Exploring Combat Trauma: Odysseus' Journey Through America and the Challenges of Reintegrating Home

B.J. Turney: I came across this book originally at DI (Desert Industries) and has been a key facet of my life. Its a parralel telling of the Odyssey with Vietnam veterans treatment upon returning home. Without a doubt this book saved my life, becuase of my own experiences that are harder to explain and even harder for others to understand. Its a real eye-opener for anyone unfamiliar with the military and veterans, revealing just how many injustices they deal with in addition to thier own traumas. If this book doesn't bring you to empathize with soldiers nothing will, as it doesn't surgar-coat anything they deal with. Its a reality too many are indebted to and far to0 few show enough respect for.

United States on Dec 16, 2021

John Uhl: The author makes a compelling case that the Odyssey is really the story of coming home after a soldier experiences the trauma of combat and the undoing of character (as detailed in “Achilles in Vietnam”).

It helped me enormously in my work with vets and even those who did not experience the specific combat “flavor” of trauma.

Great resource.

United States on Mar 29, 2021

JeanLMPouteauMD: A beautifully written account of the Vietnam combat veteran's struggle to resume his life after finishing his military service. Dr. Shay deserves a great deal of credit for his devotion to men who, after facing death, dismemberment and character damage, try to resume their lives. I have read the Odyssey several times but after reading his book about the trials of Odysseus, on rereading the Odyssey realized that previously I had been reading for entertainment. Now, I could see that Odysseus was a much damaged man. He was very successful as a warrior and military tactician, but was also distrustful, unable to delegate authority, constantly "on mission". This fits the profile of a psychologically damaged combat veteran. Dr. Shay's work with these veterans fills me with much admiration, especially since I have done similar work caring for many veterans and some Vietnamese refugees who also suffered in varying degree from PTSD.

United States on Mar 26, 2016

Axenus: thank you

United Kingdom on Oct 23, 2015

C. Macauley: Companion volume to Shay's 1993 "Achilles in Vietnam", these two books should best be published in a single edition, as they deal with the same themes. Shay's brilliant thesis is that the Iliad and the Odyssey represent the universal experiences of soldiers throughout the centuries. His careful and extremely insightful interpretations of the Homeric epics serve to describe a new theory of psychological trauma, its causes, treatment and prevention. The idea alone is genius, but Shay's lucid and elegant prose make the reading itself a sublime experience.

Using the Odyssey as a metaphor is not new. What is new is that Shay interprets each chapter in light of the experiences and behavior of returning veterans, based on Shay's many years of experience treating veterans of the Vietnam War. In the original tale, each adventure further stripped Odysseus of his men, his ships and his dignity; Shay argues that in fact Odysseus was at fault for much of this loss through poor judgement and egoism, stemming from his own history of trauma. Particularly poignant is the relationship of Odysseus (and every veteran) with the dead--comrades, enemies and innocents alike, and how Shay has...

United States on Jul 20, 2014

James Mckenzie: Arrived promptly and in excellent condition. Perfectly happy with the order. Will use the company again whenever I need to.

Germany on Jun 17, 2014

Michael J. Kerrigan: My research for publishing Courage in America: Warriors with Character consisted of studying over 150 books. Of that research, two standout among the scores of others: the one with the greatest influence on my research was Odysseus in America. Initially, it was like reading the cliff notes on the Odyssey. However, I was compared Dr Shay analysis of the 30 plus years of dealing with the most difficult cases of Viet Nam Veterans, I recognizes the many lesson learned for the tens of thousands of more recent veterans suffering from traumatic injuries both visible and invisible one's like TBI. Dr Shay takes the most difficult of subject and maintains the readers interest throughout the tome. Certainly, his book should be required reading in all classic and psychology courses in college as well as those high schools students who have an interest in volunteering for military careers.

The other book that stands head and shoulders of others in my research was... "What it is like to go to War," by Karl Marlantes. I wish to thank both authors works for enabling my better understanding of the challenges of our nation's wounded warriors.

United States on Nov 29, 2012

Jack Fordingley: I was born after Vietnam, and I am British, but this book is directly relevant to my experience in returning from Afghanistan, and it helps. I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how they feel and how those close to them feel on return from that or any other war (even if we're not supposed to call it that- HiCOIN, or whatever they're calling it at the moment, is a ridiculous concept when you see the reality).

Both this and Achilles in Vietnam need to be read with care - go slowly and look after yourself, as Jonathan Shay (the actual author- John McCain only co-wrote the foreword) warns in Achilles in Vietnam. But this one is easier to read (and by that I mean it is not so overwhelming) and lets you understand more of what is going on in your head now as opposed to what caused it.

So read it if you've been to one of the dusty places. Read it if you've been somewhere else, or lots of places. Although it's very clearly Vietnam-centred, it is directly relevant to how you feel now. And note the bits that talk about how one of the characteristics of the effects of combat trauma is that we all think our own experience was less bad than the next man's. But when...

United Kingdom on Nov 27, 2012