Rating: 
Summary: A Cross Between Ollie North and Catcher in the Rye
Review: This was written by a former marine from the Gulf War who has since graduated from a writing school and is making the transition to writer. Yes we heard the story years ago. That story was called Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger. But the names, the jobs, and people have changed. It is now a cross creation hybrid if you will or a sort of Ollie North/Holden Caulfield character in this biographical story. It also has touches of fellow former sniper Timothy McVeigh. We have a young man in the horrors of war unlike Salinger's character - but with some similarities in dealing with youth. He is in the process of facing or not facing the prospect of growing up and how he handles himself for better or worse in that situation, guided by any moral compass from his past. I thought the book was a bit overdone. 3 Stars. Neutral recommendation. Jack in Toronto
Rating: 
Summary: Insight, not Intellectual
Review: No book that deals with military history, or a look into the life of a soldier should ever be judged by it's use of language and grammatical perfection. When getting past this point and looking at the book for what it is, you see what makes it such a beautiful work. Anthony Swofford doesn't hide details, he exposes his imperfections to the public eye and states firmly, "this is how it is. If you don't like it, you can get over it." A man of his caliber should not only be respected, but admired as well. From boot camp to the end of the Gulf War he basically shows you the brothers in arms and how they became so united. To tell you how and why would be a major spoiler and I would not dare do such a thing. If you like good books on warfare, and you're looking for something other than the common cliche combatants tale that is sugar coated and filled with chocolate, this is the book for you. Very real, and very good.
Rating:
Summary: Required reading
Review: Using tough, unsentimental language, Swofford writes in a style that is crude. Immediate. Jarring. Embracing the post-modern writing approach which focuses upon stream of consciousness prose which incorperates fragments and run-ons, Swofford's excellent memoir/chronicle achieves an informality that places him inside the reader's head and heart. JARHEAD becomes required reading for anyone interested in military history in the sense that his writing captures a unique psychological voice. Swofford's Marine experience certainly isn't meant to be considered ideal or even typical- it simply is his experience. Fortunately he possesses no pretensions otherwise- JARHEAD is just HIS memoir/chronicle. JARHEAD focuses not on combat action but rather the psychological wear and tear that Swofford and his Marine sniper platoon experienced. He vividly and graphicaly captures the results of the impressive air war which led to the coalition's resounding success in Operation Desert Storm. I also appreciated Swofford's liking combat films (from all eras) to pornography of a sort. Swofford's JARHEAD works hard to avoid this connection. Swofford seems to understand all too well that most audiences revel in battlefield action. Not the definitive work about THE GULF WAR, but because of its strong personal voice, JARHEAD is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Negative Account Doesn't Tell Entire Story...
Review: Admittedly, Swofford's book is well-written, but as a former marine and Desert Storm veteran I found myself wondering if he was talking about the same war. I have like stories of hazing, drinking, etc., but these are hardly the highlights of my career in the marines. It does not surprise me that Swofford did not attain a higher rank as his line of thinking is quite low-level. The average marine understands the need for strict dicipline, does not mistake hard training for abuse, and most assuredly DOES NOT stick the muzzle of his weapon in his mouth and contemplate suicide. Swofford's free-thinking is commendable, but just because you agree with the military's objectives doesn't mean you are "drinking the Kool-Aid" and lack independent thought. My honest assessment of the author is that he is a disgruntled 10 percenter who found catharsis through talented writing. I am embarassed by his depiction of both the Gulf War and the Marine Corps in general.
Rating:
Summary: Cathartic account of a Marine's life.
Review: Certainly an interesting read. I picked this book up to get a soldier's perspective of the first Gulf War, and to help me understand the experiences the troops that are currently in Iraq are going through. What I didn't expect is that the book is mostly about the making of a soldier (the other battles), with the author's Gulf War experiences almost a secondary topic. Much of what is written is stereotypical, but from reading the many positive reviews from ex-soldiers indicates to me that the author's account is fairly on the mark. Overall, I'm glad I read the book. Both the War and Other Battles were instructive. I couldn't help but sense that the book was in essence a therapy session. I hope it worked. I will be looking out for future books by this author.
Rating:
Summary: A literary bullet
Review: Dear Anthony, keep going with the writing! I really enjoyed your FUBAR tale of the Gulf War. Anyone out [of the military] has a different opinion of those that were there [Gulf War I & II] and still 'in'. How can one judge objectively if not stepping back from the [said] situation? That's why you got and will probably keep getting flak for this from those still 'in'. Just like the chorus in the song..."Tell it like it is"! I read this in three days - couldn't put it down. Being a former squid, our locations may have been different, but the tale is the same - only the names have been changed. See you anywhere soon - except the barber shop! All the best and remember, now when we hear the word 'duck' we know it means food.
Rating:
Summary: Great Style, Rough Story
Review: Anthony Swofford clearly has a gift for writing...this was one of the most well written stories i've ever read. I see a lot of former Marines criticizing the book, saying it is all false. Unfortunately, what they are forgetting, is that everyone's interpretation of events is different. Swofford was not happy in the Marines & obviously should not have joined. He is bitter about the whole situation & that shows thru in the book. Perhaps he is overly dramatic, but this is the way he remembers it. If you were to ask his fellow Marines their point of view, you would certainly get a slightly different version. But, isn't that true in most any situation? I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good job bro!
Review: Great book man! I really enjoyed it! - enough said... Travis Lane
Oklahoma
FMF corpsman '93-'97
Rating:
Summary: A telling examination of what it's like at the pointy end
Review: There are some wildly inappropriate criticisms of this work, especially one's that say "It wasn't like that! I was there! I know!" Mr Swofford makes it plain at the outset that JARHEAD is a recount of HIS EXPERIENCES AS A MARINE AND THEN PARTICIPANT IN OPERATION DESERT STORM. And in recounting those experiences, one may justifiably ask - does he he tell it well, does it have the ring of truth? In my view, it is a well written, honest and highly intelligent recounting. One element of that honesty, is the way in which military training and war reduce a human to the primal animal where the desire to act out one's basest desires become a reality - whether to fight another just for the hell of it, to rape, to curse, to rage - his writing skills bring that feeling of skirting the edge quite vividly to life. Reading it also brings to mind the sickening sight of politicians and others, frequently former military personnel, far from the action Mr Swofford and his comrades experience, surrounding themselves in the trappings of uniform, or flag, and mouthing the platitudes of country, God, and honour. Mr Swofford was a volunteer from a family which had a tradition of military service going back generations. In recounting HIS EXPERIENCES he is successful beyond measure in giving the reader some notion of what it is like to be at the pointy end. It is not a pleasant let alone glorious place to be where the greatest danger experienced can be friendly fire. With 25 years military (air force) experience at the rear-rear-rear I value that recounting. Only, I believe, one in nine military personnel in the infantry experience action anyway. On the ground, in the sand, lugging extra boots, extra fatigues, six MRE's, six quarts of water, a disassembled M16, a 9mm pistol, the M40A1 snipe rifle, one hundred rounds of boat-tail ammunition for the sniper rifle, thirty rounds of 9mm ammunition, five hundred M16 rounds, four M67 fragmentation grenades, two smoke grenades, three green star clusters, two replacement sets of gas mask filters, a map and a patrol-order book inside a mape case, a compass, and a GPS system, with a gas mask secured to his hip, Marined Swofford tastes the mist of oil in the atmosphere, and ponders the motives for combat, reflecting on his own country's motives. He is excellent at reminding the non-combatant that war is 99 percent of time waiting, boredom, and 1% of unbridled fear where bodily functions for even the best loose themselves uncontrollably. One vivid image remains after reading this work, and that is Marine Swofford swirling his own vomit around his mouth before spitting it out, as if savouring his own existence, his own being in the face of death. I have to say I rate this book very highly up there with such writers as Michael Herr and James Jones. I also feel a certain hope that men such as Mr Swofford are able to bring home the "mad scream" as he calls it, and give us hope that his voice and others might be heard more often over the crowd-roar of victory.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: It's funny that so many alleged Marines have slammed this book. I guess they don't like it when someone challenges the Marine Corps' vainglorious, self-serving hype, which is exactly what Swofford does. He writes *honestly* about his experiences, both good and bad, as a Marine. This is one of the best books I've read about life in the military, about why men chose to serve, and about a culture that breeds killers.
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