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mandyfreddy's review
5.0
This is a biased rating because I read this book about four times in high school. I decided to re-read now because the author David Lipsky was mentioned so often in my deep-dive hyperfixation on Bennington College/the literary Brat Pack, so I wanted to read this from a lens of the author's skill and background instead of a West Point analysis. But, now I think I will re-read my favorite West Point literature in preparation for when I start to teach there next summer!
Anyway, I love this book. It's not perfect - his prose is beautiful in some parts (I'll include some quotes foundational to how I feel about West Point) but I feel the same way I did in high school about certain parts of the overall flow - BORING, sorry, haha. He just chooses odd times to cut away from a cadet's narrative, or an interpersonal dynamic playing out, or some of the most beautiful writing you've ever read about sacrifice and leadership and wanting to belong to something meaningful, to something sex/drugs/rock and roll that is more aligned to his Rolling Stone roots. I get it, but the book is so lovely even without trying to suss out how cadets get into trouble or skirt the rules. But his unparalleled access and analysis is a wonderful viewpoint into the strange fishbowl where I spent four years of my life, and the institution that shaped both my family of origin and now my current family I have made for myself.
"I mean, this place gives you so much, and asks for so little."
"'Cause I loved it so much before I came - I didn't have the right to love it as much as I did."
"To her surprise, her thoughts slide back to West Point. 'I miss the feeling I had when it was all brand new,' she says. 'That overwhelming mixture of pride, awe, and patriotism. I'd give anything to do it all over again. I'd do a lot of things differently. And I'd appreciate the little things more - like the walk back from Thayer Hall, when the leaves are starting to change. I never thought I'd miss it as much as I do.'"
Anyway, I love this book. It's not perfect - his prose is beautiful in some parts (I'll include some quotes foundational to how I feel about West Point) but I feel the same way I did in high school about certain parts of the overall flow - BORING, sorry, haha. He just chooses odd times to cut away from a cadet's narrative, or an interpersonal dynamic playing out, or some of the most beautiful writing you've ever read about sacrifice and leadership and wanting to belong to something meaningful, to something sex/drugs/rock and roll that is more aligned to his Rolling Stone roots. I get it, but the book is so lovely even without trying to suss out how cadets get into trouble or skirt the rules. But his unparalleled access and analysis is a wonderful viewpoint into the strange fishbowl where I spent four years of my life, and the institution that shaped both my family of origin and now my current family I have made for myself.
"I mean, this place gives you so much, and asks for so little."
"'Cause I loved it so much before I came - I didn't have the right to love it as much as I did."
"To her surprise, her thoughts slide back to West Point. 'I miss the feeling I had when it was all brand new,' she says. 'That overwhelming mixture of pride, awe, and patriotism. I'd give anything to do it all over again. I'd do a lot of things differently. And I'd appreciate the little things more - like the walk back from Thayer Hall, when the leaves are starting to change. I never thought I'd miss it as much as I do.'"
zhelana's review
informative
medium-paced
3.75
This was a very interesting look at life at West Point around the turn of the century. It actually had me pretty interested in some of the cadets' lives and whether they would make it through the four years but good grief, David Lipsky has no sense of how to organize his thoughts. PT tests show up at all sorts of different random places, usually with Rash failing yet another one. Basic Training comes at the beginning of the second chapter, which doesn't sound bad except that you're already a quarter through the book at the point there's a second chapter! You've gone through an entire year and then you hit the bit about how kids go from civilians to cadets? It's so random, like why is it there, and not at the beginning of the book? And then September 11th happens, and it is barely mentioned. Like, this is surely the biggest thing to happen to the military during the 4 years those kids are there, and yet it gets two pages of air time in this book. Also, Lipsky explains some terminology unique to the military at the beginning of the book, but by the end of it he's using it so familiarly and I couldn't remember what much of it meant so I often had entire paragraphs I was reading going "WTF does this even meant?" So not a great book but a good book.
ainsley's review
3.0
This had such potential, but instead just told the story of four years at West Point. With the access Lipsky had, he could really have questioned everything and determined what works best and what fails. But, no, just a bunch of vignettes.
I remain fascinated by the educational system in place at the service academies, as well as anything looking closely at living a disciplined life. This didn't really prove useful on either front. Indeed, I wish this were more the book I remembered it being (from when it first came out) than the book it actually is.
page 34: "They seem mentally fit, mentally scrubbed; I've never seen less depressed kids." Well, yes, when students with a history of depression (and ADHD, among other things) are excluded, as stated on page 8, you'll be much more likely to have a group of students who aren't depressed. Strange how that works. (I know what Lipsky's trying to say; he inadvertently drew attention to a failing rather than a strength.)
I remain fascinated by the educational system in place at the service academies, as well as anything looking closely at living a disciplined life. This didn't really prove useful on either front. Indeed, I wish this were more the book I remembered it being (from when it first came out) than the book it actually is.
page 34: "They seem mentally fit, mentally scrubbed; I've never seen less depressed kids." Well, yes, when students with a history of depression (and ADHD, among other things) are excluded, as stated on page 8, you'll be much more likely to have a group of students who aren't depressed. Strange how that works. (I know what Lipsky's trying to say; he inadvertently drew attention to a failing rather than a strength.)
eandrews80's review
4.0
Lipsky is a Rolling Stone journalist who spent 1998-2002 following a class of cadets at West Point, the country's most famous military academy. Though my father was in the Navy, I don't know much about military life and culture, and it was absolutely fascinating to read about how these young men are taught to become leaders over their four years. I didn't realize that West Point was so academically rigorous -- it's nearly equivalent to attending an Ivy League school -- and the cadets' lives are an interesting mix of college hijinx and strict military discipline. I became quite attached to many of the soldiers in this book, and would love to know where they all ended up. Really highly recommended, even if you don't have a strong interest in the military.
kesnit's review
3.0
There are good things with this book and it was interesting. Sadly, it could have been much more.
I was hoping to read a book about cadet life at West Point. This books is more about the lives of certain people who happen to be cadets at West Point. Cadet life is not really part of this book. (There are parts about Beast Barracks, Camp Buckner, Branch Night and base selection, but not much about day-to-day existance.)
It is too broad and too narrow at the same time. A good chunk of the book deals with 4 cadets who are seniors when the author first arrives and follows 2 of them to the Army. I wish the author had not gone into as much detail of their post-West Point life, as it took away from the point of the book. It also focused on a lot of cadets, rather than more detail about a smaller number. It got to the point that I could not keep some of them straight.
Although the author probably did not intend it this way, there is a great example of the West Point Protective Association about halfway through. An officer doing a tour at WP made a pretty big mistake. His boss caught it, called him out on it, and told him what to do to fix it. The officer did not fix it and it blew up. The boss "fell on his sword," rather than force the officer to take responsibility for his actions. The author approaches it as "look at how honorable [the boss] was," which is true as far as it goes. But the lesson from the outside is "who care what you do. Someone will clean it up for you and you will never have to take responsibility for your actions."
I was hoping to read a book about cadet life at West Point. This books is more about the lives of certain people who happen to be cadets at West Point. Cadet life is not really part of this book. (There are parts about Beast Barracks, Camp Buckner, Branch Night and base selection, but not much about day-to-day existance.)
It is too broad and too narrow at the same time. A good chunk of the book deals with 4 cadets who are seniors when the author first arrives and follows 2 of them to the Army. I wish the author had not gone into as much detail of their post-West Point life, as it took away from the point of the book. It also focused on a lot of cadets, rather than more detail about a smaller number. It got to the point that I could not keep some of them straight.
Although the author probably did not intend it this way, there is a great example of the West Point Protective Association about halfway through. An officer doing a tour at WP made a pretty big mistake. His boss caught it, called him out on it, and told him what to do to fix it. The officer did not fix it and it blew up. The boss "fell on his sword," rather than force the officer to take responsibility for his actions. The author approaches it as "look at how honorable [the boss] was," which is true as far as it goes. But the lesson from the outside is "who care what you do. Someone will clean it up for you and you will never have to take responsibility for your actions."
madameroyale's review
5.0
This book was absolutely fantastic. Whether or not you have any interest in the military, I highly recommend reading it. This book offered so much beyond just a peek at the kids who attend this school and the adults who supervise them. It followed all their lives, personal and professional, and their careers—careers that so few of us civilians ever choose to take on. There were times when I was disappointed by these people and their attitudes; other times, I was blown away by their integrity and selflessness. No matter what, this book and the stories in it were amazing to read. I loved losing myself in it.
bookishdea's review
4.0
I enjoyed the view into West Point. Learning about individual students was interesting, and we also were given a slight look into their futures. The pre- and post-9/11 views were well-done; when I first began the book it was clear that it was set pre-9/11, and seeing how the students changed post-9/11 was interesting.
teachergabi's review
5.0
It's a nonfiction book that reads like a suspense novel. It defies genre. It's a great book, period. I learned so much, appreciated my own country and occupation more after reading it. For we are all soldiers in this battle called Life.
grahamiam's review
5.0
Really remarkable book, some of the best non-fiction I've ever read. Not what I would imagine at all for a "book about West Point". Pacing is perfect, and Lipsky is a master of interjecting just enough literary color into events to make them more vivid than real life.
Edit - here's a link to an interview with Lipsky about this book. Good introduction to the subject - http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1610
Edit - here's a link to an interview with Lipsky about this book. Good introduction to the subject - http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1610
evilcallie's review
3.0
Read this in an afternoon, to determine his methodology. He was cited in Akerlof and Kranton's 2005 article "Identity and the Economics of Organizations," The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19(1), and based on my experience at USNA, I had concerns about conclusions they drew based on his book.