Rating: 
Summary: close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades
Review: you'll likely have high expectations for this book because of all the breathless press it has received -- how astonishing: a literary lefty type (greenwich village jew who attends brown and johns hopkins) learns to admire west point. but does he? what is so disappointing is that lipsky was given unprecedented access to this storied institution. his stammering, "i can't believe this happened" account of how the book came to be -- reluctantly sent for a few weeks, stayed four years -- notwithstanding, a writer who had had modest success in the 'new yorker' and as a contributing editor for 'rolling stone' must have been impressed by what he found at the usma. you will put down this book knowing very little about west point. in fact, the character you will remember best, the one who gets the most print, and is analyzed most in-depth is a veritable loser: a misfit who against all odds makes it through -- despite having to take numerous remedial physical fitness tests, and the desire of several staff to have him kicked out. out of a class of 1000 cadets, it's interesting that he hones in on this hapless dolt. no one in their right mind would want their child to be one of his soldiers, and thinking of this guy as an officer in the u.s. army will have plenty of anti-military people types cluck-clucking. you will be compelled by some of the profiles -- how could one not be? regardless of how one feels about the military, this is unarguably a collection of some of america's finest youth. but there are too many short cuts: e.g. the story about a revered officer who takes responsibility for a subordinate's unpublished, but leaked, powerpoint slide entitled "class of 2000 homo factor report" which was an attempt at parody, and encouraged cadets to select infantry, but brings down the veritable hero leaves the reader hanging. there has to be far more to the story than is reported. which made me wonder what conditions lipsky agreed to in order to get the access he did. am i the only reader who finds it strange that a young author whose most prominent piece, a lengthly 'rolling stone' article titled 'to be young and gay' (recommended reading, btw) doesn't mention homosexuality once in 311 pages (drugs are touched, sex is lightly addressed -- as if the most trying issues facing these supercharged young adults are an afterthought)? where is the top down analysis of the relevance of the institution today? where is the questioning of whether the type of 'huah' enthusiasm that is drilled into the cadets will best serve them in today's 'army of one'? what is so disappointing is that the reader is tantalized by situations and personalities, but left unsatisfied because they are not thoroughly explained or analyzed. even someone who has spent many years in the military (as i have), and is familiar with the jargon and acronyms will have trouble keeping things straight. this writer clearly skipped boot camp -- both literary and military.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been so good!!!!
Review: With some decent editing and organizing, this book could have been so good. I really wanted to love it. Instead, I found that it is a cursory set of observations and interviews, a bunch of vignettes with no depth. The development of a story was nonexistent. Beginning in 1998, Lipsky spent four years at West Point: attending classes; going into barracks and the mess hall; visiting the nearby towns with cadets; and watching all of the training. He followed one class from the day they entered through their graduation. During these years, he wanted to try to find out why so many bright young Americans give up so much to study here and become Army officers. Well, if he found out, he never informed his readers. In this almost totally anecdotal description of West Point, Lipsky describes a college environment unlike any "regular" college. He writes of the two conflicting value systems faced by these cadets: "huah", an all-purpose word comprising the military value system which emphasizes discipline, honor, duty, loyalty, courage, self-sacrifice, and controlled violence; versus society's value system with its emphasis on freedom, individuality, self-expression, pleasure, and monetary gain. Lipsky is there when "The Changes" are instituted, altering the rules, traditions, and the deprivation that had once seemed unchangeable. "The Changes" allowed phones, TV, and music in the cadets' rooms, and brought about the end of hazing, among other things. It was implied at the end of the book that some of these privileges might be changed in the future. One contradiction I noticed, which the author does not address, is that although it is widely accepted that a leader must be an independent thinker, this is not encouraged at West Point (nor at any of the military academies, for that matter). The message instead seems to be: be independent, lose your career. I think that Lipsky was so enamored of West Point that he found it difficult to perform any critical analysis of the weakness of the system. Although he does disclose some of the Academy's weaknesses, he does not try to find out why they exist nor how they could be changed or improved upon. He seemed unable to stand back and look at the place with objectivity. This book was full of fascinating information, but could have been much more compelling had it been better written. I also think a glossary would have been a helpful addition because of all the military terms and acronyms that were used. This was worth reading because it is about a fascinating place, as are all of our military academies, each in its own way. I am sure that equally interesting books could be written about each one. I just hope that authors of any future books which might be written about our military academies make an attempt to write more deeply, develop an organized format, and make an honest assessment of the institution.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Emotions about "Absolutely American"
Review: I purchased "Absolutely American" with the idea of placing it in a high school library. The book was highly informative of the changes that have taken place at West Point since I graduated in 1954. Most of the changes have been for the better. Written differently it would be an asset to any prospective cadet. However, portions of the book were absolutely shocking. The language of the TACs and Cadets when dealing with cadets on an official basis was, at best disappointing. Not once in four years did I hear a TAC use foul language when dealing with cadets. Seldom did I hear an upper classman use such language as David Lipsky quoted in this book. It was not permitted and was a serious offense to violate this policy. This is not to say that we never used profanity. It was an all male institution and we could get gross in our conversations. We weren't ideal candidates for Bible Belt Sunday School classes. However, this language was never directed towards a subordinate cadet. Foul language by a leader toward his subordinates does not in any way enhance his manly character. It shows a lack of character. Hard training, high standards and a strong sense of "Duty, Honor, Country" do not require abusive language, It is, in fact, a distraction in training our leaders. My memory may have become slightly clouded over the last 50 years. However, those ideals have not become clouded. If Mr. Lipsky's book is accurate, we grads are fully justified in worrying about the future of the Academy and fully justified in the trite old saying, "The Corps has." I will discuss this with some of my classmates and determine if we should make an issue of it with Academy officials.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This book was an excellent read. The author steps you through what it is really like to be at West Point and keeps your attention at the same time. It also has had a much more personnal effect on me. I always knew I could never live with a normal nine to five job in the civilian world, and after much consideration about enlisting after high school my father bought me this book to read. And don't think just because I considered enlisting I am a fool. I maintain no lower than a 3.8 GPA, I have a 127 I.Q., and I play hockey, soccer, and football. I now know that West Point and the Army is what I am meant to do with my life. I am currently in the process of applying so I can join the other cadets after I graduate in 2005. Most of my family has been involved in the military, including my dad's cousin who is a graduate of West Point and is now an active duty Colonel, and my grandfathers who were in the service during WWII. I know hope I can continue my family's tradition of unwaveringly serving our country.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a novel -- entertaining but thoughtful
Review: David Lipsky's book introduces us to West Point through the eyes of individual cadets. They may look alike in uniform, but Lipsky reveals their unique personalities. Lipsky has a journalist's ear for dialogue. We imagine George Rash's nervous verbosity and Captain Pardes's no-nonsense commands. We hear cadets gripe and we also hear their pride in themselves and the institution. We learn how a woman can be feminine and a soldier.
We get a sense of how the Black cadets feel like the Fifth Regiment. Lipsky raises some tough questions. What motivates young men and women, all of whom had options, to come here? What keeps them going? And why do they seem so much happier than students at Ivy League and other selective universities? After all, their time is rationed, dating options are limited, they're walking the area or staying in their rooms for niggling infractions, and the coursework is far from easy. I wish he'd gone a little deeper in probing for answers, perhaps talked to some experts outside West Point. Part of the reason cadets are happy is that they were selected for ability to adapt. Nearly every cadet was outstanding in some arena before he or she arrived. They captained varsity sports, aced their exams and SATs, led JROTC battalions and a whole lot more. Additionally, they're healthier than average, both mentally and physically. Lipsky focuses considerable attention on the ill-fitting cadet, George Rash, and offers a balanced account. On the one hand, a young man who tries so hard, and who actually makes the grade in many situations, deserves to continue. On the other, if he fails later, the Academy may lose some luster -- and he'll be out there, commanding troops. This book makes a fine contribution to the literature of West Point, offering glimpses into a life that most of us will never see first-hand.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding America
Review: When, as Americans, we wonder about the world, and the changes that are occur; this book should help. One cannot help but finish this book feeling that our future is secure; not just militarily (as it is), but more importantly, morally.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: This book was very inspiring. I love America but am not what anyone would consider incredibly patriotic or the least bit "huah". Even so, it made me consider how I might have been changed had I attended West Point. The author does an incredible job of making us care about what is happening to these real life people, I could not put the book down. It also shows the very human side of the military personnel, or soon to be in the case of the cadets, that all Americans should keep in mind. Finally, this was not a book that whitewashed the West Points experience or only looked for bad things to report. I believe it showed a lot of the good and a lot of the bad about the institution, but importantly pointed out that it is an institution that is in transition and seems to be doing as good a job at this transition as any private "real world" company or institution can.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for prospective cadets
Review: I have been involved in the process of helping high school students compete for appointment to all the military service academies. My greatest knowledge is of West Point. I constantly rework my verbal telling of what it takes to successfully complete the 47 month process. Now I can refer all the prospective wannabes to Mr Lipsky's story. The story is fantastic in that it doesn't get too pro (flag waving) nor does it pick at the idosyncracies of the institution. Character development was superb (one would suspect with the character already built-in), day-to-day life was well described ... it was good that the author didn't try to write a travelog that describes every building or the selection process. I know that the next time I visit the place, I will look far more closely at the young men and women ... look beneath the apparent polish and see the turmoil and torment .. the enthusiasm and pride ... the uncertainty, the confidence, etc. Mr Lipsky gives the clues. If you read this book and then get to R-day ... you'll clearly know what it is that you gotten yourself into! Huah!
Rating:
Summary: A great read about an incredible institution
Review: Just finished this book and have nothing but praise for the writer, as well as the cadets he chronicles. I found it very interesting, and more engaging, that although the sections are entitled "Year One", "Year Two", etc., Lipsky actually walks the reader through the 4 year process in snippets - so the book doesn't begin with a plebe's first day (R-Day) and end on their graduation day. Instead, you discover a little bit about the cadet process in each section. I know this book was intended as more of a "slice of life" document, but in the end, it's as inspirational as something like Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About The Bike." or even Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead". It's all about personal excellence and, to paraphrase the old Army slogan: "Being all that you can be."
Two minor complaints: with all the military acronyms (TAC, BTO, XO, etc.), I would have appreciated some sort of glossary. In the same vein, it would have been nice to have an org chart that broke down the different regiments, companies, officers, etc. I got tired of flipping back and forth to remember who/what title each cadet or officer was. I had considered applying to West Point long ago, and instead went to one of the Ivies. After reading this book, I feel like I wimped out. Like I cheated myself out of a great life experience. Go Army, Beat Navy!
Rating: 
Summary: The Buried Lead
Review: This is a wonderful book. It echoes the pace of the cadet life, with all its cadences, color and personalities. At the forefront, it becomes obvious that no matter how hard the Army tries, it cannot stomp out the individuality of the young men and women it seeks to transform from human beings into educated killers. It's the nature of the business that one must learn to be a killer there, but an open question as to whether one will retain the regimental stripe of the human race. There are accounts of those who do and those who don't, presented in a fair and balanced mix. Those whose spirit and intellect the Army most espouses to cherish, it stamps out, like Hank Kiersey, while elevating howling martinets like Capt. Paredes into positions of honor and integrity they neither deserved nor comprehended, being concerned only with themselves, as opposed to the "greater good." Paredes, a refugee from the depradations of the Reagan-sponsored right-wing death squads of El Salvador, brings his own interpretation of the "Mano Blanco's" "change, leave or die" to the "Long, Gray Line," to its ultimate detriment. Upon finishing the book, one may only wonder how many others Paredes has set out to personally eliminate from the Corps of Cadets, making quiet phone calls, strong-arming subordinates, all to see his personal vendetta against a cadet obviously far more intelligent than he, accomplished. The book leaves a strong impression that Paredes, rather than his victim therein, should have been "separated;" for subterfuge such as he engaged in should not be tolerated in any military that includes "Honor" in its job description. Deep, deep inside this book lies the hair-raiser. On pages 241-242 are quoted the remarks of Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz all but admitting, three months before 9/11, that the Bush Administration knew what was coming. Read these words and be chilled, shocked, horrified, disgusted.
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