Biography Review: Where Men Win Glory

What does it take to be considered a hero? Risking your life for others? Being killed by an enemy of your country? Giving up your personal safety and security in order to be of service to your country?

Pat Tillman was a professional football player with a multimillion dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals who voluntarily gave up his football career to enlist in the Army after the 9/11 attack on the United States. Nearly everyone who knew about his decision was stunned. Sports broadcasters talked about it for days. However, when he was accidentally killed in eastern Afghanistan in 2004 by his own comrades, his story took a truly tragic turn.

To make matters worse, members of the military command and the federal government engaged in a cover-up for months in order to make it appear that Tillman was a war hero who had been killed by the enemy, not by his fellow American soldiers. The description of the battle had so many inconsistencies, however, that even his grieving family didn't believe the official accounts of his death. His brother, Kevin, who enlisted in the Army with Pat, was suspicious almost from the first moment he was told how his brother supposedly died. Discovering the truth, however, was not easy.

This well-researched book by Jon Krakauer reveals the truth behind Tillman's reasons for giving up his football career for the military, as well as what he discovered about military life after he arrived in Afghanistan. Fortunately, Tillman kept a thought-provoking journal of his experiences in Afghanistan, and much of what he had to say was fascinating. Jon Krakauer does an excellent job of incorporating Pat Tillman's own words into this detailed book.

My only criticism of the book is that the author spends a little too much time describing Pat Tillman's childhood and his success in the NFL. While some background is necessary in order to understand Tillman, the real heart of the story begins when he and his brother sign up for the Army. Once I reached that part of the book, it was riveting. From that point on, it was difficult to put the book down.

Despite the tragic way his life ended, Tillman made a selfless decision when he chose to put aside his personal opportunity for wealth, fame and a comfortable life with the woman he loved in order to join the military and fight to defend our country. He may not have been killed by enemy fire, but he was certainly a hero simply because of the choices he made in his life.

Jon Krakauer is the highly respected author of "Into Thin Air," the story of a tragic climbing expedition on Mount Everest. He also wrote "Into the Wild," which was made into a movie a few years ago, as well as "Under the Banner of Heaven."

He is a well-known non-fiction writer who is respected to turn a true story into a book that is as exciting and interesting to read as a mystery novel ... even when you know how the story turns out.

If you would like to read an excerpt of "Where Men Win Glory" or search for the other Jon Krakauer books, you can click on the blue product name below and be taken to the Amazon page for "Where Men Win Glory."

I highly recommend this book and would rate it "5 Stars."

Learn more about Pat Tillman and his tragic death by watching this video:

This video provides an interesting visual afterword to the book.