Where Men Win Glory
- Lacey Avery
- Dec 20, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 17, 2022
“Tillman—twenty seven years old, previously employed as a strong safety in the National Football League—was unquestionably the most famous enlisted man in Afghanistan. When the World Trade Center came crashing to earth on September 11, 2001, he had been a star player with the Arizona Cardinals, renowned for patrolled the defensive backfield with riveting intensity. But Tillman came from a family with a tradition of military service that went back several generations, and he believed that as an able-bodied American he had a moral obligation to serve his country during a time of war. He didn’t think he should be exempt from his duty as a citizen simply because he played professional football. So after the 2001 NFL season he walked away from a $3.6 million contract and volunteered to spend the next three years of his life as an infantryman in the U.S. Army.”
The front cover of this book or a quick Google search will tell you that he did not survive his duty across seas. So I am not spoiling anything here.
Nobody likes a long blog post (So I’ve read), so for the sake of brevity I cut out most of the quotes I originally wanted to include, but this story is a grand one and I could’ve touched on every chapter.
I genuinely enjoyed this novel for everything that it was. A story of romance, leadership, war, heroism, betrayal, and fake news. This book will coax the lion out of your soul, inspire you to rise to your full potential and act on your true powers within. Pat Tillman was a golden representation of human leadership. I REALLY wish we could have seen how his life would’ve unfolded. I can’t help but wonder..
“I want to set the world on fire and make it right.” —Pat Tillman
Jon Krakauer started with the beginning of Pat’s young adulthood and his participation in high school sports. Significant incidences that fast tracked him to maturity.
“When he went to juvenile hall, his mother started bringing him books to pass the time, and it initiated a genuine passion for reading that persisted for the rest of his life.”
Empathetic, handsome, AND loves reading!? My heart be still.
Krakauer delved into some history providing context and background. This is a great book for anyone who cares to learn a little bit about our involvement with the Middle East. Specifically, how the Taliban got started, Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan, Saddam Hussein and Iraq, and how they’re tangled with the United States. Indubitably interesting topics.
I was taken back by the Jessica Lynch story. I think a lot of people suspect that the government and military will cover up stories or twist them to their advantage at times. But in this case, the absurd “alternative facts” and fake news were completely mapped out, exposing the tall tale. I can’t say I was surprised, tbh.
Pat had a similar story. I will not spill the beans on the manner in which he died or the unforgiving record that followed, but I will say that it was heart breaking and it made you think.
This book certainly pulled at my heart strings. It made me cry a couple of times, reading about the Taliban’s acts of violence and empathizing for Pat and his family.
Totally crushing on Pat Tillman by the way! Who isn’t? You can’t resist him! He was so complex and deep, a sensitive yet strong man. He was perfect.
I feel like I got to know him a little bit through his journal entries and touching love letters to his wife Marie. His words allowed a mere glimpse of his psyche and abstract thoughts.
“What kind of man will I become? Will people see me as an honest man, hard working man, family man, a good man? Can I become the man I envision? Is vision and follow through enough? How important is talent & blind luck? … There are no true answers, just shades of grey, coincidence, and circumstance.” —Pat Tillman
Pat continually pushed his limits to grow and evolve into a better version of himself, physically, intellectually, and morally. He seemed to meticulously strategize his moves, all having meaning and purpose. I found Pat Tillman’s spirit captivating and his character inspirational, reminding me to do my very best to work for personal growth everyday too.
“A compelling argument can be made, however, that the sad end he met in Afghanistan was more accurately a function of his stubborn idealism—his insistence on trying to do the right thing. In which case it wasn’t a tragic flaw that brought Tillman down, but a tragic virtue.”
This book was a perfect example why non-fiction is better than fiction. ;) The action and events that took place are bona fide war stories that have you in suspense. The romance shared between Pat and Marie was tender and a true love story. Pat’s demonstration of his values and loyalty were admirable, his drive and natural leadership skills a rarity; he was a real life hero. All better than a fictional plot and characters. In my opinion, of course. :D
I personally love Jon Krakauer’s writing and use of vocabulary. His journalistic style is evident in all his books, but I love it. He is good at making his point clear, and his use of maps is helpful in understanding the piece of our world and history he is explaining.
If you have not read the book, I highly recommend this inspiring true story, just have a few tissues handy. Hopefully I did a decent job in making you want to read it. Did I? Tell me in the comments!
If you have read this book, comment and tell me what you thought of it! Pat Tillman was unquestionably a man of honor, but did you like Jon Krakauer’s portrayal of him? Did the novel inspire you to read any of the other books Krakauer quotes? Or do your own research on any of the topics he covers?
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