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Summary: An important book
Review: This is simply one of the best books I've ever read. Bowden succeeds in writing a detailed account of an intricate battle that is easy to follow and he even manages to OBJECTIVELY explain the complex political and cultural issues in Somalia, and the US response to the events of 10/3/93 (so the reader can form his/her own opinions-- imagine that!). I've seen reviews that criticize Bowden's writing style, but it's his simplistic, straightforward and balanced approach that makes it so readable and accessible to everyone. I like the way he intertwined personal information about the soldiers in with the battle scenes, so their injuries and deaths would matter to the reader. He was also respectful of the Somalians and in explaining their situation. His objectivity lends great credibility to the account and makes it a compelling and deeply moving book.
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Summary: Being in the middle of the action!
Review: This book is so well written it seemed to me to hear the voices of the soldiers over the vhf radio net! The english used is superb and I loved all the book.
It gives you the perfect description of the places, the volume of fire employed, the panic and everything.
My compliments to the author.
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Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Whether or not you're thinking of buying this book, I highly recommend you read it. It is a very real account of a battle that the vast majority of America knows nothing about. I remember when I learned of it, as I was spending nine months in Bosnia, I asked my parents if they knew anything about it, as I was only 15 at the time of the incident. Neither knew a thing about Somalia or what had happened there. In fact, not one person I know knew a thing about what happened in Somalia. Read this book, then learn more about the political decisions, and realize that as long as the military is used as a political tool, it will forever be hampered. My respects to those soldiers who took part in the mission, and hopefully with the release of the movie, Somalia will not be forgotten.
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Summary: What happens when the bureaucrats play soldier...
Review: In most of the reviews listed, I did not see any of the reviewers place blame for the losses sustained in Mogadishu on the people who caused them. Once again, the bureaucrats expected a mission to go off without a hitch and had no plan "B" to fall back on. Only through the courage and dedication of our fighting forces were the lives that were saved made possible. Furthermore, this book demonstrates that our need for HUMINT is an extremely crucial but much neglected facet of military missions, be they covert or not. September 11, 2001 is an even better example of our need for an expansion of our HUMINT forces. Like many others, once I started the book, I was unable to put it down. I spent an entire, beautifully sunny Saturday reading this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has an interest in our military. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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Summary: Thank you, Mr. Bowden!
Review: I can't thank Mark Bowden enough for writing "Black Hawk Down." For the first time, someone has documented the prolonged battle that cost the lives of eighteen Americans and hundreds of Somalis in the steets of Moghadishu. Bowden has written this book for an audience that has read at least one Tom Clancy novel. Lots of military jargon and weaponry are brought up, and some readers could get lost. But "Black Hawk Down" focuses on the human aspect of the chaotic fire fight. If nothing else, it tries to document the bravery and the skill of the young men who were thrown into combat. From reading "Black Hawk Down," I was able to see both sides in the conflict, and I could relate that to the rest of the world. This story illustrates the dangers of an interventionist foreign policy. It is also pretty clear that Somalia was a microcosm of the Vietnam War. My only quibble with this gripping story is the lack of Osama bin Laden. He had a major role in the Somalian civil wars, but he is not mentioned in "Black Hawk Down." Inserting him would have also made this into a story that would motivate Americans in the war on terror. The graphic descriptions of what our boys went through in Somalia definitely strengthened my will to fight. This is an excellent story of what happens when even the bet of intentions backfire, and what courageous young men will do to survive in the most desperate situations. "Black Hawk Down" succeeds on several levels. It is an excellent military history, a gripping drama, and a warning for generations to come.
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Summary: Simply riveting
Review: This book will go down in history as one of the finest battle accounts ever written. Though Herodotus and Thucydides are pretty good too, this book takes on modern warfare and gives you 200 pages of the most "you are there" writing you could imagine. I could NOT put it down and read it in several hours nonstop. O'Brien's The Things They Carried (short stories on Vietnam) is the closest I can recall that gives the absolute horror of real injuries, loss of limbs, loss of intestines, etc... The reality of war is that it's not at all romantic -- it's blood guts and suffering. You'll be amazed at how resistant the Somalies were and how the Americans' lack of sensitivity in the months before the battle caused lots of the problems. I like the way the author presents a balanced view of the battle that makes us consider both sides of the coin and decide for ourselves who was at fault. Well written, well-paced and well-researched. Excellent.
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Summary: Outstanding Story!
Review: This was one of the better books that I have read in some time.
Bowden is able to provide an up front description of the battle in Somalia. The author shows both sides who were engaged in this conflict. He also displays mistakes that were made by the American forces. This book really has significance with the ongoing Afgan war and the involvemant of Special Forces. This book covered every aspect of this battle. You get to see the family side,the military side as well as the political side. The author doesn't miss anything.This book was truly a page turner.
After reading this fine book I plan to read more by Mark Bowden.
This book should be rated six stars.
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Summary: This Book Shows the Good and Bad of Fighting "US Style"
Review: Bowden does a first-class job of bringing the reader into the action and reasoning (and lack of)for why were there. He shows the great aspects of US fighting prowess, as well as the inexcusably bad - without being too opinionated. When "Go-Team!"-type hype adds flavor to GI's perspective - he uses it to give the reader insight into attitudes: a good reason to do so.. Also shows the intelligence misses that cost lives needlessly. Importantly, he conveys the picture the Somalis had of the action with first-hand accounts. It's as insightful as "Band of Brothers" - check it out.
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Summary: Detailed Account of a Tragic Battle
Review: Mark Bowden has done the military a great service by writing this book about the desperate battle fought in Somalia back in the early 1990s. He provides today's military leadership with a detailed account of this tragic battle so that we can applaud those who fought so bravely in it, and hopefully avoid the mistakes that were made. Many of these mistakes could have been avoided, and unfortunately cost US soldiers their lives. The most compelling reason to read this book, is the accurate and balanced approach that the author takes. He is not in the military, and does not have a specific agenda for writing this book. Instead, he aims to tell the story of what went wrong, how the participants reacted (what decisions were made, why, and what effects did they have on the battle), and why this battle was lost, despite the bravery of those involved. It is a sad part of US military history, but one worth telling generations to come. For this book, Mr. Bowden spent a few years on interviews, went to the battlefield, and completed extensive research, in order to put all the pieces of the battle together. The amount of research and documentation he completed for this book is impressive. The fact that he spoke with many Somalia participants adds a realistic dimension to this story. Not only do you get a feeling for what happened from the US perspective, but you also gain an understanding of the battle through the eyes of the Somalie people, as they experienced it. The one complaint I have about the book (and reason I did not give it five stars) is that it is not very well written. The action is gripping, and vivid, but the author's style is a bit simplistic for my taste. Having said that, it is still an excellent read. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in modern military history. Any current members of the US Army should take the time to read this book, and draw out the lessons learned in order to make sure that these kinds of mistakes are not made again.
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Summary: DON'T START THIS BOOK ON VACATION
Review: My wife and I took a short vacation and I packed this book in our luggage. Big mistake. My head was buried in this book so deep, it would've taken a major earth mover to dig it out. Some people criticize Bowden's writing style, but I think it's perfect for this book. He tells the story like it is. He tells it and YOU FEEL IT. I finished the book in 48 hours. (And probably would've finished sooner if not for the dark looks coming from my wife's general direction.) I told a couple of buddies about the book and they polished it off in a single reading. It's that good. God bless the guys who go out there and do what they do. Let's hope the film does the book and the soldiers justice.
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