American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice Narrated by John Pruden

Overview

NOW A BLOCKBUSTER MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD-NOMINATED FOR SIX ACADEMY AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST PICTURE

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him “The Legend”; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle, who was tragically killed in 2013, writes honestly about the pain of war-including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates-and in moving first-person passages throughout, his wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their family, as well as on Chris. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle's masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

One of the most feared soldiers to ever set foot on the battleground that was and still is Iraq, Kyle recounts his bloody tales of war with deadly accuracy. Skillfully narrated by John Pruden, these fascinating war stories offer insight into the perils of modern combat.Pruden’s tone is that of a Navy SEAL: calm, cool, and collected. And he never falters in recounting the author’s impressive skills on the battlefield—skills that gave Kyle the most career sniper kills in United States military history. While Kyle’s story is gripping in its own right, Pruden’s outstanding narration brings the story to life with brutal realism. Pruden is a man possessed in this account; he embodies Kyle from start to finish. The result is truly chilling listening. A William Morrow hardcover. (Mar.)

From the Publisher

Chris Kyle tells his story with the same courage and grit he displayed in life and on the battlefield. American Sniper is a compelling read.” — CLINT EASTWOOD

“An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq—a humanizing, brave story that’s extremely readable.” — PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times Book Review

“In the elite community of warriors, one man has risen above our ranks and distinguished himself as unique. Chris Kyle is that man. A master sniper, Chris has done and seen things that will be talked about for generations to come.” — MARCUS LUTTRELL, author of Lone Survivor

“Chris Kyle was incredible, the most celebrated war hero of our time, a true American hero in every sense of the word.” — D Magazine

“The raw and unforgettable narrative of the making of our country’s record-holding sniper, Chris Kyle’s memoir is a powerful book, both in terms of combat action and human drama. Chief Kyle is a true American warrior down to the bone, the Carlos Hathcock of a new generation.” — CHARLES W. SASSER, Green Beret (US Army Ret.) and author of One Shot, One Kill

“Reads like a first-person thriller narrated by a sniper. The bare-bones facts are stunning. .... A first-rate military memoir.” — BOOKLIST

“American Sniper is the inside story of what it’s like to be in war. A brave warrior and patriot, Chris Kyle writes frankly about the missions, personal challenges, and hard choices that are part of daily life of an elite SEAL Sniper. It’s a classic!” — RICHARD MARCINKO (USN, Ret.), First Commanding Officer of SEAL Team Six and #1 bestselling author of Rogue Warrior

BOOKLIST

Reads like a first-person thriller narrated by a sniper. The bare-bones facts are stunning. .... A first-rate military memoir.

CHARLES W. SASSER

The raw and unforgettable narrative of the making of our country’s record-holding sniper, Chris Kyle’s memoir is a powerful book, both in terms of combat action and human drama. Chief Kyle is a true American warrior down to the bone, the Carlos Hathcock of a new generation.

Patricia Cornwell

An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq--a humanizing, brave story that’s extremely readable.

CLINT EASTWOOD

Chris Kyle tells his story with the same courage and grit he displayed in life and on the battlefield. American Sniper is a compelling read.

D Magazine

Chris Kyle was incredible, the most celebrated war hero of our time, a true American hero in every sense of the word.

MARCUS LUTTRELL

In the elite community of warriors, one man has risen above our ranks and distinguished himself as unique. Chris Kyle is that man. A master sniper, Chris has done and seen things that will be talked about for generations to come.

RICHARD MARCINKO (USN

American Sniper is the inside story of what it’s like to be in war. A brave warrior and patriot, Chris Kyle writes frankly about the missions, personal challenges, and hard choices that are part of daily life of an elite SEAL Sniper. It’s a classic!

PATRICIA CORNWELL

An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq--a humanizing, brave story that’s extremely readable.

Booklist

"Reads like a first-person thriller narrated by a sniper. The bare-bones facts are stunning. .... A first-rate military memoir."

(USN) - Richard Marcinko

"American Sniper is the inside story of what it’s like to be in war. A brave warrior and patriot, Chris Kyle writes frankly about the missions, personal challenges, and hard choices that are part of daily life of an elite SEAL Sniper. It’s a classic!"

Charles W. Sasser

"The raw and unforgettable narrative of the making of our country’s record-holding sniper, Chris Kyle’s memoir is a powerful book, both in terms of combat action and human drama. Chief Kyle is a true American warrior down to the bone, the Carlos Hathcock of a new generation."

Marcus Luttrell

"In the community of elite warriors, one man has risen above our ranks and distinguished himself as unique. Chris Kyle is that man. A master sniper, Chris has done and seen things that will be talked about for generations to come."

Library Journal - Audio

Iraqi insurgents called him "The Devil," but to American and coalition forces fighting in Iraq, U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Kyle was a guardian angel. The native Texan delivers a mesmerizing and solidly built personal narrative of a little-known but fascinating aspect of the war. The honesty, humor, and details of Kyle's life remind one of Charles Henderson's classic Marine Sniper about the late Carlos Hathcock. VERDICT This well-crafted story makes one laugh and cry and is essential for understanding those who have given themselves to the American military in the long struggle against terrorism. John Pruden's masterly narration is well paced and incorporates a skillful use of accents. Highly recommended. [The Morrow hc, published in January, was a New York Times best seller.—Ed.]—Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.

Library Journal

Ls, Kyle racked up the most confirmed sniper kills in the history of the United States during a ten-year stint covering four deployments, also earning seven medals, including two Silver Stars. Here he tells not only his story but that of SEAL Team 3, also offering space for wife Taya to reveal the strains of a military marriage.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172921377
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/03/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	557,568

Read an Excerpt

Prologue

Evil in the Crosshairs

Late March 2003.

In the area of Nasiriya, Iraq I looked through the scope of the sniper rifle, scanning down the road of the tiny Iraqi town. Fifty yards away, a woman opened the door of a small house and stepped outside with her child. The rest of the street was deserted. The local Iraqis had gone inside, most of them scared. A few curious souls peeked out from behind curtains, waiting. They could hear the rumble of the approaching American unit. The Marines were flooding up the road, marching north to liberate the country from Saddam Hussein. It was my job to protect them. My platoon had taken over the building earlier in the day, sneaking into position to provide “overwatch”—prevent the enemy from ambushing the Marines as they came through. It didn’t seem like too difficult a task—if anything, I was glad the Marines were on my side. I’d seen the power of their weapons and I would’ve hated to have to fight them. The Iraq army didn’t stand a chance. And, in fact, they appeared to have abandoned the area already. The war had started roughly two weeks before. My platoon, “Charlie” (later “Cadillac”) of SEAL Team 3, helped kick it off during the early morning of March 20. We landed on al-Faw Peninsula and secured the oil terminal there so Saddam couldn’t set it ablaze as he had during the First Gulf War. Now we were tasked to assist the Marines as they marched north toward Baghdad.

I was a SEAL, a Navy commando trained in special operations. SEAL stands for “SEa, Air, Land,” and it pretty much describes the wide ranges of places we operate. In this case, we were far inland, much farther than SEALs traditionally operated, though as the war against terror continued, this would become common. I’d spent nearly three years training and learning how to become a warrior; I was ready for this fight, or at least as ready as anyone can be. The rifle I was holding was a .300 WinMag, a bolt-action, precision sniper weapon that belonged to my platoon chief. He’d been covering the street for a while and needed a break. He showed a great deal of confidence in me by choosing me to spot him and take the gun. I was still a new guy, a newbie or rookie in the Teams. By SEAL standards, I had yet to be fully tested. I was also not yet trained as a SEAL sniper. I wanted to be one in the worst way, but I had a long way to go. Giving me the rifle that morning was the chief’s way of testing me to see if I had the right stuff. We were on the roof of an old rundown building at the edge of a town the Marines were going to pass through. The wind kicked dirt and papers across the battered road below us. The place smelled like a sewer—the stench of Iraq was one thing I’d never get used to.

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