We're all raised hearing things like, "Don't hit your brother," and "Be a good boy," etc. So how does one go from being taught to "be nice" to being a trained killer? Shooter takes you inside the mind of a sniper. The author is a trained professional, and takes his "art" (as he refers to it) very seriously. Because he and others like him are experts at their job, American lives are saved. He admits to being haunted by his former targets in his dreams and is open about the strain of being deployed had on his marriage. Recommended.

While the title suggests it is an autobiography the majority of the book is concerned with the authors time in Iraq during the campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

The author was an experienced sniper with previous combat experience before going to Iraq. What comes through clearly is the very aggressive attitude of the Marine Corp and the author's desire to participate in the fighting. This is counter-pointed by an incident late in the campaign which obviously left a deep impression on the author and highlights the difficulties of modern fighting and trying to prevent civilian casualties.

What also comes through clearly are the problems of trying to maintain a family life and being in an elite military unit. These problems led to the author's marriage breaking down and to his decision to leave the Marine Corp. He also details some of the frustrations he found serving with some people who are less than professional and his disgust at one person in particular being rewarded for his service was another reason for leaving the Corps.

All in all, an intersting book with insight at what motivates a sniper but I would have liked to see more about the author's life other than in Iraq.

Shortly into the story it becomes pretty evident that this wasn't the "confession" of an honored and admirable soldier. This is not a warrior who wanted to share his story with the world to ease the burden of killing men who were fighting for their beliefs, even if those beliefs where not the same as his.



Jack was a soldier and sniper who saw "the dumbest man in all of Iraq" in the first day of battle. The Iraqi fighter was not dumb to Jack because he watched him do something truly stupid, like load bullets into his AK47 backwards. This fighter was "the dumbest man in Iraq" because he was 1/2 mile away and felt secure and concealed enough behind a thick bush to attack from that position (remember that these soldiers are fighting based on experience and not from years of hardcore training like our Marines). Jack took this son/grandson/cousin/fathers/brother/friends/Iraqi soldier's life from his family. I honestly believe that the Iraqi fighter should have been killed because he was attacking our countrymen. However, I would respect Jack a little more if he treated a man that was so destitute in his beliefs he was brave enough to attack an entire force of American soldier, with a little more grace and respect. Instead, Jack takes credit for his cold bore 1000 meter (hahaha...oh but his rifle was already zeroed into the EXACT, no kidding he says it in the book, distance of the target haha) shot that saved an ENTIRE BATTALIONS MAIN COMMUNICATIONS HUBS from the ONE GUY ONLY PACKING AN AK47.



Sorry for the brief ramble, but this book is filled with complete ego. I am ex-military and have been hunting and shooting for 17 of my 25 years on this earth and I have more respect for the deer/elk/beer/mtn. lions that I harvest than Jack has for the soldiers he has killed in battle. Through the book I was trying to tell myself that a sniper has to have an inflated confidence in themselves, but this was ridiculous!



By the time I finished I thought of Jack as a supply and backline soldier who wanted to try to convince SOMEONE that he was good at his job as a sniper because he couldn't convince the Marines. It seemed that he killed not only because it was his job, but because he enjoyed it as well.



~Cam

Shortly into the story it becomes pretty evident that this wasn't the "confession" of an honored and admirable soldier. This is not a warrior who wanted to share his story with the world to ease the burden of killing men who were fighting for their beliefs, even if those beliefs where not the same as his.

Jack was a soldier and sniper who saw "the dumbest man in all of Iraq" in the first day of battle. The Iraqi fighter was not dumb to Jack because he watched him do something truly stupid, like load bullets into his AK47 backwards. This fighter was "the dumbest man in Iraq" because he was 1/2 mile away and felt secure and concealed enough behind a thick bush to attack from that position (remember that these soldiers are fighting based on experience and not from years of hardcore training like our Marines). Jack took this son/grandson/cousin/fathers/brother/friends/Iraqi soldier's life from his family. I honestly believe that the Iraqi fighter should have been killed because he was attacking our countrymen. However, I would respect Jack a little more if he treated a man that was so destitute in his beliefs he was brave enough to attack an entire force of American soldier, with a little more grace and respect. Instead, Jack takes credit for his cold bore 1000 meter (hahaha...oh but his rifle was already zeroed into the EXACT, no kidding he says it in the book, distance of the target haha) shot that saved an ENTIRE BATTALIONS MAIN COMMUNICATIONS HUBS from the ONE GUY ONLY PACKING AN AK47.

Sorry for the brief ramble, but this book is filled with complete ego. I am ex-military and have been hunting and shooting for 17 of my 25 years on this earth and I have more respect for the deer/elk/beer/mtn. lions that I harvest than Jack has for the soldiers he has killed in battle. Through the book I was trying to tell myself that a sniper has to have an inflated confidence in themselves, but this was ridiculous!

By the time I finished I thought of Jack as a supply and backline soldier who wanted to try to convince SOMEONE that he was good at his job as a sniper because he couldn't convince the Marines. It seemed that he killed not only because it was his job, but because he enjoyed it as well.

~Cam

Shortly into the story it becomes pretty evident that this wasn't the "confession" of an honored and admirable soldier. This is not a warrior who wanted to share his story with the world to ease the burden of killing men who were fighting for their beliefs, even if those beliefs where not the same as his.

Jack was a soldier and sniper who saw "the dumbest man in all of Iraq" in the first day of battle. The Iraqi fighter was not dumb to Jack because he watched him do something truly stupid, like load bullets into his AK47 backwards. This fighter was "the dumbest man in Iraq" because he was 1/2 mile away and felt secure and concealed enough behind a thick bush to attack from that position (remember that these soldiers are fighting based on experience and not from years of hardcore training like our Marines). Jack took this son/grandson/cousin/fathers/brother/friends/Iraqi soldier's life from his family. I honestly believe that the Iraqi fighter should have been killed because he was attacking our countrymen. However, I would respect Jack a little more if he treated a man that was so destitute in his beliefs he was brave enough to attack an entire force of American soldier, with a little more grace and respect. Instead, Jack takes credit for his cold bore 1000 meter (hahaha...oh but his rifle was already zeroed into the EXACT, no kidding he says it in the book, distance of the target haha) shot that saved an ENTIRE BATTALIONS MAIN COMMUNICATIONS HUBS from the ONE GUY ONLY PACKING AN AK47.

Sorry for the brief ramble, but this book is filled with complete ego. I am ex-military and have been hunting and shooting for 17 of my 25 years on this earth and I have more respect for the deer/elk/beer/mtn. lions that I harvest than Jack has for the soldiers he has killed in battle. Through the book I was trying to tell myself that a sniper has to have an inflated confidence in themselves, but this was ridiculous!

By the time I finished I thought of Jack as a supply and backline soldier who wanted to try to convince SOMEONE that he was good at his job as a sniper because he couldn't convince the Marines. It seemed that he killed not only because it was his job, but because he enjoyed it as well.

~Cam

Very realistic and updated perspective of what a modern day sniper might face in battle !!!!I have previously read the encounters of snipers in Vietnam.....and that was most interesting also ,but this book is the most recently published technology and tactics !!!

I didn't read this book yet but I knew Jack back in the day when I referred to him as a Sh** Bird. He actually was a good Marine as were most of us. If this book is anything like the Coughlin I knew back in the 80s, then I am sure it will be quite a read. Semper Fi.

I would first, like to make a point about the title, that I picked for my review. Some people, might possibly find it offensive. But if you were watching a motion picture, or a TV program, that had Jack as one of the main characters, and his comrades referred to him in that exalted way, you would take it in stride. Imagine Jack, as the young sniper in "Saving Private Ryan". With that being said, let's continue with the review. I felt this was an excellent book, and one of the things that appealed to me, as a U.S. Veteran, is that Jack and his co-writers, wrote in the "language", that is truly spoken between men, not only in war, but in training for war. Another thing that I really liked, was the fact, that as bad as Jack wanted to be a sniper, he then had even higher goals. He had the desire, to not just be the best sniper, but he had the drive and vision, to try to improve the entire operating procedure of snipers. The battlefield, was not the same as in World War II. A couple of earlier Marine marksmen, Hathcock and Mawhinney, showed in Viet Nam, "that snipers could be much more aggressive and effective by getting out of their holes and going on the hunt." I know what Jack meant, when he describes the anguish, of not only keeping classified missions to yourself, but also, dealing with the uncontrollable memories of death you've created, that reverberate in your dreams, that you can't discuss with anyone, including your wife. Jack says: "If I awoke suddenly in the middle of the night, with a start so violent, that it shook the bed, Kim knew not to question why or what was going on in my head. She was careful not to startle me with a sudden touch." This passage, sent chills up and down my spine, since in my own life, twenty years after I was out of the service, I was a single father, who always wanted my young son to wake me, before he left for school, and give me a kiss. He got scared, at the way I would wake up, swinging and yelling, about things I never told anyone. We then used a procedure, where he would come into my bedroom, tap my shoulder, and then run to the doorway, and after I got back to normal, I would give him a hug and kiss goodbye. I would like to give one last comparison of Jack's stature, especially, for the benefit of people that weren't in the military. I was awarded the "Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, (SAEMR) with an M-16. Comparing that, to what Jack did, is like you comparing your two-year-old son's, hitting a wiffle ball, off a plastic tee, to the accomplishments of Babe Ruth. There are three things I'm happy for, after reading this book: 1) That Jack was on our side. 2) That Jack got home alive. 3) That Jack and his cohorts wrote this book. God Bless America!
P.S. The 2007 movie with the same name, has absolutely nothing to do with this book.

Reading all the praise below, I had to double check to make sure I was reviewing the correct book. As an avid reader of military non-fiction, I found this to be among the worst I have read. Coughlin takes great pains to declare that he took no joy in his job, yet the book is peppered with with cliche'd macho phrases and terms, like "smoke-check" (used over and OVER again) and "invincible gunslinger persona". I actually laughed out loud a few times at the ridiculous ways that Coughlin refers to himself. The relentless back-talking to superior officers is also a pretty hackneyed feature of this work. And then there is the story, which is really just a loosely assembled account of some events that happened during the initial push to Baghdad. The author's poor command of prose couldn't even make that interesting in and of itself. By the end of the book I suspected that the author was really trying to convince himself, not the reader, that he wasn't getting off on every kill he logged. If you like reading arrogant, self-praising accounts that make use of every military cliche' ever penned, look no further. If you appreciate writing quality, humility, interesting content, and a believable author, seek elsewhere.

I have been in the Marine Corps for 9 years, 6 as a scout/sniper. This book made me sick. Scout/Sniper's o not act like this, there is no top-ranked marine sniper we have no awards. We no longer collect confirmed kills. To see someone make money off of lies like this is heart-breaking. The public will read this a think it is true and pass this fish story along. If it was sold as fiction its just another story but to claim these events happened this way is unjust to the real scout/snipers in combat. Read NO True Glory if you want fact. You can read about what real marines do.

i find it hard to believe that so many people thought this book was so great and so 'well written.' the service that was performed on the battlefields and duty that was upheld by the author is something of greatness and even talent, but this book is not the best representation of jack coughlin's military career, nor is it the most gripping. the only books that i read are military in nature, mostly personal accounts of recent wars, whether by retired generals or grunts who performed unthinkable tasks in unimaginable circumstances and managed to make it back home alive. i'm fascinated with it all and always look forward to the next read of another harrowing account of a war hero. i am struggling to finish this book and almost convinced that it won't matter whether i do or not. it's just more of the same. the whole approach is just uninteresting to me. again, the content is unquestionably interesting and exciting, but the way it is delivered doesn't excite me at all. also, the arrogant tone which is threaded throughout the book makes me think that all i'm reading is a self-glorification of someone who thinks he deserves to be glorified. from the title of the book, 'the autobiography of THE top-ranked marine sniper' to built-up stories about how he back-talks superior officers w/ the same cavalier attitude w/ which he approaches anyone else, the author just highlights accounts of himself on a pedestal. now, keeping in mind that this man deserves all the credit he is awarded for his service and sacrifice (and for which i am grateful), his acceptance of this credit is not of a humble nature and he may even give himself more credit than others do. this is obvious throughout the entire book and this kind of self-tapping-on-the-back just doesn't interest me. overall, i would recommend the book, but would caution the reader to maintain reasonable expectations. worthwhile, but it could be better...

best book ever the perphaps only book i read because i want tooo


BEST BOOK

who ever says it not GOOD IS WRONG

Normally I am a big fan of personal war accounts not this one it's just bad.

This is the 1st recreational book I've purchased in years and typically I have a very weak attention span, but Jack drew me in like no other. This book is meant to draw in excitement and action, not necessarily the type of interpersonal drama that some others said they were hoping for. Basically what it's about is Jack's missions, sniper tactics and his progression of his military carreer. He sets the scenes for your perfectly, without too many tiresome details. (I don't need to know how rubbery the grip on the handle of the gun is.) This is clearly a guy's book, you won't find anything too excessive about love or feelings. As for the politics of it it's hardly a case of patting G.W.B. on the back, and being an autobio you can't really expect him to sugarcoat his feelings.

If you want to read about action and tactics you'll love this, if you want to read about relationships and interpersonal dramas, go elseware.

-J

(P.S. If I had to compare Jack to another author, I'd say this resembles a Tom Clancy book with more action and less talk of details like - 'the rounds measured 7.65mm x 22', such intricacies grow tiresome.)

I have read Shooter 3 times, it is that kind of book. His agressive and candid discription of the United States military and the war in Iraq is not sugar coated. Coughlin does not suffer fools. Shooter takes you to the front lines and into the mind of a trained sniper, a killer. Shooter is one of my favorite books that I have ever read and I strongly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a rush.

The book, embarrassingly, tries to perpetuate the myth that Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Which of course it didn't and neither did Sadam Hussein or anyone else in Iraq. It amazes me that the author has the balls to imply that there was a connection. And that just about sets the tone of the whole book - Americans being the good guys and doing all they can to avoid harming the innocent, and the Iraqis being evil terrorist.

The actions scenes are boring and I felt no emotional connection with the author. Most of the book is spent going on about setting up his pet project, which seem like a good idea, but the narrative has more clichés than a Kevin Costner film. The upshot is Jack Coughin may have had an interesting career, but it doesn't come across in his book. He's no writer, and he should have used a qualified ghost writer or let a journalist write it for him. His loyalty to the bankrupt unofficial line from the Republican party, and his simplistic take on the war goes along way to undermine any credibility the book could have had.

A very well written day to day in the life of a sniper in combat..

This book is supposed to be an autobiography, but, despite over a decade's service in the Marine Corp, the vast majority of this book deals with the author's experiences while serving in the Iraq War for about a month. The writing is passable, but it real seems as though the author was really hacking it out so he could get it published as soon as possible. I was hoping for something more incisive. Still, definitely worth a read if you want a better understanding of the nature of combat in the Iraq War.

My hat is off to Jack. It was a tough job, but he managed to save countless of our boys, and the story was wonderfully written.

I could not put this one down and went another sleepless night reading it.

It was a tough job, and Jack did it well. I rank him with Carlos and others as doing a job that needed to be done.

Another fine Marine.

I write this review with 20 years of "non-trigger pulling" Intelligence work in Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC). 20 of the best and worst years of my life, and I wouldn't change a thing. What a ride! Anyhow, the purpose of this review...


I had the pleasure of working with both Force Recon, and the Scout Snipers during the run-up to the Yugoslavia implosion while assigned to the 26 MEU/SOC (Marine Expeditionary Unit - Special Operations Capable) in 1993, and found them to be near genius in their skills and abilities. Having that experience gave me a little more insight into how "they are wired." Actually, they are like really good jocks, they literally ooze testosterone and swager. They also think that most rules don't apply to them, and generally get much more leeway than other jarheads.

But, I don't have a problem with that. What they do is absolutely necessary, and there aren't many Marines with the drive and abilities to do this. Some folks I think are just a little jealous and envious of the neat things that these guys get to do. But, they don't think of the hard work and dedication required. Frankly, 95 percent of the Marines wouldn't be able to hack it. But, then it isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but for a few errors, that the Gunny and the Skipper should have had editorial control over. Several times he refers to a clip in his .50 sniper rifle. Well, every Marine is taught that only the M1 Garand had a clip, all others have a MAGAZINE. Trivial? Yes, but a Marine of Jack Coughlin's "caliber" wouldn't make that mistake. Several times he talks about "soldiers". Well, no Marine I ever worked with wanted or would tolerate being called a soldier.

Lastly, regarding how he spoke to the Army Colonel in Mogadishu, well, I have to throw the B.S. flag on that one. First of all, although they are high strung, 0311s in the Marine Corps have a strong sense of military discipline, and joint environments (more than one branch of service working together) are even more sensitive to these types of breaches. Aside from these small wrinkles, I thought it was a pretty good read.

SF - Joe

A page-turner for sure. It's true, it's sad, heart-breaking, uplifting, makes you angry and, in several places, is absolutely hilarious (I could hardly read Ch. 4, "New Ideas" for the tears of laughter blurring my vision -- it appears War Games can be fun as well a educational!) War IS hell, no doubt about it, but the "good guys" have our backs. Think I'll go find a Marine to hug...

Cat

This book was a very intriguing look into the life of a U.S. Marine sniper. Well detailed and filled with emotion. I read right through it in a few sittings.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see the two very different worlds of a soldier - a family man and a seasoned warrior. It makes me appreciate even more the men and women of our military who make a daily life of making sacrifices for our freedoms.

I have been reading a series of autobiographical accounts of modern day warriors and had high hopes for this title. As others have pointed out, Coughlin's ego can be suffocating at times. This could be forgiven if it were the books only flaw. Alas it is not. The writing is amateurish at best and the author's overuse of adjective and hyperbole is very distracting. The language is disjointed and unnatural as if it were written with the heavy use of a thesaurus. Again this could be forgiven as we're reading this book for a soldier's account, not that of an English grad student.

This book offers a stark contrast in comparison with Nathaniel Fick's "One Bullet Away." Whereas Fick seems to be an intelligent, thoughtful and humble warrior whose primary concern is the welfare of his men, Coughlin conveys himself as a shallow intellect with more concern for personal glory and satisfaction than anything else. He is a team player when he hand picks the team and considers them worthy of his own company.

You cannot know a person from reading their writing but Coughlin's character development is very superficial. His attempts to convey a "human side" are unbelievable and seem grossly contrived. This is a great contrast to the character development in "One Bullet." There is no connection between author and reader in "Shooter." Coughlin does not develop the role players either. In "One Bullet" you really feel the brotherhood developed among the officer, his NCOs and the enlisted men. Additionally, Coughlin's demeaning descriptions of his support staff (non-trigger pullers) is tedious and only reinforces doubts about his team ethic.

To make matters worse the action isn't as well developed as in other titles. The author's self-congratulatory tone and emphasis on personal exploits, with plenty of after-action chest thumping, obscures the view of battle. He spends little time on the finer elements of sniper tradecraft, training and shooting. This can be found elsewhere.

Overall this book was a great disappointment. If only a fraction of Coughlin's self-acclaimed exploits are true, then he is a remarkable sniper. He should let his accomplishments speak for themselves and not try to beat us over the head with them.

This is an Outstanding book! I am a former Marine and bought the book after seeing a friend who was reading it. After reading a few pages, I couldn't put it down. It's an easy read, filled with stories of the Marine Corps and Jack's assignments.

A must read for Marines and anyone interested in combat.

Joe
New Orleans, LA.

This is an excellent account of the early days of the Iraq war and the fascinating role a professional sniper played in it. Reading it not only made me proud of the dedicated men who go to war on our behalf, but also showed me that the noble warrior ethic is alive and well today. These Marines are heirs to the proud warrior traditions of the Round Table, the Japanese Samurai and the Spartans -- men who live by the Spartan dictum: "Come home with your shield or on it." "Shooter" has given me new insights into the war in Iraq, the dedication of our people fighting it, and the sheer professionalism of someone who, for 20 years, had one of the most unusual jobs on earth.

I never received this book.I do not have time to wander through
your complicated web site trying to reach someone to correct this
situation. Hopeflully this message will reach someone who can see to sending me this book "SHOOTER" and the other book which I
never received as part of the same order "EVERYMAN."

I give this book such a high rating because it covers all the weapons available to the U.S. Marine Corps Snipers Teams today----from the 50 caliber to the 308 with all the appropriate scopes and spotters. The nicknames assigned to the compatriates, pigeons, officers, and enemies are enough to make the book a great read---plus the TRUE stories of the taking of Baghad in a matter of weeks by the Marines is just WONDERFUL! I will read it again at least one more time and maybe more.

Sgt. Coughlin was the top Marine sniper, and he carried the sniper's role to a new level--a mobile, up-front weapon--in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The story is wonderfully well told. I haven't had a more satisfying combat read since Ed Rasimus's "When Thunder Rolled". A great book about an outstanding warrior (no matter who's responsible for the prose: the gunnery sergeant, his lieutenant, or their ghost writer). Get it and read it! -- Dan Ford

In short, How can anybody be this good at shooting with one hand on himself and the other on the trigger?
More on the Marines and less of the I,I,I,Me,Me,Me

Jack takes us along on special sniper operations few have ventured, let alone write about. An entertaining read from a guy with a dirty job; one professional who saved a lot of American lives in the heat of battle. Without mentally-tough men like him who can think outside the box and convince leaders that their ideas have merit, our military forces would be ineffective. I could relate to the feelings he revealed about his relationship with the wife he had to leave at home.

This is a relatively straightforward book, and frankly I'm surprised by the reactions that it's garnered here on Amazon. The author is an unusual character, as snipers themselves tend to usually be odd characters in general. They're loners, and most regular soldiers can't shake the idea that a sniper is only a uniform away from a murderer. They also tend to be rather like subdrivers and fighter pilots: they have personalities that allow them to confront situations as if they can do almost anything. The author himself, towards the end of this book, says that anyone who doesn't think he can walk on water has no business being a sniper in the USMC. Since I agree with the author, I'm afraid I think criticisms of him as an egotist are wide of the mark: it's his nature.

The book presents itself as an autobiography, but in reality it's a memoir of the first author's service in Iraq. The second author was an officer who served with him, often commanded him, and apparently helped with the writing. The third author is a ghostwriter who has dealt with military subjects in the past. Though there are three names on the front of the book credited as writers, the whole thing is told in the first person, from the point of view of Coughlin.

The book mostly recounts the author's attempts to get into the fighting during the invasion of Iraq, when he was assigned as the gunnery sergeant of the Headquarters and Supply Company (which he refers to once as the "HotDog and Soda Company"). The author bridles at this assignment, believing that he'd best serve his country and unit by working as a sniper. He portrays his struggle to get into combat as basically an extended argument with a superior officer whom he refers to as "Officer Bob" and who he insists was an absolute jerk and incompetent during the whole of the war. There's some truth to the observation of one of the negative reviewers: Coughlin seems to do few if any of his duties in the H&S company, instead devoting most of his time to being a sniper, which of course is someone else's job. The author covers this by insisting that the battalion commanding officer insisted that he (Coughlin) be on the front lines doing his sniping, and by recounting the damage he did when he was there.

The book is strangely deficient in a few ways. For one thing, the author spends almost no time discussing the technical aspects of what he does: the guns they used, the ammunition, scopes, and such. He does tell about things like range cards and spotters, but at no point is there any real discussion of what a sniper is supposed to do. Instead, the author gives you a brief intro dealing with his experiences in Mogadishum, then the narrative switches to the States in the years before 9/11. Most of tbe book involves the fighting in Iraq. The main point the author makes is that on the modern battlefields that the USMC fights on, snipers can get much closer to the front, and while they shouldn't be stupid in exposing themselves, they can spend much less time on concealment and get down to the business of killing enemy officers and soldiers much more quickly than they had been able to in previous wars. Though the author doesn't say this out loud, much of this phenomenon is due to the fact that his wars were fought against 3rd World "armies" consisting of a bunch of half-trained guys with AK-47s and RPGs. Marksmanship doesn't seem to be a priority with them, it's volume of fire that counts. As a result, a few well-placed shots do a world of good.

I generally enjoyed this book. I did feel it was a bit lacking in technical details. The author, interestingly, has been portrayed as an egotist by others on Amazon, and while I agree that he does spend a good deal of time telling you how effective he was on the battlefield, he also tells you how impressed he was with those around him on the battlefield. While he dislikes the one officer, he has a great deal of praise for three others (the battalion commander, the commander of the attached tank company, and the guy who's a coauthor of the book). He also recounts an incident where he upbraided a correspondent, only to discover the guy is a former Viet Nam-era Marine, and humbly recounts that he felt silly in the aftermath. Frankly, the guy doesn't come off as overblown to me, just rather frank in his opinions. I would recommend this book.

I spent a number of years in the Marine Corps and can smell BS a mile away.
"Shooter" stinks. Semper Fi

This was simply an okay book. There are so many other books I have read for perspective on the war that are more interesting and more informative. Although I did learn a little, I feel simply that it was just another military book nothing special.
The writer definitely is extremely confident and I can't judge whether it is confidence or that he is egotistical. Since I'm not a Marine and since I didn't serve with him he very well might be as good as he thinks he is. Of course if you read other reviews about this book you'll see some people don't think he's so hot or that this story is very true. I tend to think with all the Marines he's come across during his career more people would have reviewed this book and written about how wonderful he is. So I'm kind of leaning towards him being egotistical.
I do believe that a screwball like Officer Bob can exist. There's idiots in every profession. I don't believe this book gives you that good of an insight into a Marine. Coughlin just doesn't seem that deep. So if you haven't read many military books go read Generation Kill, Thunder Run, or A Table in the Presence. If you've read everything about this war so far, then might has well read this one. It won't take too much of your time.

How this book became a NY Times best seller is a mystery to me. It is an exciting tale about an uncomplicated man who excels as a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corp. His combat skills are considerable, as is his bravery and marksmanship. Although the author takes a number of stabs at explaining his feelings at killing the enemy, his explanations seem to go nowhere. He feels sorry he has to kill them, but they are the enemy. If he doesn't kill them, they will kill his mates. That is the essence of warfare, of course, but somehow Gunnery Sgt. Coughlin's explanation fall flat for me.

There is an elephant in the room that the author misses entirely. A sniper's job has always been tainted by the lack of sportsmanship of shooting an unsuspecting enemy. Sniping is the farthest removed from fighting with swords, where combatants look each other in the eye as they try to kill each other. Theoretically, this is no different than a pilot who drops bombs that kill people he never sees. And yet snipers call themselves "warriors." As expert and as useful as they undoubtedly are, somehow that title doesn't quite fit.

This book is filled with sniper tradecraft, and will be appreciated most by those who enjoyed Inside Delta Force : The Story of America's Elite .Counterterrorist Unit -- by Eric Haneyand, and Delta Force: The Army's Elite Counterterrorist Unit -- by Charlie A. Beckwith.

This autobiography was a gripping novel that reminds you that there has to be all types in the Military. Coming from a Military rich family, I enjoyed the book even though my Great Uncle, Who was part of the 506th and despsised the Atlantic theatre marines, taught me to think Army before the corps. However I needed to do a project for my AP US history course and this book hit the spot when it came to the Iraq conflict. In response to other comments about how Sgt. Coughlin was a cold blooded killer, I would like to say that somebody has to do the Job and I think that the Gunny didn't enjoy it, but he was good at what he did and he saved alot of Marines during his tour of duty. The Book takes you to the Roof tops of Africa to the Back of a Humvee and into the idea of the 21st century Mobile Sniper Team idea. It is certainly an easy read but keeps you interested and never dissapoints.

The book is an interesting read; if you're looking for more documentation about the Iraq War. It is another one of many coming out of this conflict. But if you're specifically looking for information about todays shooters, a.k.a. snipers, this isn't going to be very gratifying. I have no doubt that Gunny Coughlin is a great sniper, or that being a Marine deployed today takes a toll of families. However, the book falls short of delivering to the reader what a sniper's job is about, or what his role has been in other wars. Why is his job so important in this war? How he is deployed? I came away from this book knowing no more than I did when I picked it up and began reading; technology has improved accuracy at long range. So what? About half way through the book, one wonders if the fact that it's written by a sniper is more coincidental, than informative. It is, however, a good, one man historical account of the thrust into Iraq.

There, I said it. What is up with the Gunny and his LT, Casey Kuhlman? Not that there's anything wrong with that. (My husband asked me to enter this to drive the average rating down on this book.)

I am an ex-serviceman who has been on ops, but I found this book and some of the 5 star groupies shameful. Is this a man who is a killer or a soldier. A soldier serves his country and friends, a killer serves himself and kills for self-gratification. This man is the latter. If you want to kill in a war zone,it is easy, it doesn't take skill. It does however take skill to fulfill your mission, your duties to your men whilst ensuring that no life is taken needlessly. This man only takes life, and I wonder how much was necessary. Did he really feel remorse for shooting civvies or does he feel that is just the right thing to say. Sounds plain trigger happy with no sense of discipline. Lets not get patriotism mixed up with collusion with self satisfied killing.

An exciting, easy read from an innovative, dedicated marine with much practical combat experience.

There are too many good alternatives to bother with this selection. I have nothing against the author, I'm sure he's a patriot and a good sniper, but he's certainly no storyteller. I read quite a bit of military history, and I've found several current titles that are real winners. Not this one.

The author (Jack Coughlin) is a chest-thumping braggart, who comes off like that kid in 8th grade who told everyone how great he was (and everyone wished he would just shut up). Coughlin tells us over and over what a macho tough guy he is, and how good he is, and how insubordinate he was to his superiors, and how indispensible he was, blah, blah. It might appeal to some 13 year olds, but not a mature reader.

The only reason I finished the book is because the details of action were interesting (not to be confused with "well-written), and it was a quick read. I do recommend "Not a Good Day to Die," by Sean Naylor and "One Bullet Away," by Nathaniel Fick. Both are well-written and interesting. "One Bullet Away" is particularly good. It figures, he's a Dartmouth grad.

Sniper is not a profession that readily comes to mind when naming jobs. Now I know why - it's really not an easy thing to do. This is the story of Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin, a veteran sniper for the Marines, and Capt. Casey Kuhlman, also a marine. Think about what a sniper does. Apart from being an expert marksman, this job cannot be easy, for many reasons, and this book explains why. Coughlin tells a touching story of his father's work ethic, which he in turn learned, his own passion for baseball, how he was nearly blinded by a sharp stone thrown by neighborhood kids, and how he joined the Marines at nineteen where he discovered he was a great marksman despite never having used a gun before. There's more to being a sniper and his comment, "...there is no such thing as a stupid sniper," resonates well throughout the book.

I really enjoyed getting a view from the trenches as opposed to all the media reports which are either biased or from the green zone and not very helpful. My only comment is that the "shooter" comes off as pretty arrogant, but then I probably would be too if I had done what he did.

I was just on my way to BooksaMillion to buy this book, having seen the Gunny on TV a while back. Reviews of the book seem about equally divided.
The point of this post is to remind all of you out there of the following rules: First, when you refer to a member of the United States Marine Corp as a Marine, always capitalize the M.
Second, we are not soldiers, though we are sometimes referred to as Soldiers of the Sea. Soldiers are in the US Army, perhaps the finest Army the world has ever seen. Marines are in the Marine Corp and prefer the term Marine, Trooper, or Grunt, not soldier. Third Marines have the longest marksmanship training of any of the services. This skill may seem somewhat academic in the era of modern warfare, but I can assure you it has impressed the living hell out of anyone that has ever faced the Marines in battle. It was the German's in WWI that gave the Marines the nickname Devil Dog, for the Marines habit of picking off unwary Germans from 700 yards away.
This is no way meant to disparage the marksmanship of the other military services. On an individual basis they have fine shooters also, it is in the overall category that Marines shine.

Have a nice day folks.

jg

If you start from a 0 rating, then I had to give this book 3 stars right away because this author is someone who has done what very few people have done. His description of the moments before killing an Iraqui soldier is mesmerizing. The rest of the book fails however. its written with a third grade style of writing. The author's sense of defiance towards Colonel Bob, his platoon leader does not convey any true rebellion in the writing style. His description of the comradarie between his fellow soldiers is not heartfelt. If the whole book was about scouting, sighting and scoping enemy targets, then this book would have generatyed a 4 or 5 rating.

I enjoyed Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin's account of being a marine sniper. The publication is a very easy read and military lingo and thought is explained well. Most of all I like hearing about Lt. Col McCoy who seems like a brave commanding officer who deeply cares about his marines. The book is extremely informative about the inner workings and tactics of marine snipers in today's Marine Corps. In many ways the book is a fast paced read because the demand for the snipers to move quickly on the battlefield.

I wish the author would have delved more into his family situation, but he decided not to tell that part of the story. I hate when women say "we need to talk," those words are a real drag. I guess one drawback would be there is no real dramatic ending or climax but I imagine that helps display some of the mundane of conflict and the accuracy of the account. Officer Bob sounds like a tool, and even if that aspect is embilished a little bit, it helpfully points to some of the frustrations of combat. The author should have added a little more concerning his entire career as a U.S. Marine. The book is overall an easy and interesting read however. And while this is not one of the best accounts from the conflict in Iraq it is a valuable account and worthy of reading. God Bless the U.S. Marines and keep up the good and heroic work in Iraq.

"The most dangerous animal in the world is a Marine and his rifle," and Jack Coughlin was arguably the most dangerous Marine in Iraq. Shouldering Marine Sniper duties along with his role as company Gunny, SHOOTER reveals Coughlin to have been the ultimate multitasking killing machine in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Coughlin and his fellow Third Battalion Fourth Marine (The BULL) brothers smashed their way north from Kuwait into the heart of downtown Bagdad, leaving a trail of dead Iraqi soldiers in their wake. SHOOTER takes you for the ride. SHOOTER records the deadly game of war, but goes far deeper to reveal the quiet internal workings of the Marine Sniper. Coughlin's exceptional skills with a Marine Sniper Rifle are matched by his uncommon courage and innovative bent. Most notable among Coughlin's personal characteristics is his ability to discipline himself as only a Marine can do. SHOOTER chronicles both the kills and the potentially devastating emotional baggage that might come with them. For Marines who have "seen the elephant," reading SHOOTER flies as straight (parabola noted) and true as a dialed-in 200 meter head shot. I spent a year with ¾ in Vietnam from 4 February 1968 until 14 January, 1969. Based on my experiences, Coughlin and the Marines of the Bull upheld the outstanding traditions of those Marines who preceded them in combat with ¾.. SHOOTER is a well-written (not withstanding some editing errors) , easy-to-read account of how Marines Sniper's practice their deadly art, and includes much of the subtly humor, morbid circumstances, and definitive leadership that makes Marines at war who and what they are. SHOOTER should be required reading of all Marine Sniper candidates. If Generals Pace and Hagee have not read SHOOTER, it should be the next book on their reading list. Semper Fidelis!

I was a conscientious objector during the Korean war, and before that I went to military school. Now I practice the martial arts as well as write books in psychology. Jack has written a good book revealing what it is like to take your profession seriously. He kills for a living. As long as the world is the way it is and there is armed violence and countries and groups fighting each other, then there is the need for warriors. Jack Coughlin has courage, not just to be in battle, but also to reveal himself. He kills for his country, which means for the rest of us. I have never killed anybody so I don't know the actual experience. But I do know that if you commit to do something, really do it to the best of your ability. Jack kills professionally for a good cause. He reveals to us the attitudes that go with pulling the trigger these days. This makes him honest. What his critics maybe don't get, is that if you are going to kill people and do your job well, then maybe you have to have the ego that is revealed to us in this book. He's strong. He's not passive regarding superiors. He makes known his displeasure at incompetent officers. Why? Because he and his men are online in battle where they can easily get wiped out according to the goofs of others. He is intelligent. An intelligent soldier always has a hard time with stupid officers put in command of him. I know this much from military school.

Jack Coughlin has to live with the thought of having killed a lot of people, and doing it for the rest of us. He has to try and live a normal life. Yes, it is terrible that soldiers have to die in battle, the enemy or ours. I am against violent wars and for alternatives to solving conflicts. But I do not desert the guys who kill for the rest of us. This is an exciting read just because Jack Coughlin shows us what the guy who pulls the trigger is like. This is something I chose not to do with my life, but I respect him for revealing what it is like to be a professional killer, and all he has to deal with. He reveals a lot more of the inner workings of a committed and skilled soldier than any of the characters in Band of Brothers, in which the guys there don't seem to have much in the way of personalities. The more you reveal about yourself the more you involve us in what your life is like. Yes, it raises all the ethical questions. Who is responsible ultimately for creating armies of soldiers whose job it is to kill because of politicians' decisions? Show me the inner workings of a politician now, the guys who make the decisions that make Jack Coughlin and other warriors kill. Take it to the Big Boys. Let's get real with all members of society. Let's get real!

I am a good friend of Jack and served with him on his team in Iraq. Alot of the people who posted reviews thought that Jack glotted about himself and his abilites way to much. Jack was great at what he did and he is just trying to help the reader understand that he is confident in his abiilities. Jack was not only a great sniper he was also an awsome leader and a true freind.
After Igot back from the Brig Jack was the only one of my so called "leaders" who was willing to give me a chance and I completly respected him for that. After seeing my complete 180 degree turnaround my own Lt.(who had abandoned any hope for me after my returning from the brig) wanted me back in his platoon.

As for Jack's total disrespect to Captain "Bob" I have to agree with him. The guy was a complete idiot. On numerous occasions he got his convoys lost and in some instances parked them in harms way. Captain "Bob" was removed from a line company (infantry) before we left for Iraq and placed in H&S company. H&S company is not hard to run because each platoon is self sufficient. Ie: Moter T, Comm, Supply. Each platoon has it own internal leadership that is specific to the job.
As for the book I enjoyed it emensly. I would of liked to see my name about a hundred more times, but overall a great read. See you soon Jack.
Daniel J. Tracy

The no less than three credited authors of this book should have looked for a fourth because the three of them together couldn't make this book interesting, much less engrossing. In fact, they likely should have written a fictional account. Although the occasional chapter appears to be building toward a climax, the climax never comes because, as a non-fiction autobiography, the climax never actually happened. What we get instead are snippets of narrative loosely held together by their common subject - Gunnery Sergeant Jack Coughlin, USMC-Ret.
Worse, in several instances, the book comes off as one of the fractured fairy tales common to enlisted soldiers everywhere. For instance, early on, Jack relates how he "won a full athletic scholarship to a major university". However, he never tells us what university, although in other places in the book he relates the actual names of schools attended by his wife and a fellow Marine. In another instance, he speaks of being complimented by a foreign observer who "wore the badges of a special operations unit that I knew well". And what unit would that be and why doesn't he tell us? He also talks of Marines being the "first regular American combat unit to enter Afghanistan" (following 9-11) but in the same paragraph correctly states that both U.S. Army Special Forces and elements of the 10th Mountain Division were in Afghanistan before the Marines arrived (ostensibly but inaccurately "from five aircraft carriers parked in the Arabian Sea.")
What is most bothersome is that he never delves into the science of being a sniper. Rather, he pats his own back for originating the idea of sniping from a HUMVEE in the open vice from a well-prepared hide site. Considering that his weapon significantly out-ranged the enemy, I'm not sure this could be called an evolution in sniper tactics.
Although a quick and very light read, "Shooter" can't compare to Charles Henderson's "Marine Sniper" (regarding sniper legend Carlos Hathcock) or even "One Shot, One Kill" (a history of U.S. snipers) by Charles Sasser and Craig Roberts. I personally wished I had waited for the no doubt soon-to-be-released and less expensive paperback edition.