One sentence summary
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History, written by Chris Kyle, documents the life of the deadliest sniper in US military history and his experiences in the Iraq war.
Book genre
Non-fiction, autobiography, war memoir.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of the book is the life of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history, and his experiences in the Iraq war.
Key ideas
- Military life and the Iraq War: Chris Kyle talks about his experiences in the military and his four deployments to Iraq during the Iraq war.
- Life as a Sniper: Chris Kyle describes his life as a sniper and the challenges he faced and the enemies he killed.
- The human cost of war: The autobiography is also filled with the passwords Chris Kyle encountered over the course of his four deployments to Iraq, revealing the human cost of war on both sides.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part One: Childhood and Training: Kyle starts with his childhood growing up in Texas and how he followed his father into the marines by enlisting in the military. He then describes his training as a sniper and the experiences they had to go through.
- Part Two: Vietnam and Iraq: Kyle then talks about his experiences in Vietnam and the Iraq War and the traumas he faced while being deployed. He also goes into detail about his missions and how they affected him both emotionally and psychologically.
- Part Three: Coming Home: This section of the book talks about Kyle’s return home and the struggle of adjusting to civilian life after having been through so much in war.
Key takeaways
- Christopher Scott “Chris” Kyle was an American Navy SEAL sniper, who served four tours in the Iraq War and holds the record for the most kills in the US military.
- The book is a firsthand account of Kyle’s life in the military and his experiences both during and after the Iraq War.
- The autobiography attempts to give readers an understanding of the human cost of war, by describing the traumas, pain and sufferings of both sides of the war.
Author’s background and qualifications
Chris Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL sniper, who served four tours in the Iraq War and holds the record for the most confirmed kills in the US Military, with a total of 160 kills. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he wrote American Sniper and dedicated it to his military brothers.
Target audience
The book is mainly targeted towards people with an interest in military, war and American history. People with an interest in the personal account of a soldier’s experience may also appreciate this book.
Publisher and first publication date
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History was first published by HarperCollins in February, 2013.