The revised and updated edition of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's modern
classic about the psychology of combat, hailed by the Washington Post
as "an illuminating account of how soldiers learn to kill and how they
live with the experiences of having killed." In World War II, only 15
to 20 percent of combat infantry were willing to fire their rifles. In
Korea, about 50 percent. In Vietnam, the figure rose to more than 90
percent.
The good news is that most soldiers are loath to kill. But armies have
developed sophisticated ways sophisticated ways of overcoming that
instinctive aversion. The psychological cost for soldiers, as evidenced
by the increase in post-traumatic stress, is devastating. This landmark
study brilliantly illuminates the techniques the military uses to help
soldiers kill and raises vital questions about the implications of
escalating violence in our society.
"Powerfully argued...Full of arresting observations and insights."
--New York Times