Rating: 
Summary: a good book, but not the complete story
Review: It was incredible book but Mr. Bowden completely ignored and downplayed the role of the QRF (2-14 Infantry and its attachments.) I realize that Mark was telling the story of the rangers but it seemed like he didn't want to acknowledge the QRF except were he had no choice. readers please keep in mind that the QRF suffered 2 KIA and 28 WIA and yet there was barely a mention of it. consider the consequences had they failed (much more than 18 dead, I assure you) Mark interviewed many, many rangers yet only 4 or 5 of the 300 QRF soldiers involved. Certainly not a "complete" account of the battle. He also could have interviewed some of the Malaysians and Pakastani soldiers, who probably saved ALL our lives with their tanks and APC's Other than my complaining, it was an extremely well detailed book that brought back tons of memories and insights into a bizarre chapter of my life. I just don't understand Mark's ignorance of the QRF. They were the most disciplined and hard-core unit I ever saw, far from the "incompetent, civilian-like schmoes" he described us as!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Read...Bothersome Dramatization
Review: A fascinating book that looks at a modern military conflict and confronts the reality of combat in a somewhat dramatized manner. I found this book particularly hard to get into at first, because I struggled with the dramatization Bowden inserts with historical facts. After reading reviews of this book I expected a very historical account of the battle in Mogadishu. What I was presented with was a sort of "docudrama" with Bowden taking literary license to insert bits of drama and suspense here and there that tended to turn the book into a Jerry Bruckheimer movie at times. This is ironic as a couple chapters into the book I flipped to the back jacket and read that he working on turning the book into a Bruckheimer movie. This, coupled with a "vacation picture" of Bowden's grinning mug next to a crater in a wall made by a large shell, diluted the idea that this book was in fact heavily researched and based mostly on fact. Despite my own misgivings on the book, I had a hard time putting it down and found it to be a worthy read.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fine Example of Military History
Review: This is a fine piece of owrk. The author has painstakingly reviewed the battle and described it step by step bringing to life the individual ordeals, distinguished bravery and the importance of good training and tactics. The endnotes are must reading. They put the entire battle in better perspective as a political foreign policy initiative, as well as add more insight on the individual soldiers. My reservation, one in fact shared by the author, is the reliance on being able to interview only one Delta Force member. Most D-Boys are ex-Rangers, the one interveiwed was not. D-Boys are older more experienced, highly trained soldiers. The entire D-Force is very small, while the Rangers are a larger elite, light infantry group. If some of the Rangers were throught to be inexperienced by D-Boy criteria that was a command decision and not a fault of the individual Ranger. Also, the lack of an an armor group seems unfortunate. Finally, the 10th Mountain Division probably performed better than they are given credit for. My recollection is that the leadership they got a multinational force on the road is a couple of hours. Despite these caveats this is an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate Depiction, Somewhat biased.
Review: The book provides incredible detail; however I think the book lacks in two key areas: First, a lop-sided opinion of the soldiers involved. Specifically Paul Howe's assessment of the Ranger's abilities. The prevading theme I got was the Rangers were lucky to be alive, much less able to accomplish the mission. It seemed that parts of the book became a platform to bash the Rangers. Second, I think he (Bowden) slighted the efforts of the 10th Mountain Division QRF Relief Column. 2-14 Infantry did an OUTSTANDING job getting a multi-national relief column moving on such short notice. Again, the tone of the book suggests that 2-14 Infantry were a bunch of stooges not worthy of such operations. Due to the budget cuts, every combat arms unit in the Army is an 'elite' unit. What I mean is we don't have excess resources; therefore every unit has a specific task to perform without any overhead. The National leadership made a bad call by not allowing armor into Somalia; instead the UNOSOM forces got a Light Infantry Batallion with a good commander at its helm. I served in Somalia for 9 months with an Army Special Forces unit attached to UNOSOM; so if I'm arm-chair quarterbacking, it's from the front edge of the chair.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is an outstanding book! It only takes about 5 minutes to get into, then one can't put it down! If you have any interest in what war is like in places like Somalia, this book puts you right in the middle of it!
Rating:
Summary: real life depicition of war
Review: The book presented a real life depiction of war in print. The book brought back memories of past experiences with the US Army. Recommend it to a friend and remember those fallen souls this upcoming Veterans day. Outstanding periodical.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best book I have ever read regarding war
Review: All I can say is, God Bless the United States Army Rangersand the men that went into this battle and selflessly and heroically fought their way out of one of the most horrific battles one could imagine. Rangers lead the way!
Rating:
Summary: Definitive Account of Colonial Warfare
Review: This book should be read by every citizen of a democratic country with a volunteer military force. Mark Bowden presents an impressively researched and gripping account of the "Battle of the Black Sea" in October 1993. Bowden wastes no time, placing you in the assault choppers leading the mission from page 1 and then proceeds to describe the ferocious combat that took place over the next 15 hours. Bowden handles his sources well, treating these men with the respect that they deserve while still portaying them as human beings. In fact their humanity is the most heroic thing about them. People interested in the thoughts of soldiers on the ground would do well to read this book rather than watch the ridiculous "Thin Red Line". He handles the multiple view points deftly and suceeds in portaying the confusion and friction of combat. Although he does not cover the higher echelon decision making, that is entirely appropriate within the context and aims of this book. The only improvemnts to the book would be a table of organisation with the names of the soldiers to help you keep track; and scales on the maps (a map without a scale is a picture). The key factor in the success of this book are his references to Somali sources. While the American sources describe what happens in the fighting and provides the dramatic drive for the narrative, the Somalis' provide the context and reason why the battle is occuring in the first place. This is essentially Colonial Warfare transferred to the late 20th century. The parallels in US attitude and that of the British in the 19th century are striking in that while they thought that they were bringing peace and democracy to the "natives", they only succeeded in alienating them. In this way, the US could be seen as a unifying force in that they provided a common enemy to the people of Somalia. Mogadishu is as definitive a colonial era battle as Isandhlwana, Khartoum or Lucknow. Ultimately the US humiliation in Somalia was the result of colonial era US arrogance, ignorance and racism coming up against a people who would not roll over and whose neo absolutist doctrines meant that death and humiliation of the enemy was the most important goal.
Rating:
Summary: A definitive look at the Somalia debacle
Review: As riveting as fictional thrillers like The Triumph and the Glory or Rainbow Six, Mark Bowden's Blackhawk Down is even more riveting because it is TRUE. This fine book should win every award there is. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: A fascinating story. I could not put this book down, and I've never been in the military nor have I read many books about combat. This is the story you do not read in the newspapers. Bowden does a terrific job in weaving together his narrative from many different perspectives. I would've appreciated more after-the-fact analysis, particularly on the political implications and consequences of this ill-fated battle. Perhaps there were none...
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