Филмът беше доста добър, но книгата страда от същия недостатък като тази на българския рейнджър от чуждестранния легион: в нея няма нищо, освен последователни събития, които не са нито особено интересни, нито особено интересно разказани. Как постъпил в армията, пък как било в новобранския център, подготвителния лагер на тюлените, пък после във Фалуджа, после другаде, после пак там, после пак другаде... Разбирам, че човекът не е писател, а войник и ме кефи безпардонният му патриотизъм тип "нямам достатъчно акъл да разбирам от външна политика но Америка е най-добрата страна и ще умра за нея", но има доста ограничено количество от същото, което може да се напише по темата, преди да доскучее и това количество се изчерпва кажи речи с предговора от автора. ( )

War

Not my usual area of interest but came across this book cheap in a charity shop and was intrigued. It is an odd one. I'm not sure if the author wanted to come across as having sociopathic tendencies but that is the effect with his admission that he enjoyed killing people, especially Iraqis opposed to the invasion of their country by Western troops.

It isn't just hindsight to think that the invasion was a big mistake: plenty of people thought so at the time. There are sufficient previous examples of countries ruled by ruthless dictators which break apart into war between rival factions as soon as that leader is removed. And in this case, they were initially united by opposition to Western invaders. The author certainly had no philosophical musings about this or even the occasional thought: he just seemed gleeful to be given carte blanche to shoot 'the enemy'. Rather disturbing. And his casual admission of involvement in bar fights, something he was usually excused, shows a short fuse and an enjoyment of casual violence. His only regrets revolve around friends who sadly lost their lives or received major life-changing injuries (which later led to death in one case). He quite openly put fighting with his comrades ahead of family life, and his wife made contributions to the book about how this affected her although she didn't receive a writer's credit.

Hopefully he wasn't typical of the people who join the armed forces. Certainly he was very different to people I've known who fought in military conflicts and rarely wanted to talk about it, far less boast. So for me this is an OK 2 stars at best. ( )

I love military books. I tried to like this one & I just didn't. I've seen the movie (pretty good) and then read the book. I don't disagree the Chris is heroic and saved a lot of lives and it's a tragedy that he was killed by another military person. This first hand account is just ugh. Almost the entire time of "being a sniper & we live in the shadows & are silent professionals", Chris spends almost the entire book bragging about how many kills of insurgents (or savages as he calls them) and then so many kills he stepped back so he could let the other guys in the platoon get a few. Also brags about fighting and getting arrested and getting out of jail with no charges. His wife contributed the the book a lot and I felt sorry for her since he cared more about the SEAL team and country before his wife and 2 kids. Also disrespect to higher up officers who he called "ultra cautious pussies" It just seemed this book was him telling how great he is and didn't really seem to care about his wife on her own and just kept reenlisting. Good for him at the end for finally leaving the Navy and starting a kick ass foundation to help wounded vets. ( )

Movie was amazing, but was just not that well written, but great documentation of the reality for this solider. ( )

Moving and thoughtful.

Listing to Chris’s story in his own words was educational. My husband was a Marine during the time Chris was in the Navy. As a military wife, this book gave me an insight on how things were for the service member.

I love the interjections from Taya and many of her thoughts and feelings expressed I could relate to.

It still breaks my heart that Chris had survived the heat of war only to be taken from this world by someone he was trying to help. He had such wonderful dreams of being able to give back and he was taken from this country far far too soon.

Anyone who supports and admires the military absolutely should read or listen to this book! ( )

Easy to see why this book remains a best seller. Chris Kyle is a cowboy from Texas and tells his story in perfect stereotype. He’ll have you laughing at his Navy Seal hijinks, in tears at the losses they endured, and shaking your head at the crazy shit happening in the desert. Kyle had to be able to detach and compartmentalize to succeed as a sniper in Iraq. The irony is that the reader has to do the same to enjoy the book—especially if you’ve served in some of the same places Kyle did. RIP. ( )

I was really looking forward to reading this but just could not read another page. God, the bravado, I couldn’t take it. Right from the beginning too!

One part he talks about taking a girl out and the screws in his broken wrist kept turning on the blinker. “It pissed me off so bad I ended up breaking it off at the base close to my skin. I don’t guess she was too impressed with that. The date ended early.” No shit you psycho!! Anger issues much??

The 52 pages I read were full of over the top machismo. “I’m from Texas, we’re all bad asses and belong to a brotherhood! You Yanks wouldn’t understand.” Bla, bla bla…sheesh, enough already. ( )

I have mixed feelings about this book. I read Lone Survivor and really liked that one, at least for the survival adventure part. I mostly liked this one too, but I was somewhat put off by Chris's profanity and the way he painted all of the enemy as "the bad guys" and as scum coming up from sewers. I'm sure some of them have valid reasons for fighting, just like the Viet Cong did, if you look at it from their side.

I liked his sense of responsibility and that he saved a lot of his fellow warriors with his sniping and military skills, but I didn't like his cavalier attitude to his superiors and his binge drinking, etc.

I am grateful for what soldiers are doing and have done for the country, but I don't like it when they get too used to war and make jokes about its gruesomeness. War is useful like he says, but it's also an evil thing. Sometimes it is necessary.

This one is not quite the classic that was Blackhawk Down, but it is still worth reading. You get to empathize with the soldiers somewhat.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan on seeing it soon. ( )

An exceptionally lucid autobiography of one of the most feared snipers of the 21st century. Chris Kyle pulls no punches in this vivid and often savage memoir of his time as a Seal sniper in Iraq. Far from upping himself, Kyle emerges as a humble warrior battling with one of the most insidious foes of the modern era: terrorism-both state sponsored and otherwise. ( )

Left me with teary eyes even on the second time around. ( )

I absolutely enjoy reading this book. I want to thank Chris, the men and women who served.
R.I.P. ( )

Chris Kyle is a compelling storyteller, but his view of war and America is very one-dimensional, and he says more than one racially-charged thing that made me squirm in total discomfort. Also, his whole mention of getting arrested because of barfights made me go, "Really, dude? You can't just mind your own business?"

Of course, this review is complicated by knowing the facts of his death as a civilian and wondering what one can appropriately say about the dead. All I know is that he didn't exactly disabuse me of stereotypes I have employed regarding military men. And I am thankful I did not marry one. ( )

00016031

Excellent book. Every American should read this at some point. It gives amazing insight into the difficulties faced by the American military and the men make it out. Chris Kyle analyzes why and how he does what he does, the challenges faced in balancing his life with his family, and how he views himself in the "big picture." Great read. ( )

A bit repetitive, but clearly reveling the angst in the life of a SEAL, a father, and a patriot. ( )

Het sensationele verhaal van de dodelijkste sluipschutter van Amerika

Navy SEAL Chris Kyle heeft tijdens zijn carrière van 1999 tot 2009 honderdvijftig officiële kills op zijn naam staan en is daarmee de dodelijkste sluipschutter van de vs. In Sniper vertelt hij hoe hij als rodeorijdende plattelandsjongen wordt opgemerkt door een officier van de seals.
Door zijn geniale schietvaardigheid mag hij trainen met de beste soldaten van Amerika. Sniper leest als een razendsnelle thriller over Kyles genadeloze opleiding tot sluipschutter, de gruwelijkheden waar hij mee wordt geconfronteerd, het plannen en uitvoeren van complexe missies en de moed, de verbroedering maar ook de jaloezie binnen de gelederen.
American Sniper werd verfilmd, met Clint Eastwood als regisseur en hoofdrollen voor Bradley Cooper en Sienna Miller.

Some interesting snapshots into the life of a modern warrior, in oe of the more extreme units in the US Navy. ( )

I remember hearing about this book at sometime in the past. I remember thinking it might be interesting to read--but apparently I didn't go out looking for a copy. I came across this one at a local book exchange.

I have great respect for those who serve or have served in the military. They do a job I can't do--a job I don't want to do. They protect us and our way of life.

I obviously don't know the subject well, but I thought the book did a good job explaining the training and process gone through to become a SEAL. Parts of the narrative discussing Kyle's deployments etc. were interesting and parts dragged for me. Some concepts were repeated far too many times.

I also think the book did a decent job of showing how much strain deployment and other aspects of the military can put on a marriage--and even on the soldier himself.I know Kyle and his wife got married young, so I'm not sure if I can put some of her statements down to immaturity. There were times when I thought she planned to give up on the marriage. But I do also see a kind of love there as well--particularly later in the book. Yes, she gave him a sort of ultimatum, but she also was honest with him about what she and the family needed from him. She, at one point, says she sees the order as God, Family, Country where Kyle sees it as God, Country, Family. I think I tend to lean more to her ordering than his--that may be because I'm a woman and nurturing family would come before the more abstract idea of country. It may be because I am not military and though I have relatives in the military, it seems that those choosing the military might have a different mindset about country.

I was sorry to read about Kyle's friends Marc and Ryan. Ryan's death especially hit me, since he'd survived his injury and seemed to have pulled his life together despite the tough stuff life had thrown at him. ( )

Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL, recounts his life and military experiences, discusses his record for the most career sniper kills in United States military history and the bounty placed on his head by Iraqi insurgents, provides an eye-witness account of war in Iraq, shares the strains of war on his marriage and family, and honors his fellow soldiers. SOFT

Chris Kyle is the record holding US sniper--in this book, he's hum le about it. It shows two sides of the war on terror and the strain that can be put on man by combat, and family by distance. Kyle's perspective is that of a grunt, with regard for the "head shed" only as it pertains to their tactical expertise....demonstrates the ethos of the SEAL teams. The USA needs people like that. I skipped major portions of the book because it got boring and repetitive as well as heavily tactical, again and again. I'd like to watch the movie. ( )

I am not a big fan of military books, but this one wasn't half bad. You can tell it was written by a military person because of the description of guns and military procedure. However, I did find it easy to read and it was actually pretty interesting. I would probably read it again. ( )

I am not an American, I am half English, half Australian and had always been told by my father who was in the 17/21st Lancers (the Light Brigade guys) and his friend, a Vietnam vet that if you wanted to survive in battle, the last place you wanted to be was anywhere near an American and, there would be no SEALs without the SAS. So I am not going to get all gushy, hand over heart, sing The Star Spangled Banner patriotic over this book. However, respect where respect is due. Honest, humble, pride and strength came to my mind when I read this book. I did not agree with all the sentiments within, but Chris Kyle displayed all the characteristics of a person drawn to an elite force regardless of country. He just happened to be a Texan. Having read the book some time after his tragic death, the writing in this is all the more poignant. A tear came to my eye several times. I do believe my father and his friend would have been quite grateful and proud to have had a Chris Kyle on overwatch. ( )

If you haven’t read the book, then you must’ve seen or heard about the movie. American Sniper was known around the U.S. because the thought of once having the deadliest sniper in our country amazes people. Chris Kyle was 24 years old when he left the life of his ranch behind and joined the SEALs. He wrote a book of what happened and his point of view on all the missions him and his group took. He pulls you in with his use of imagery as you get to see into the world of a deadly SEAL. After 10 years of serving in the military, Kyle went back to his family. He missed the SEALs and regretted leaving his troop, yet he knew that his new priority was to be there for his wife and two kids. On February 2, 2013, Chris Kyle died at age 38 by an ex-Marine with a long history of mental illnesses.

Kyle was in top condition and shape when he joined the SEALs. “There’s a common misunderstanding that SEALs are all huge guys in top physical condition. That last part is generally true-- every SEAL in the Teams is in excellent shape.” (chapter 2, pg. 28) Plus, he was well respected and trusted by the people around him. With his words, he grabbed the attention of his readers and showed them the world of a soldier. They were in “top condition”, as he mentioned, and not only that. The SEALs were determined and ready for anything that was thrown in their direction. The audience now has a better understanding as to how Chris Kyle’s mind works, along with his mates. Page after page, he continues to real you into his sentences with his admirable diction and wit.

Every good book needs characters that you can form a bond with and you can learn to love. Chris Kyle is not just a character in some book, but he was a person who lead us through his journey in being in the military. When you read this memoir, you will learn to love Kyle just like I did. “That’s low, hitting a coffee place. It could have been worse, I guess. It could have been a Dunkin’ Donuts.” (chapter 4, pg. 81) The book starts out with his hatred for a woman who tried to blow up his troop. However, Chris Kyle manages to perfectly slip in his humorous comment into situations about which we would never joke. He wants to make light of a dark situation. They were currently in the middle of the Iraq war and Kyle had just lost some of his troop members. Although it would be reasonable to be down and serious all the time, that wasn’t Chris Kyle. He suffered from the death and felt responsible for not being able to do his job and protect his troop. However he still added some jokes and whimsical remarks to his memoir so his audience can read his pages with a light heart, which is one of the many reasons as to why this book is an amazing read.

Going to the beginning of the book, Chris Kyle describes his first kill who happened to be a woman holding a kid and a grenade in her hands. “I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job. But I truly, deeply hated the evil that woman possessed. I hate it to this day.” (Prologue, pg. 4) I could feel the true hatred Kyle acquired for this woman. She was a woman who he only saw as the enemy and nothing more. If you look at how he described her, he mentioned that the woman possessed evil, not that evil had possessed the woman. Chris Kyle is saying that the woman had chosen to be wicked and he despised that. You see a side of the soldier that some of you can relate to. You can understand where the loathing feeling he had for the lady with a kid in her arms came from. What I want to take from this is that the memoir starts off with his first kill and you already get a lot about what type of person Chris Kyle is. He knows who his enemies are and he knows that he has a job to do, which is to protect his troop so they can complete their mission. I share some of the dislike he had for this woman because she was willing to sacrifice herself and her kid, who still had his/her life ahead of them. This reeled me in more and more into reading the rest of his book, as i think it will to you.

The memoir “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History” is a life story about a SEAL soldier who experienced many conflicts in his life. He had to live with the fact that he couldn’t save some of his troop members, PTSD, the regret of not being able to serve longer and protect more of his comrades. However, there are moments in his life as well as in the book that are uplifting. He had a wife, Taya, and two kids and he was able to make connections with friends that were inseparable. Chris Kyle goes through his life story making you feel like you were right next to him the whole way through. Engaging, fascinating, and remember able are just a few words that describe Chris Kyle. And in order for you to know more on his story, you have to read his memoir. ( )

This one I did a little backward. I watched the movie and just barely got around to reading the book. The book is better, in my opinion. More detail, more insight into his life and his personality. I'll admit, at first this book had me falling asleep. I attribute that to the writing style more than anything else. This is an incredible story of heroism, patriotism, and good versus evil. I enjoyed hearing about his life and experiences as well as what he went through to get to where he was.

If you don't already know, American Sniper is an autobiography by Chris Kyle, a former SEAL who holds the record for most sniper kills and was an all-around bad-ass. I loved this book and recommend everyone to read it, if you haven't already. ( )