“The Good Soldiers” by David Finkel is an account of the Surge from 2007 to 2008. Finkel writes a compelling, true, revealing, and powerful story. This book is not written in favor of pro-war or anti-war views. It is simply written to reveal a sincere report of the efforts, encounters, and tragedies of the 2-16 Rangers during their fifteen-month campaign in Baghdad, Iraq. The writing style of David Finkel is very easy to comprehend for a teenager. There are no words to complex that the reader would need to re-read a section or look up a definition. Military terminology is defined in the beginning of the book, so there is no confusion when they are used later in the book. Arabic terminology used in the book is defined, and the terms are used very rarely. This story will take the reader to a foreign land, with a foreign people, and a foreign life. The reader will not be able to get away from the actuality of their life through this story. Although it is very well written and helps the reader to imagine they are there, it is a documentation of real events. This documentation does not only reflect the everyday lives that the 2-16 Rangers had endured, but what previous soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan endured, as well as those who are in service today. The terrifying and intimidating life the men and women experience while in service is astounding, especially knowing the go through these encounters for everyone back home. David Finkel writes the book so well that the reader can very well picture the events being described. The description of an IED or EFP exploding on a convoy, the soldiers in a firefight, or a Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter firing its M230 chain gun at enemy fighters is so vivid that the reader feels as if they are actually watching the event take place. The emotions are expressed so well that the reader can feel the fear that every soldier feels when the go out on patrol or into combat, the depression they feel when they watch their friend lose their limbs in the IED attack, or the confusion they feel when they take their first life. The reader can picture the way the soldiers hit the deck covering their heads with their arms as missiles strike the grounds of the FOB, making their ears ring and the heads pound. The flow of the story is not very consistent, because the book is mostly composed of documentations of the attacks of, the injuries of, and the deaths of the 2-16 Rangers. Otherwise, you do not get lost in the story. I personally support our troops and their actions, because I know it’s in the best interest of our nation and our safety. This whole book touches on the momentous concerns of our troops presence and sacrifices in Iraq and all other parts of the world in which we are present. It brings needed attention to the risks they face everyday, their side of the war. This is without a doubt the best book I have ever read and I would strongly suggest that anyone who enjoys military novels read this epic novel.