The Forever WarThe Forever War
Score Modern
What it's about
Dexter Filkins, a New York Times correspondent, reported from Afghanistan under the Taliban in the 1990s, from New York after 9/11, and from Iraq through the American invasion and the years of war that followed. He tells it in short, vivid scenes: Marines in the battle of Fallujah, Iraqi families, suicide bombers and the madness of war.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award and is one of the best books about the wars after 9/11.
You'll love it if you liked
Dispatches
Black Hawk Down
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11Good to know
It's fragmentary and impressionistic, with graphic violence. It isn't related to Joe Haldeman's novel of the same name.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #382 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #754 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is The Forever War worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award and is one of the best books about the wars after 9/11. It ranks #754 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Forever War about?
Dexter Filkins, a New York Times correspondent, reported from Afghanistan under the Taliban in the 1990s, from New York after 9/11, and from Iraq through the American invasion and the years of war that followed. He tells it in short, vivid scenes: Marines in the battle of Fallujah, Iraqi families, suicide bombers and the madness of war.
How long does it take to read The Forever War?
About 10 hours (386 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Forever War won?
NBCC Award (Nonfiction) winner (2008).
What should I read after The Forever War?
If you liked it, try Dispatches by Michael Herr, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden or The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright.