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Fiasco (Abridged): The American Military Adventure in Iraq Audiobook, by Thomas E. Ricks Play Audiobook Sample

Fiasco (Abridged): The American Military Adventure in Iraq Audiobook

Fiasco (Abridged): The American Military Adventure in Iraq Audiobook, by Thomas E. Ricks Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: James Lurie Publisher: Penguin Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.13 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: July 2006 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781429585811

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

136

Longest Chapter Length:

07:15 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

03:03 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

04:32 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

9

Other Audiobooks Written by Thomas E. Ricks: > View All...

Publisher Description

From the Washington Post's two-time Pulitzer-winning senior Pentagon reporter, the definitive military chronicle of the Iraq War-and a searing judgment of its gross strategic blindness-drawing on the accounts of senior military officers giving voice to their anger for the first time. Unabridged CDs - 20 CDs, 24 hours

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"Along with R. Clark's and B. Woodwards books on this subject, I now feel like I have a pretty good idea about what happened after 9/11 and during the march to war in Iraq. This book has great details about the real snafu in the Bush administration as well as in the military field. All three books show that although our forces tried to win the war, there was no plan for attacking an insurgency or for helping the country after the attack. It saddens me that, after losing so many innocent lives during 9/11, the tragedy was compounded by so many innocent lives being lost during this unnecessary war. This book ends in 2006...I would like to think that the lessons starting to be learned in 2006 were put to use in the years since then. Rumsfield, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Bremer, Rice, Powell, and Tommy Franks should be held accountable for this sham. Bush, unfortunately, is protrayed as an out-of-touch commander in chief in all three books."

— Donna (5 out of 5 stars)

Awards

  • One of the 2006 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Nonfiction
  • A 2007 Arthur Ross Book Award Honorable Mention
  • Winner of the 2007 Ambassador Book Award for Current Affairs
  • Finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction

Fiasco Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.318181818181818 out of 54.318181818181818 out of 54.318181818181818 out of 54.318181818181818 out of 54.318181818181818 out of 5 (4.32)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 1
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read if you want to be angry. "

    — Dominique, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I just wish I had read this earlier. "

    — Dan, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Hubris, and how policy can be hijacked by a few determined individuals. Even Republicans who took heart in Bush/Cheney statements regarding international interventionism are now sickened by their amateurism. I've never believed this was blood for oil, because at least I could respect the pure greed that would represent. "

    — Coinboy, 2/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The title says it all; and a devastatingly on-target book at the time. It had to be well-documented and sourced to fend off the neo-con criticism that would surely come its way. That "overreportage" got a little tiresome in the flow of the book, or it would have been 5-stars. "

    — Don, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Ah. Should NOT have read this prior to deploying. All it did was make me angry! "

    — Norine, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great account from the military's perspective. "

    — Benjamin, 12/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " While providing a good overview of the events leading up to OIF, the point of view is too politicized (as evidenced by the title). However, we probably won't have a neutral treatment until at least a decade from now. "

    — David, 11/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " the book shows how willfully ignorant most of the bush administration and the army was in preparing to the war in iraq and how their poor planning helped create the insurgency. its stunning really. "

    — Laith, 10/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " with the bush administration does this not surprise anyone................... "

    — Greynomad, 10/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The title is strident, but appropriate. "

    — doug, 9/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great read,especially for those who have been living under a rock for the last decade. Mr. Ricks does an excellent job chronicling US involvement in the Middle East and the subsequent occupation of Iraq following 9/11. "

    — Agent_M, 9/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent reporting, but if you have been paying attention the past 6 years there is little in the book that should surprise you. "

    — Jarrod, 7/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Makes an excellent companion piece to read with Cobra II. "

    — Jimmy, 6/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book should make any American sick to their stomach regardless of party affiliation. To see how just a handful of people could lead a nation into war is very distrubing. "

    — Brian, 5/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My son, SSGT Nathan Brimmer, is right; somebody needs to go to jail. "

    — Chris, 2/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is book one in a two part series. If you only read one book about how we got involved in the Iraq war, and where we are going, then this one should be it. Very well researched and documented. Do not read it without reading the second book, "The Gamble". "

    — Reese, 12/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " For anyone who wants a detailed understanding of the war in Iraq. "

    — Willie, 3/8/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A thoroughly damning indictment of the Bush administration's foolish, ideologically fueled rush to war and the terrible consequences suffered by the Iraqi people and our military forces. Absolutely enraging. "

    — John, 12/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was a fascinating book that really gives you good insights into the almost criminal lack of planning by the Bush administration for the war in Iraq. "

    — Daniel, 9/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great look at the lead up to and the early years of the Iraq war. "

    — Ryan, 6/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a fascinating book not so much because of its condemnation of the conduct of the Iraq war (the incompetence is obvious to anyone who reads the news), but because of the details about individuals who have had a part to play. "

    — Hank, 5/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " All about the surge. Interesting. "

    — Cohee4, 3/28/2011

About Thomas E. Ricks

Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times bestselling author, is an adviser on national security at the New America Foundation, where he participates in its “Future of War” project. He was previously a fellow at the Center for a New American Security and is a contributing editor of Foreign Policy magazine, for which he writes the prizewinning blog The Best Defense. A member of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams, he covered US military activities in Somalia, Haiti, Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Kuwait, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is the author of several books, including The Generals, The Gamble, and the number one New York Times bestseller Fiasco, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

About James Lurie

Fred Sanders, an actor and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has received critics’ praise for his audio narrations that range from nonfiction, memoir, and fiction to mystery and suspense. He been seen on Broadway in The Buddy Holly Story, in national tours for Driving Miss Daisy and Big River, and on such television shows as Seinfeld, The West Wing, Will and Grace, Numb3rs,Titus, and Malcolm in the Middle. His films include Sea of Love, The Shadow, and the Oscar-nominated short Culture. He is a native New Yorker and Yale graduate.