Un-American

A decade of reflection culminated in this well-researched meditation on a basic question: Why is it so difficult for Americans to reckon with the reasons, costs, and impact of our wars? . . . Edstrom's bracing inquiry should be at the forefront of the debate about our national perspective on patriotism, the military, defense spending, and, most challenging, our lack of courage to question these crucial issues. --Booklist, starred review Exceptional . . . Un-American is most extraordinary because even after the indoctrination of West Point, Edstrom dared to question some of the decisions and the presence of US military as invaders not saviors. For a real look at the marketing of and true cost of war, this is a must-read. --New York Journal of Books A blistering indictment of the American militarist economy and its much-vaunted war on terror. But it isn't Edstrom's anger that gives Un-American its staggering power-although there's plenty of that-but rather the profound thoughtfulness and perception of his observations, earned at such awful cost. Every chickenhawk president, politician and pundit who has had a hand in blithely casting American soldiers into our futile wars should be made to read this book-and to then seek forgiveness. --Scott Anderson, author of LAWRENCE IN ARABIA: WAR, DECEIT, IMPERIAL FOLLY AND THE MAKING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST [A] bright-eyed, scathing indictment of not only the systemic governmental failures that led to our GWOT quagmires but also of an American culture that still somehow deifies the insanity of dying in a pointless war. Required reading for the voting public, particularly anyone who's ever used the phrase 'Support our troops.' --Matt Young, author of EAT THE APPLE Above all, Un-American is an act of significant patriotism and civic courage. One needn't agree with all of Erik Edstrom's conclusions to admire his commitment to moral truth-telling regarding America's endless terror wars. This is a fierce, ferocious debut, a book anyone who seeks to be an engaged citizen should read today. --Matt Gallagher, author of EMPIRE CITY and YOUNGBLOOD An insider's you-are-there look at modern war. Veterans will love it or hate it, but there will be few in between. --Kirkus Reviews A searing indictment of American militarism . . . this outraged, well-informed jeremiad will galvanize readers who agree with Edstrom's assessment that the 'war on terror' is 'self-perpetuating, self-defeating, and immoral. --Publishers Weekly Unflinching and powerful. --Library Journal Edstrom illuminates his personal experiences with apropos quotes from a wide range of sources and contextualizes anecdotes with supporting data. It is deeply, profoundly uncomfortable to go on the mental journey from enthusiastic cadet to fully awakened cynic with Edstrom. [Un-American] forces acknowledgment of our shared culpability in an ongoing if slow-moving tragedy, which is painful - but deeply necessary if we are to learn any lessons about how - and whether - to wage war. --Kayla Williams, director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security and author of PLENTY OF TIME WHEN WE GET HOME: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War