Outstanding

Full of incredible prose and profound insights into life. I was completely unaware that this type of brutality happened in the late 90's.

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brutal book, very well done. I learned many things

I wasn't aware of Dedovshchina. It's awful what the young soldiers go through. This book was hardcore and I wont forget it

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amazing he puts you right there in chechnya

loved it his visual way of describing the environments he dealt with are astounding he makes you feel you are sitting on a BTR passing death right next to him.

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Raw.

This book is the best description of what war is really like. I wish every politician would read this book before starting pointless wars.

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Great Book

Great book, reality is definitely more interesting than fiction. I found myself deeply drawn in by the story of this man’s experiences in Chechnya. I read the book in one sitting, for anyone interested in a soldier’s perspective during war this is a terrific read.

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Harrowing story of life in the Russian Army during Chechen Wars

Like this title says, not an easy or relaxing listen. I knew the Russian Army was a rough place but it sounds like in the 90s it was nothing so much like a prison camp. Extremely difficult to listen to but compelling. If you’re interested in grim realities, this one is for you.

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You can feel his sorrow

An incredible mix of storytelling and introspection. There was no happiness in the writer's wartime experience and I understood why you can come home from war so numb.

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Grim.

From start to finish this book is everything you would expect of an experience in Chechnya in war time. Grim, depressing, and at times often without hope.

Both the writing and the narration are well done, and from start to finish I found it difficult to step away from.

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1 person found this helpful

A book on victimhood

This book is a great eye opener to the extreme conditions of war, but it's not inspirational in any way. The author fixated on the beatings he received and doesn't touch on a single lesson learned other than war is hell. Unless you're a junkie for violence and grisly details of death, this book is not worth living. The guy was a coward and frankly there's nothing to learn from this except that the Russian army is a shithole.

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The Beatings!!!

I have to say I'm extremely disappointed with this Book. The entire first half of the book was spent listening to how he got the Shit kicked out of him everyday! He could have spent a good size chapter telling us of all the abuse from basically anyone who has a higher rank than he does... then instead of putting a stop to it, He does the exact same bloody thing.
I've seen Documentaries about the abuse in the Russian military and it is rampant and disgusting but over and over again almost made me turn it off. I think the only reason I didn't was because I have an OCD kinda thing that if I pick up a book to read or listen, I have to keep going and finish it!

The second half of the book We did not hear much about War as in firefights and back and forth battles but definitely moments of danger and extreme fear... Along with more and more and more beatings...

There were a lot more atrocities to both the soldiers and civilians, definitely very sad!

But hey who cares about all that tragedy, Let's just go Kick the living Shit out of someone!!!

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