<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><i>The Three Battles of Wanat</i> features the best long-form pieces on war, profiles, sports reporting, and essays on culture from one of the nation's top journalists, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Mark Bowden. <p/>The title story--which begins on one of the bloodiest days in the war in Afghanistan and follows the father of one of the fallen soldiers into battle against the military establishment back home--is one of five rich, narrative pieces on war that form the heart of this thought-provoking collection. In "The Killing Machines," a nineteen-year-old marine sits at a desk with a joystick and must decide whether or not to press the button that will launch an anti-tank missile thousands of miles away in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In "The Last Ace," Bowden considers the faded glory of another type of air warfare through the eyes of one extraordinary retired fighter pilot. <i>The Three Battles of Wanat</i> also includes Bowden's incisive sports writing, think pieces, and a selection of fascinating profiles on subjects ranging from Kim Jong-un to <i>The Wire</i> creator David Simon. This is an essential book for fans of Bowden's writing and for anyone who enjoys first-rate narrative nonfiction.<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br><b>Praise for <i>The Three Battles of Wanat</i>: </b> <p/>"[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, <i>Wanat</i> offers excellent profiles . . . <i>The Three Battles of Wanat</i> should please Bowden's legions of fans. He usually writes with care and empathy, eschewing fashionable snark and take-down drama."<b>--<i>Dallas Morning News</i></b> <p/>"In Mark Bowden's four decades as a reporter, he has been honing his skills going after the second look--the 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 best--highlighting the human angle of battles large and small--that the reader is led to consider what another round of boots on the ground could actually mean."<b>--<i>Minneapolis Star-Tribune</i></b> <p/>"The author of the bestselling <i>Black Hawk Down</i> 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."<b>--<i>Publishers Weekly</i></b> <p/>A first-rate collection from one of the finest writers in contemporary journalism.<b><i>Booklist</i></b> <p/>"Mark Bowden marshals his finest for <i>The Three Battles of Wanat</i>."<b>--<i>Vanity Fair</i></b> <p/>"Bowden is consistently curious about the anonymous, often invisible operators who power modern warfare--drone operators, intelligence agents, special forces teams . . . Bowden tells a good story."<b>--<i>Salon</i></b> <p/>"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."<b>--<i>Kirkus Reviews</i> </b><br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><b>Mark Bowden</b> is the author of twelve books, including the #1 <i>New York Times</i> bestseller <i>Black Hawk Down</i>. He reported at the <i>Philadelphia Inquirer</i> for twenty years and now writes for the <i>Atlantic</i>, <i>Vanity Fair</i>, and other magazines. He is the writer in residence at the University of Delaware and lives in Pennsylvania.
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