Veterans share experiences that only those who have served can truly relate to. However, it’s important to read and listen to their stories so we can better understand and appreciate the true cost of freedom.
Whether you’ve served or not, books by and about veterans offer important insights about the realities of war. In this post, we’ve rounded up the best books for veterans, from inspirational memoirs to practical guides for accessing benefits.
Books About Veterans
Here are 10 books about veterans, their experiences, and their heroic commitment to defending their country.
1. Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger
In Tribe, Sebstian Junger combines history, psychology, and anthropology to explore what we can learn from tribal societies.
As the author explains, tribal societies have demonstrated an almost gravitational pull on Westerners for centuries. One of the most recent examples of this pull can be seen in veterans who return home to find themselves missing the close bonds they naturally form in platoon life.
The loss of that closeness following the end of their deployment may partly explain high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder among military veterans. Tribe explains how we can achieve that closeness even in today’s divided world.
2. American Sniper by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, and Jim DeFelice
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was known as “the most lethal sniper in U.S. history.” In this memoir, Kyle writes about his upbringing in Texas, his Navy SEAL training, and the pain of war.
Throughout the book, Kyle’s wife, Taya, writes in moving first-person passages about the strains of war on their family and on Chris.
Kyle was tragically killed in 2013, one year after this book’s release. In 2014, Clint Eastwood’s film adaptation starring Bradley Cooper was released and received numerous award nominations.
3. Thank You for Your Service by David Finkel
For his 2009 book The Good Soldiers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Finkel embedded with the men of the 2-16 Infantry Battalion during the infamous “surge,” a grueling 15-month tour that changed them all forever.
Now, Finkel has once again embedded with some of the men of the 2-16, but this time at home. He witnesses the intimate, painful, and hopeful moments as the soldiers try to recover, creating an essential portrait of what life after war is really like―and not just for the soldiers, but also for their wives, widows, children, and friends.
4. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
The Things They Carried is a collection of short stories that follow a platoon of American soldiers fighting on the ground in the Vietnam War. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, this book has been hailed as a “groundbreaking meditation” on war.
Although it is a work of historical fiction, it is based on O’Brien’s own experiences as a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division.
5. If You Survive by George Wilson
George Wilson’s World War II commanding officer in Normandy made him a simple promise: “If you survive your first day, I’ll promote you.”
Both parties kept their ends of the deal. From July, 1944, to the closing days of the war, Wilson fought in the thickest of the action, helping take the small towns of northern France and Belgium building by building.
Of all who started out in Company F of the 4th Infantry Division with him, Wilson was the only one who finished. In the end, he did not feel like not like a victor, but an exhausted survivor with nothing left but his life, emotions, and this harrowing story.
6. Undaunted Valor by Matt Jackson
Undaunted Valor is the first hand account of Colonel Dan Cory as he flies combat missions in the jungles of Vietnam.
From dodging enemy ground fire to constant mortar and rocket attacks on his base, Colonel Cory recounts how he stared down the enemy and some of the most intense helicopter and ground combat of the Vietnam War to bring his fellow soldiers home.
7. Love My Rifle More than You by Kayla Williams
Women make up just over 14% of the active duty force, and Kayla Williams is one of them. In her honest, gritty, and often funny memoir, she recounts her journey of enlisting under Clinton, learning Arabic, experiencing both bravery and bigotry, and seeing 9/11 unfold on Al-Jazeera, knowing then that she would be going to war.
From caring for a wounded civilian, to aiming a rifle at a child, to the infuriating bureaucracy and conflicting messages of today’s military, Williams offers an empowering but raw account of what it’s like to be a woman at war.
8. Until Tuesday by Luis Montalván and Bret Witter
After returning home from combat, a highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army faces the pressures of his physical wounds, traumatic brain injury, and crippling PTSD.
As the stress took its toll and began to affect his everyday life, Luis Montalván began to feel alienated and alone, wondering if he would ever recover.
Then Luis met Tuesday, a beautiful and sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. Tuesday could turn on lights, open doors, and sense the onset of anxiety and flashbacks. But because of a unique training situation and sensitive nature, Tuesday found it difficult to trust or connect with a human being―until Luis.
This is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had both given so much and suffered the consequences, healed each other’s souls.
9. The Hooligans of Kandahar by Joseph Kassabian
At the peak of the Afghanistan War, a group of soldiers is dropped by helicopter into the remote mountains outside of Kandahar City.
Joseph Kassabian is the youngest and most junior fire team leader in the squad. Mismanaged and overlooked by command, it’s up to Joseph to lead a team of soldiers who aren’t even old enough to drink.
As they face Taliban sleeper agents and an insane Staff Sergeant, the squad must rely on each other to survive.
10. You Deserve It by Brian Reese
In You Deserve It, Brian Reese, a veteran himself, provides a step-by-step blueprint to help veterans obtain virtually unknown federal and state benefits.
Reese shares steps for accessing the best VA benefits, even if you’ve been denied in the past, plus a breakdown of benefits by state. He also provides a list of supportive non-profits and veteran discounts, which even include free vacations.
Books for Veterans
Veterans returning home from war and conflict can feel incredibly isolated and alone. Reading books by fellow veterans and others who can relate to their experiences can help them feel seen and understood.
If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, seek professional help and also consider reading books about trauma that can provide additional insights.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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- 11 Best Books about History: Fascinating Reads for History Buffs
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
