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Francotirador (American Sniper - Spanish Edition): La autobiografía del francotirador mAs letal en la historia de Estados Unidos de America
Francotirador (American Sniper - Spanish Edition): La autobiografía del francotirador mAs letal en la historia de Estados Unidos de America
Francotirador (American Sniper - Spanish Edition): La autobiografía del francotirador mAs letal en la historia de Estados Unidos de America
Audiobook10 hours

Francotirador (American Sniper - Spanish Edition): La autobiografía del francotirador mAs letal en la historia de Estados Unidos de America

Written by Chris Kyle

Narrated by Ricardo Cardenas

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Fascinante, reveladora y poderosa, Francotirador la asombrosa autobiografía del Capitán SEAL Chris Kyle, el francotirador que tuvo el récord más alto en la historia militar estadounidense. En Francotirador, Kyle relata la extraordinaria historia de su carrera que duró una década. El fascinante relato de cómo pasó de ser un cowboy de rodeos de Texas a ser un experto franco tirador y temido asesino, ofrece una perspectiva única de la guerra actual y una de las descripciones más profundas, reveladoras y jamás escritas del mundo secreto de Special Ops (Operaciones Especiales) de Estados Unidos. Esta obra, también honra a los compañeros de guerra de Kyle, que lucharon dentro y fuera del campo de batalla, así como con conmovedores relatos de su esposa Taya, quien habla abiertamente de las presiones de la guerra en su matrimonio, sus hijos, y en Chris. Extraordinario, inolvidable y cargado de adrenalina, el relato de Kyle se sitúa como una de las mejores autobiografías de guerra de todos los tiempos.
LanguageEspañol
Release dateFeb 24, 2015
ISBN9780829702354
Author

Chris Kyle

SEAL Team 3 Chief Chris Kyle (1974–2013) was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, and numerous other citations. Following four combat tours in Iraq, he became chief instructor for training Naval Special Warfare sniper teams. He is the author of American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms. A native Texan, Kyle is survived by his wife, Taya, and their two children.

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Reviews for Francotirador (American Sniper - Spanish Edition)

Rating: 3.667808281506849 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

584 ratings45 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    American Sniper is about Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL, who was the most deadly sniper in Iraq. He tells of his childhood, his growing love for guns, and his desire to serve in the military. His time in BUD/S, the hardships he endured as a soldier in Iraq, and the hardships he endured as a man at home in the States are also recounted. How he met his wife, Taya, and how the “rough spots” in their relationship strengthened their marriage are shared as well. He tells of the impact war had on him, physically and psychologically. He loved what he did, but eventually made changes in his life for his wife and kids, but he still did some service for his fellow soldiers. He and some friends created Craft International to help train Special Forces units and police units. Chris was murdered at a gun range last year.Chris lived a warrior’s life and loved what he did, watching his buddies’ backs and killing insurgents to save countless lives. I’d like to thank Chris for his service and his sacrifice. I’d like to also thank his wife Taya for her fortitude and support for Chris. I’m glad you two lived as happily as any couple can in this world. My prayers are with you and your kids. May God, in all His wisdom and mercy, walk you through the tough times and joyous times for the rest of your life and bless you always. God bless you too, Chris and thanks again. (Salute)!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'm going to start off saying that this is a hard book to read. It is very intense, more so than I originally thought going into it. While I did very much enjoy the book, I had to put it down about halfway through and read something else. I was not prepared for the way the book portrayed killing. It also seemed very fanatical. There's patriotism and then there's this book. This book is one of the more interesting things that I have read this year. The stories about the war and the obvious bond and camaraderie that these men had with each other was very insightful to read about. Reading this book made me feel sad, frustrated, and angry more than once. Like I said in the beginning, it is hard to read for more than one reason. That being said, I did very much enjoy this book and I would recommend it. Although I would maybe say that I would not recommend this the squeamish.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A great story for both men and women. It shows two sides of the war on terror and the strain that can be put on man by combat, and family by distance. Beyond that, and more importantly to me there is a lot of good writing surrounding the actual combat during the GWOT.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. This is not a political diatribe over whether Operation Iraqi Freedom was appropriate. Rather, it is a very personal account of a man's journey into war and his experiences. It chronicles his training through basic training and sniper school and the brash, outspoken manner of young men in their prime. It chronicles the difficulties on a mission by mission basis of fighting in Iraq against terrorists who did not fight fair, who hid among civilians, and who disguised themselves
    as innocents. It chronicles the fact that when you are at war, your mission is to protect your fellow soldiers.

    Interspersed with Kyle's tales of war are thoughts from his wife and her frustrations at Kyle's re-enlistments and his absence.
    This is a long book and it will take a commitment on your part to read through it. But it is worth reading. It has a somewhat different feel to it than the movie because Kyle's voice is much clearer here and his
    thoughts about bureaucratic foolishness and the minute to minute life on the modern battlefield are set out quite candidly. Overall, a terrific book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wow! This book is shocking! Even though I'm not in total agreement with Chris Kyle, seeing it from his point of view is very interesting. This is a great story because it makes the reader think and feel about subjects we often ignore. I'm kind of speechless. I am just a bunch of mixed emotions right now. I've come back to this review 3 times because I just don't know how to rate it. I haven't been so affected by a book in a long time.
    Update. I just watched the film. I loved it. In the book there is no emotional connection. It's like he's just a killing machine. The film has so much heart. I shed several tears while watching it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not the kind of book I'd normally read (or listen to in this case), but it was good difference in perspective for me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    this was a good book to read. you need to read this before you watch the movie
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While some of the content of Chris Kyle's memoir is interesting, you can tell he is not a writer, essentially leading his co-author to make it readable. As a book, it is essentially written in choppy fragments, and, if you look up the history, it also becomes hard to rely on anything the book says to be the truth given the known lies of the author, also somewhat harming it as a text. In other words, it is simply not good as a book in general, with, in this case, a far superior movie adaptation available as well. That said, it is not without redeeming value, as there are elements about the view of the war and everything else that ring true, and the co-author did make it work as a reasonably cohesive narrative to allow a reader to gain these insights.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I started reading this book as part of a "Big Read." I must confess I couldn't get into it. But once I'd read a little it got quite gripping. The book is not all about one man killing tens of hundreds of enemy soldiers. On the contrary the most telling comment that Chris Kyle makes in the book is "It's not about the people you saved that you remember; it's the ones you couldn't save." We who are blase about war and sit on our couches and discuss the merits and demerits of an encounter ought to read this book which tells it from the frontlines.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Poorly written story about the glory of killing.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent autobiography by Chris Kyle. Gives insight into the physical and mental stress that war puts on men & women. Not only great military insight but also how it effects relationships (marriage, mother/father, etc.) I saw the movie and it was fairly accurate and matched the book pretty well. Enjoyed greatly and if you like military novels you'll love it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An interesting, readable account of war, the best American sniper in history and the effects that this all had on him and his family. Obviously his tragic death adds poignancy to the story but it does involve the reader, well and quickly. Worth looking apbut not as good in my eyes, as Marcus Luttrells Lone Survivior.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History
    Since the movie got so much attention and I was hearing how "every American should see it," yet how Kyle exaggerated various stories, how it portrayed the Iraq war in too nice a light, yet how it was helpful in shedding light on PTSD. Both praised and cursed, I thought I'd read the book for myself.

    First of all, it's a pretty tame book-- perhaps even boring for a war autobiography. Kyle notes that he didn't get his 160 kills mostly by his skill, but rather by opportunities (staying alive, re-upping, and seeing plenty of targets in Iraq) and luck (being at the right place at the right time). Lone Survivor is a more interesting/intense book if are looking for adrenaline and close calls. By the end of this book, killing becomes "no big deal," and what was probably harrowing and dangerous seems pretty mundane and routine. You probably need a movie theater to make it better.

    I think the endearing aspect is that Taya Kyle writes parts of it, describing what a jerk Kyle was, how it was difficult to be married, the changes she saw in him after his deployments, and her love for him growing as he finally decided to put his family first and not re-enlist. Most books of this nature don't have the spouse's perspective, so that made it interesting. At the Oscar's last week, Taya is quoted:
    "It's not just our story; it's every veteran's story," she said. "People have been relating to it so much, as well as healing. We're hearing stories of couples who were in combat 30 and 40 years ago, who are walking away [from the film], opening a dialogue they haven't been able to open before. So, I think it's just an honor to be able to help in some way, and have it be more than just our story.""

    The book begins similarly to Lone Survivor because, like Marcus Luttrell (who Kyle later befriends), Chris Kyle was raised a Texas patriotic country boy who can simultaneously profess love for Jesus while cursing like a sailor. He was an effective cattle ranch hand and college dropout. He was initially denied Navy entry due to screws in his arm from a rodeo injury. After the Navy called him back, a recruiter lied to him to forfeit his signing bonus saying that he had to do it if he wanted to make the SEALs.

    His Hell Week and BUDs training read a lot like every other such story I've read. He broke foot in BUDs (Luttrell broke his arm in his story). He's disappointed not to see combat in Afghanistan after 9/11, but he does engage in anti-piracy activity and his platoon is called up a year later to fight in Iraq. His initial deployment seemed unremarkable, Taya notes that he returns with symptoms of PTSD. He appreciates the American well-wishers but remembers the protestors most of all, and bitterly. He makes a good point that people shouldn't protest soldiers sent to fight the battles that elected officials vote for-- protest Congress instead.

    He eventually enrolls in sniper school, but graduates about the middle of his class. He details the work he did with Polish special forces in Iraq, speaking highly of them. During the insurgency, he notes Iraqi insurgents of different stripes-- nationalists, Baathists, Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamists. He notes that they had evidence many were on drugs to "boost their courage."

    Repeatedly, Kyle puts country ahead of family as in "God, country, family." His wife continuously does not want him to redeploy, but he can't not. So long as he's healthy and his country is at war (which is now perpetually), he feels he has to go serve. It takes him over 10 years in the service to get over this. He does multiple tours before suffering any casualties among his close friends. He loses two friends close together, and it affects him deeply.

    There is not a whole lot related to leadership or management in this book. One good quote: "I had a lot of good commanders. The great ones were humble."
    He notes the tediousness of strict adherence to Rules of Engagement. How every kill in Ramadi (and he had a lot) required filling out a detailed after-action report along with other reports to confirm that the killing was justified. On one occasion an Iraqi family of a dead insurgent protested that her husbands had been carrying a Koran rather than a rifle, which gets investigated. Kyle is not complimentary of Iraqi army, writing that it was a mistake to put an Iraqi face on the war and to train them to take over in the middle of insurgency.

    He gets arrested on one homestay, a bar fight with "scruff face" who Kyle later claimed was Jesse Ventura, who is now suing Kyle's estate for $1.7 million. (Dude, just say "it couldn't have been me" and move on. The damage to your reputation is greater from the lawsuit than from Kyle's potentially mistaken claim.) Eventually, he decides he needs to be a husband and a father, that he's not irreplaceable to his family like a soldier is with a new recruit. It took him a long time to get over SEAL life and guilt over getting out, but he gets there.

    In the end, he helped start a company to train snipers, does charity work for wounded warriors, and finds a new identity apart from the old. It is a shame that he was killed by someone he was trying to help.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Chris Kyle, with 160 kills, was the highest scoring sniper in American history. Here he tells his story in anecdotal form of four tours in Iraq over 10 years before stepping down. He tells of his love of combat, his determination to serve his country, to die for others if need be, and of his various experiences. It's not a story for kumbaya, let's-give-peace-a-chance types...Kyle is a SEAL and SEALs do violence to America's enemies. Kyle had had no interest in the Iraqis, but owed allegiance only to his mates and his country. Kyle was murdered by an ex-soldier suffering from PTSD. Clint Eastwood loosely based a hit movie on the book. The popularity of the book has attracted much attention...most of it seems to hold up to scrutiny with the possible brief run-in with Jesse Ventura who successfully sued Kyle's widow for defamation over a two-page passage.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    There have been so many wildly differing opinions about Chris Kyle, his memoir, and movie Clint Eastwood made from it that I long ago decided that the only opinion I could trust is my own, so here goes. After just a few pages it became apparent that to fairly review Kyle’s book one must first, and separately, express one’s views on Kyle himself. Then, and only then, will I be able to review the book itself.In my younger days I served as a Navy corpsman assigned to a Marine Corps unit. I found the Marines I served with different from anyone else I had ever known. Their view of the world was unlike mine in almost every way. They were more likely to see things in black and white. They were often rude, crude and socially unacceptable. Their interest in understanding the enemy extended only to learning how best to kill them. Very few of them were any good at literary discussions. Despite that, they took their duties very seriously. Becoming Marines was the crowning achievement of their lives. They were very dedicated and extremely loyal. If I ever found myself in trouble, there is nobody on earth that I would rather have watching my back. These men were warriors. The word ‘warrior’ applies to any combat soldier, Marine, SEAL or any other military personnel whose primary career is to engage an enemy by direct action. A warrior’s job is to kill the enemy, and do it efficiently. An effective warrior achieves no benefit from recognizing the humanity of the enemy. Doing so only hinders his ability to accept and live with the life he has chosen. He is neither a psycho killer nor a hero. He’s just doing his job. Chris Kyle was a warrior, and a very good one. If you find this distasteful, your distaste is misdirected. It is war and the politicians who start them that deserve our scorn. Winston Churchill once said “We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” As long as we live in a world where such men are needed, I will be grateful that men such as Kyle exist. Now for my impressions of the book itself. The truth is that I enjoyed it but it could have been better. It read less like an autobiography and more like a collection of anecdotes. The chapters were broken down into sections, many of less than a page, each relating an incident that occurred during his training or deployments in Iraq. As I read it I pictured Kyle sitting with a ghost writer and tape recorder, telling stories and answering question. I did. The short sections made it easy to read and the anecdotal delivery reminds me of an exchange of war stories told over a few beers at the local watering hole. Such exchanges can reveal more about the speaker than intended and Kyle is often overly candid regarding his view of the Iraqis, politicians and officers. What the book does best is describe the role snipers played in Iraq. I have read several books on the war and American Sniper provided an unparalleled picture of snipers’ roles during the campaigns in Fallujah and Ramadi and how they supported other military units.One section of the book that falls short is where Kyle describes the weapons and equipment he used. This must have been a difficult section to write because the writer must answer the questions of those ignorant of firearms while not boring those who are already familiar with the tools of the trade. As a veteran who is not unfamiliar with weapons I should have had no trouble in following everything he said on the subject. Even so, I found myself struggling with some of the technical jargon he used. In addition, some equipment he mentioned such as VS-17 panels, bright orange pieces of cloth displayed to identify themselves to friendly forces, were not adequately described until more than 150 pages after they were first mentioned. This makes me think that readers would be greatly aided by a glossary at the back of the book.Some critics have said that Kyle was an egotist. While I have never known a SEAL who wasn’t, the book does little to dissuade that opinion. In the section on equipment he says that his headgear of choice was a baseball cap because ‘you look so much cooler wearing a ball cap.’ He also wasn’t above expressing the typical enlisted man’s tongue-in-cheek scorn of officers with such remarks as ‘but then I’m just a SEAL and obviously don’t understand those sorts of complicated issues’. I found the book interesting, more so than the movie. I’m a bit of a history buff so I found the first person description of combat in the Iraq war informative. Kyle’s memoir was more candid than most and I suspect that readers who don’t often read first person accounts of war may struggle to appreciate his point of view. *The review copy of this book was obtained from a friend and neighbor who is a retired Navy submariner. Thanks, Bob, for your service and for the loan of this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    American Sniper is a true American novel. Chris Kyle is a Navy Seal who is not only fighting the in Iraq but he also has to fight himself as he tries to remain a loyal Seal and be a father. Throughout the book Kyle discusses his connections with his family and his even stronger relationship with his fellow soldiers. He puts God, Country, and Family as his top three priorities and it is clear that he truly believes these three things throughout the book.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It was very hard to read this book because it was not very well written. A lot of times, the author got so bogged down in the minutia of detail that it made the battle scenes seem boring (when I'm sure that they were anything but). I don't think Kyle should have written the book at all but he could have at least hired better writers to tell the story.

    I don't think i would have much liked to meet Chris Kyle. We have different beliefs about the military and different values all together. I'm sure that one of us would have pissed the other off. On a side note, it would have been better for the audio book to have had a female narrate the many interjections of Kyle's wife.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    First background as why to why I read this book.A while ago I watched the movie Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg who is a retired and reclusive ex-sniper. Decent and enjoyable movie. A year a so ago when my wife Heather was out I was flippin' channels and enjoined the movie again part way through. Still enjoyed it. Watching the credits I noticed it was based on the book "Point of Impact" - the first of a series about the ex-sniper Bob lee Swagger. Superb book. Apart from being a wonderful and well crafted conspiracy thriller I really enjoyed the technical parts about the science and technique of sniping. So when the movie "American Sniper" came out I watched it. I was disappointed. So I read the book and in summary, disappointed.While the movie differs from the book in some small but annoying details it has been criticized as pro-war, pro Iraq, distasteful ("savages" etc.) and these traits are consistent with the book. The book has also been criticized as "simply written". The last point is arrogant . You have to be impressed by anyone who can write a 448 page book. At least I am. Simply written - for sure and accordingly a very fast read. Pro war - not a chance. No one would be convinced to serve in the military after reading this book! Chris Kyle's priorities were God, country, family - not mine - but they're his and it didn't upset me. One doesn't need to believe in a book to read it.As a chronicle of one man's personal passage through Iraq it does a good job. Where I was really disappointed is that it isn't about sniping! There's about a page talking about the equipment, probably about the same on techniques. I find the science and process of sniping fascinating and this was a big hole for me. You might be different of course.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    According to the book jacket, Chris Kyle recorded the most career kills in the United States military history from 1999 to 2009.The autobiography tells of Chris growing up in mid Texas and his love of excitement and physical activity. Among his activities in his younger days was busting broncos.Early on, Chris admits that he likes to have fun. He was brought up in the Christian faith and if he had to prioritise his beliefs they would be God, Country and Family.Chris's story is told in brief episodes of his life and experiences. He tells how, when he decided to join the military, he went to the Marines first but they were out to lunch, then he considered the Army and thought of being in the Army Special Forces but it was when he was leaving that recruiter's office that a Naval recruiter spoke to him and asked if had ever heard of the NAVY SEALS.Chris had four deployments to Iraq and describes his training to become a SEAL and some of the physical activity he had, from training, to getting into trouble in bar fights.He finally met Taya, his future wife and we learn about their courtship and marriage.As a SEAL, Chris doesn't disclose the names of his fellow SEAL's for fear that someone might want to cause them harm. We do learn of a number of his friends in the SEALS who were killed in action or died from their wounds at a later time. In these moments Chris's love for his fellow SEALS is easily seen and his description of a seal from his sister platoon, Mike Monsoon's death in battle and the manner in which he saved the lives of others resulting in him being awarded the Medal of Honor was touching.Another aspect of the autobiography that added to our understanding of this American Hero was reading about how events affected Taya. There is a very high divorce rate in the SEALS and it is easy to understand why. Even when Chris was back in the States, he was often going for more training and carousing. He tells of a time that he was supposed to be home for his daughter's birthday and couldn't make it because he was in jail from a fight.To understand the mind of a hero, this book was helpful. At times, I felt he could have been more personal. In his actions with his family, he never mentions his children's first names, even when worried that his little daughter might have had leukemia, she is always referred to as 'my daughter.'There were excellent action descriptions of Chris in action in Iraq and the reader is given a glimpse of the difficulties that Chris and other Americans faced. For many of the Iraqis and members of terror groups like al-Qaeda, their goal was to kill Americans. We might never realize how lucky we were to have heroes like Chris taking the attitude to prevent the killing of Americans and to kill the enemy first.”Michael A. Draper,
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After reading American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, there’s no doubt in my mind that former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is patriot.
    Beyond that, though, my feelings about the former soldier are less clear. To hear Kyle tell it in his memoir, he has all the ingredients of a patriotic American: love for country, God and family—and probably in that order, too. But the more I read Kyle’s story, the more complex he becomes.
    Reading American Sniper, it’s obvious why Hollywood was able to make the memoir into a blockbuster movie. In addition to being the most effective sniper in US military history, Kyle has a talent for making already exciting stories about his time on the battlefield even more gripping. Kyle fought in some of the deadliest battles of the war in Iraq, from Fallujah to Ramadi. If even half of the stories he tells actually happened, he’s already done more than any big screen action hero can pretend to do.
    Kyle has a combination of skills, temperament, and character that made him deadly to his enemies, but also left me equivocal about the impact of war on American soldiers.
    Even as a fabulist, Kyle’s story as a soldier is a fascinating perspective from the front lines of American foreign policy. Further, because so many have seen the movie based on his book, his memoir could have significant impact on how Americans view the war in Iraq, for better or for worse. It’s that impact that has elicited response from across the celebrity spectrum, both in support and opposition to the movie.
    As another soldier wrote, though, Kyle’s perspective of the war in Iraq is just that: a perspective. It isn’t a definitive analysis of the war, why we went, and whether we should have been there. It’s one man’s experience in war-time.
    That said, the perspective is valuable and with such a small percentage of Americans signing up to serve in uniform, it’s a perspective that the rest of voting America might consider.
    Throughout American Sniper, Kyle seems to struggle with polar aspects of his nature. On one hand, he is driven by a need to be heroic, acting on a sense of invincibility and taking a devil-may-care approach to danger. On the other hand, he truly believes that his cause is just, wants to protect his fellow soldiers, and return home to be a considerate father.
    It was a struggle that his baser instincts seemed all too often to win.
    Taya, Kyle’s wife, whose commentary is interspersed throughout American Sniper, tells Kyle that if he reenlists, he would be choosing the SEAL lifestyle over her and their family. Kyle acknowledges it. And then chooses the war and his fellow soldiers, anyway, heading back to Iraq to fight in Ramadi.
    Returning home after his deployments was a trial and a hell for those around him, as well as for Kyle, too. And yet, Kyle says, multiple times, that he liked being a sniper and he liked killing the enemy. He considered them to be savages.
    Killing a man is not, and should not be, an easy thing, and Kyle’s story demonstrates in high relief the conditioning through which soldiers must pass effective warriors. It changes them and the experience of becoming effective killers, necessary for war, continues to impact them even when they return home.
    I’ve never served in the armed forces, but if I ever did, I hope the soldier fighting next to me is as effective as Kyle. Not only did he cover fellow soldiers under fire, he carried them out, too, protected them, led them, and brought them to safety.
    But if the effects of war on the people who must fight it have ever been unclear, American Sniper paints a disturbing picture. The war is hard on Kyle, physically and psychologically, as well as on his family. His body gradually breaks down over four tours of duty. At home between deployments he struggled with road rage and night terrors. After he retired from the service, Kyle sank into depression, alcohol, and pain.
    Multiply that by every veteran who was in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Relatively speaking, Kyle might be considered lucky. Rather than succumb to the death spiral of alcohol and depression, a near-death car accident leaves Kyle shaken and resolved to change. He decides to give back and starts an organization to help vets recover from PTSD. Ironically, it was in this cause that Kyle died, shot to death by a veteran suffering from PTSD.
    From Seth Rogan to Bill O’Reilly, Michael Moore to Sarah Palin, it seems like everyone has an opinion on Kyle. To some he is a hero; to others, he is a cold-blooded killer.
    The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. But that’s the nature of war, isn’t it? It’s not always clear-cut, and the demands we make on our men and women to kill or be killed changes them forever. If we’re going to support our troops, adjust our thinking about war, then understanding Kyle’s experience, as well as the experiences of so many others that serve, American Sniper is a helpful perspective.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Normally I read the book then see the movie. Did this one in reverse they are both excellent in there own right but very different from each other. Enjoyed the book especially the parts from his wife's perspective. Brave man, Thank you for your service. And and even braver wife and mother. Taya is the hero of this book especially after Chris' death.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After having watched the film, I wanted to hear about Chris Kyle's experiences in his own words.This book offers a pretty good idea of the hell soldiers must go through first to become SEALs, then to actually be in war. Throughout the book, Kyle's wife, Taya, includes her own perspective on various deployments and issues at home. I thought this was a nice change of pace and certainly reminded me of the sacrifices spouses and their extended families make while their soldier is at war.I very much support our Armed Forces and am politically conservative. Still, it was a little uncomfortable reading Kyle's frequent pronouncement that he liked killing. Understand, I have no sympathy for terrorists and their ilk, but it was still a little uncomfortable for me to read this. At the same time, I fully understand that we need people with mindsets like this in our military. Fact is: they're constantly in a kill-or-be-killed environment. I'd much rather it be our enemies than our own soldiers.Kyle did a pretty decent job of explaining various military acronyms and jargon, although some of the stories were unnecessary in terms of pacing. It's also not political in nature (he never mentions any politicians by name) but clearly he was irritated about some of the policies that were put in place--he just wanted (and to some degree, needed) the freedom to do the job he was sent there to do.If you enjoyed the film, you'll enjoy the book. You certainly get to know Kyle far better here than from the film.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Straight forward and honest reflection of Chris Kyle's time as a SEAL.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I appreciate a guy who gets straight to the point and Kyle's writing is as straightforward as his sniper shots.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I seem to be creating a trend here with the first three books read in 2015 having been made into films, films that i watched prior to reading the books. Unfortunately this one was an extremely uninspiring read, but also quite confronting. Chris Kyle is the epitome of American patriot. He sees the notion of being a Navy SEAL as the greatest job in the world and is unforgiving in his pursuit of killing the 'bad guys'. He has a very black and white approach to life and anything that doesn't fit into his frame of thinking is simply placed in the "wrong" pile. Not once does he stop to ponder the repercussions of each of his kills, in fact, he actually states that he LOVED being a SEAL and killing "evil" and that he regretted not killing more. Even his descriptions of adjusting to life back in the US are trite. While i can appreciate that the transition between a war zone to everyday life is one that not many would handle, his apprehensions don't extend past his loyalty to America and perceived threats to himself. He does not feel guilt or regret about the lives of the families he's destroyed, or once think about the underlying consequences and motivations behind war.It's interesting to see the slight spin director Clint Eastwood has put on the Chris Kyle story. Bradley Cooper's Kyle is presented as a complicated individual. Kyle's book is very matter of fact in its retelling of military operations, training, and his life. There are moments which attempt to infuse the text with the softer side of Kyle, but even though seem forced and are told without emotive language and a sense of importance. The sections in which Tayah gives her personal opinion are interesting. I think her point of view is important in adding another dimension to Kyle's personally, but those sections are few and far between. To be honest, i would have been more interested in hearing her complete side of the story.This book is by no means a difficult read, i got through it in a day without too much fuss, so it is quite accessible. However, i'd be wary of those who accept what Kyle has written as scripture. The mechanics of war affect the individual uniquely and we should be wary to accept an account like this without deconstruction and discussion.