Overview

"New York Times bestselling author Mark Bowden has had a prolific career as one of America's leading journalists and nonfiction writers. His new collection, The Three Battles of Wanat and Other True Stories, features the best of his long-form pieces on war, as well as notable profiles, sports reporting, and essays on culture. Including pieces from the Atlantic, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, this collection is Bowden at his best. The titular article, ""The Three Battles of Wanat,"" tells the story of one of the bloodiest days in the War in Afghanistan and the extraordinary years-long fallout it generated within the United States military. In ""The Killing Machines,"" Bowden examines the strategic, legal, and moral issues surrounding armed drones. And in a brilliant piece on Kim Jong-un, ""The Bright Sun of Juche,"" he recalibrates our understanding of the world's youngest and most baffling dictator. Also included are profiles of newspaper scion Arthur Sulzberger; renowned defense attorney and anti-death-penalty activist Judy Clarke; and David Simon, the creator of ""The Wire."" Absorbing and provocative, The Three Battles of Wanat is an essential collection for fans of Mark Bowden's writing, and for anyone who enjoys first-rate narrative nonfiction."

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9780802124111

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Reviews

Advance Praise for The Three Battles of Wanat Deeply researched work on war, profiles of prominent, interesting people and sports personalities, and a variety of general interest essays represent fine examples of contemporary journalism, as the author himself looks to his investigative models such as Nellie Bly, Ida Tarbell, and John Hersey . . . Readers of Bowden s work are assured of honest, straightforward, painstakingly researched essays. Kirkus Reviews Praise for Mark Bowden A Woodward that outdoes even Woodward. Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker Bowden has emerged as one of our best writers of muscular nonfiction. Edward P. Smith, Denver Post Mark Bowden is the reigning champion of narrative non-fiction. Scotland on Sunday (UK) Amazing . . . One of the most intense, visceral reading experiences imaginable. Philadelphia Inquirer, on Black Hawk Down One of the most gripping and authoritative accounts of combat ever written. USA Today, on Black Hawk Down A compelling, almost Shakespearean tale. Los Angeles Times, on Killing Pablo Heart-stopping, and heart-breaking. New York Times Book Review, on Guests of the Ayatollah

Praise for Mark Bowden A Woodward that outdoes even Woodward. Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker Bowden has emerged as one of our best writers of muscular nonfiction. Edward P. Smith, Denver Post Mark Bowden is the reigning champion of narrative non-fiction. Scotland on Sunday (UK) Amazing . . . One of the most intense, visceral reading experiences imaginable. Philadelphia Inquirer, on Black Hawk Down One of the most gripping and authoritative accounts of combat ever written. USA Today, on Black Hawk Down The most accessible and satisfying book yet written on the climactic event in the United States' long war against al Qaeda. San Francisco Chronicle, on The Finish

Praise for The Three Battles of Wanat An Amazon Best Book of the Month in nonfiction A first-rate collection from one of the finest writers in contemporary journalism. Booklist Mark Bowden marshals his finest for The Three Battles of Wanat. Vanity Fair In Mark Bowden's four decades as a reporter, he has been honing his skills going after the second lookthe return to an event or a story once the proverbial dust has settled, to dig deeper and write longer in order to understand what really happened. In this process he has become a passionate advocate for long-form journalism and one of its more successful practitioners . . . The story of the three versions of the battle for Wanat is a good place to begin. Bowden is so good at what he does besthighlighting the human angle of battles large and smallthat the reader is led to consider what another round of boots on the ground could actually mean. Minneapolis Star-Tribune [Bowden is] one of America s pre-eminent practitioners of long-form journalism . . . Given the importance of military affairs in Bowden s oeuvre, it s no surprise to find a trove of combat-related work in this new collection . . . Beyond the military pieces, Wanat offers excellent profiles . . . The Three Battles of Wanat should please Bowden s legions of fans. He usually writes with care and empathy, eschewing fashionable snark and take-down drama. Dallas Morning News The author of the bestselling Black Hawk Down will please fans and win new ones with this bracing collection of essays. Bowden is in his element charting the familiar and complex territory of American engagement in foreign conflicts . . . But those only familiar with Bowden s war reportage will be pleasantly surprised to discover the variety of topics he has tackled in this collection . . . With his rigorous and respectful approach to his subjects, multifaceted viewpoint, and wry sense of humor, Bowden proves that American journalism hasn t kicked the bucket yet. Publishers Weekly Deeply researched work on war, profiles of prominent, interesting people and sports personalities, and a variety of general interest essays represent fine examples of contemporary journalism, as the author himself looks to his investigative models such as Nellie Bly, Ida Tarbell, and John Hersey . . . Readers of Bowden s work are assured of honest, straightforward, painstakingly researched essays. Kirkus Reviews Praise for Mark Bowden A Woodward that outdoes even Woodward. Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker Bowden has emerged as one of our best writers of muscular nonfiction. Edward P. Smith, Denver Post Mark Bowden is the reigning champion of narrative non-fiction. Scotland on Sunday (UK) Amazing . . . One of the most intense, visceral reading experiences imaginable. Philadelphia Inquirer, on Black Hawk Down One of the most gripping and authoritative accounts of combat ever written. USA Today, on Black Hawk Down A compelling, almost Shakespearean tale. Los Angeles Times, on Killing Pablo Heart-stopping, and heart-breaking. New York Times Book Review, on Guests of the Ayatollah

Author Information

"Mark Bowden is the author of twelve books, including the #1 ""New York Times"" bestseller ""Black Hawk Down."" He reported at the ""Philadelphia Inquirer"" for twenty years and now writes for the ""Atlantic,"" ""Vanity Fair,"" and other magazines. He is also the Writer in Residence at the University of Delaware. His most recent book is ""The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden."""

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