Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: Don't waste your time or money says it all. I wish not I had begun to read this in the bookstore before buying it. This could be the worst book I have ever read. It is poor and I am not sure how much is believable. I got through the first three chapters and that was painful and then I decided to try and read all of it. Such a waste of my time and my money. Do yourself a favor and but a different book.
Rating: 
Summary: Faithful
Review: This is not the story of a typical grunt, nor is it the story of Desert Storm, as told by one. Swofford points out at the beginning that the book is what he knows himself. It matters little, if at all, whether his chronicle of being a marine is typical, ideal, "balanced," or even a corroborated recollection. What matters is that it is forthright and unapologetic. It would have been pointless if Swofford had fleshed out his story by recounting more times of good discipline and high morale, or made it seem he were less deserving of brig time. It would also have been a mistake if a random jarhead had attempted to tell the "true" story of Desert Storm. Not for nothing, but "Other Battles" is a significant part of the subtitle. This book is not for everyone. It is not for those who want to read what it is like to be a 'jarhead,' or what happened in Desert Storm. It is certainly not for the mildly curious who read memoirs and biographies to fill their idle hours, or the miserable who merely want company. This book is for readers who want a powerful, honest account of choosing a path and becoming something, but most of all, to know what it means to examine ones life. This book is real and alive. It can consume you and make you real and alive as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Painful and honest
Review: As a former paratrooper, I can speak from some experience on the military culture that Swofford portrays. The modern military can be characterized as an organization that uses twentieth century weapons, twenty-first century troops, and eighteenth century leadership. Enlisted personnel and especially privates are, to put it bluntly, treated like crap most times and are then expected to enthusiastically support their organization. Although this is left out of most war stories, Swofford expresses it courageously. I used to say "elite is a French expression for "All ****ed Up" as I was dropped on the wrong drop zones, watched captains get us lost, saw sergeants that participated in and allowed criminal behavior in the ranks, and otherwise was reminded at every step throughout my own service that I was a second or worse class citizen because of the oath I took. Until the military comes to terms with this, it will go on and will finally bite us when we really do have a major war against an opponent of comparable strength. Swofford wasn't perfect, and you might accuse him of whining, but he went over there and did his job with honor. Rather than blow him off, perhaps citizens and soldiers alike would do well to look at what he says and realize that no matter what they think of how he did it, he has illuminated some weak spots in our military culture that need to be shored up. Kudos to him for being willing to shine the light and fade the heat.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I was expecting
Review: I didn't have to get very far into the book before I realized that the book didn't live up to the hype. I was hoping to read about a grunts combat experience. What was provided was scant and really only limited to GW1. Unless Swofford's "other battles" were the one's in his head you could say that the title is a little misleading. Yes, there were a few amusing moments (the kazoo) and one to two moments that spoke of the horrors of war (dead Iraqi soldiers with hands over ears) but the overall whiny tone that Swofford employeed dulled them out.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time and money!
Review: Please don't waste your time! This is the worse book I've ever read. It's simply the story of a whinny marine... Yes, I said "whinny". Through the entire book, he just complains about everything, and I mean everything! Being a military member myself, I was embarrassed to read this book... You'll be better served and entertained by reading the back of a cereal box.
Rating:
Summary: This book should have minus (-) stars!
Review: Despite all the good reviews this is a poorly written book. I think the most effective review of this book is written by one of the members of his STA platoon, who gave it 1 star and a stinging review. It may reflect the "modern day" Marine Corps but, if that's true, then God help us. I notice there was no mention of the Lt. who normally commands the platoon and only scant comments about the platoon sgt. This STA platoon sounds like a mob, not a Marine unit. Don't buy this book, don't read it and don't believe it!
Rating:
Summary: Thanks for telling your story.
Review: I was a grunt from 93 to 97. I didn't go to war or experience combat. But what I did experience, Swofford put it in words that I could identify with. Even after reading the book three times, I still pick up any part of the book and just read on from time to time. Thanks for telling it like it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent -- this book will challenge your preconceptions
Review: When the U.S. Marines were sent to Saudi Arabia in 1990 to fight the Iraqis, Swofford was there, a jarhead in the infanty, on the front lines. This is Swofford's story about what life was like fighting the war and living for six months in the deserts of the Middle East -- the sand, the camaraderie, the physical challenges, the heat -- as well as a few anecdotal flashbacks to boot camp. While those stories are definitely enthralling, what makes this memoir really stand out is Swofford's honesty and candor about what he felt while he was there -- the emotional ups and downs. Anger, hate, fear, compassion, sadness. Lather, rinse, repeat. Swofford swears like a sailor and writes like a pro, but everything else about him is 100% USMC. This book isn't pretty -- it delivers as many troubling truths about war and soldiers as it does inspiring tales of incredible valor. But it's a must-read for anyone curious about what life is like, physically and mentally, for the military personnel who fought in Iraq then, as well as now. Highly recommended, unless you are easily offended by lots of cursing or talk about private parts. I'm looking forward to reading more of Swofford's writing soon -- hope he keeps churning things out!
Rating:
Summary: How did Swofford avoid the brig?
Review: I found the book to be contrived and doubt that certain things occurred as described. I was a Marine officer fifty years ago and if he'd been in my outfit he jwould have been more than elegible for time in the brig. This guy's a drunk and a loser who is making a lot of money spreading b.s. about the Marine Corps. I also know something about today's Marine Corps and have yet to meet a Marine with this guy's attitude toward the Corps, his country or life.
Rating:
Summary: REMARKABLE
Review: PRAISE TO ANTHONY SWOFFORD. FOR ALL WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL MARINE CORPS IS ABOUT READ THIS BOOK. FOR ALL THE GULF VETS STILL QUESTIONING THE VALIDITY OF THEIR EXPERIENCE, READ THIS BOOK. IT BROUGHT A SENSE OF VALUE AND CLOSURE TO THE WHOLE THING. --KENTUCKY
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