by Phil Klay
First published 2022
Phil Klay served as a Marine officer in Iraq before returning to civilian life a decade ago. He found himself among veterans forced to wrestle with what their combat experiences meant for themselves and their country. American wars have always shaped national identity, from the Revolution through World War II. But the post-9/11 conflicts present a different challenge. Most Americans remain unaware these wars continue, creating a vast gap between military families drawn into conflict's orbit and civilians who never confront its reality. The consequences of American military action overseas stay hidden from public view, yet they remain deeply real. This divide between those who serve and those who don't has created a moral blind spot in American life. Klay spent ten years writing essays that confront this chasm and the difficult questions it raises. In whose name do we ask young Americans to kill and die? What holds this country together? These two questions connect in ways that will determine America's future direction.
Genres: american, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-reflection, social-commentary
Setting: Iraq
Period: Post-9/11
384 pages · Paperback · Diversified Publishing