up when we didn't nuke the entire Middle East after 9/11." That's neither here nor there. I come from a long li [...]

American Sniper by Chris Kyle is narrated by John Pruden and it is an intense enlightening book. Chris Kyle was a US Navy SEAL and he has the most career sniper Kills in US military History. He had always loved exciting activities such as champion bronco rider. The training he went through was just unbelievable. He loved that training too. He wanted to be included in the Iraqi war, he was excited to be there. That he loved his time in battle was interesting, but I understood how he would feel t [...]

I am not going to bore you with an overview of this book. Suffice to say, it may not win any literary awards but it will make you rethink how you have previously viewed the elite warriors of SEAL teams. The writing is awkward and clunky, push through this. The story is not about the words Chris wrote; it is about the emotions his words conveyed. At times, this story had me choking back tears. At times, I was appalled at Chris and his buddies' views on death and war. At times, it seemed as if cha [...]

I felt I was reading a book written by 12 year old who could "shoot stuff real good." This was an incredibly shallow book without any show of moral struggle.(Update Feb 5, 2013-- Chris Kyle shot to death at shooting range)