West Point Reality

This book is amazing. I have a son who has just begun at West Point, having survived BEAST Barracks training! As a mom of a new plebe, this insightful, well written account kept me reading as fast as possible. I'm giving it as Christmas gifts since it is such an intriguing read.

Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point

Kind of tedious reading and his selection of cadets to report on didn't seem to reflect the exceptional character of most of the young men and women at our service academies.

Exceptional read

The book begins by giving an understanding to the author's background. He grew up in such an anti-military family that his father swore he'd rather shoot his own son's leg than have him drafted (if it were reinstated). When Lipsky first arrives at West Point, he's completely convinced it will be an awful writing experience. However, it doesn't take long for him to become immersed in the culture and energy.

The book is by no means a history lesson or West Point PR piece. It is a chronicle amongst the life of America's youth. West Point and an Army future is merely what these cadets have in common. Military and West Point lingo is addressed, but only for understanding.

It was purely coincidental that Lipsky was at West Point during the September 11th attacks. That is perhaps the real turning point in the book. It is the catalyst that encourages many of the cadets to reevaluate their current stance. The writing goes from almost playful to somber within an eye blink... just as it did for all Americans.

The epilogue was wonderful. I can't imagine reading the book without it. Basically, it offers a paragraph or two to each of the main characters. However... I wish it went further than a couple years. I'd love to read an updated epilogue.

This isn't a history piece, it's a human one. What I appreciated the most is that the author doesn't attempt to sway us one or another politically... although its very clear he loves these cadets - that's the real message.

West Point - History and Patriotism

Why did the U.S. Military Academy at West Point choose David Lipsky to tell their tale? He considered himself to be a "young person specialist" and specialized in stories about universities and students for Rolling Stone. He was an award winning author of short stories and novels long before being offered this chance. After reading "Absolutely American", I believe there could be two reasons West Point decided to open their doors to Lipsky.
1. He went into this assignment being very anti-military. I think the upper echelon and the Academy's Public Affairs Office wanted to see if West Point, its history, its cadets, and the overall charm and power of the institution could work their magic on someone starting out with such a negative feeling against the military and all it stands for. If it worked on him, what a powerful tool for endorsement he could be for West Point.
2. Lipsky mentions in his book that the Army was perplexed and looking for answers on why so many of the graduating cadets fulfill their five year service commitment to repay their stellar education but then leave the Army, thus not allowing the Army to fully utilize all the financial and the myriad other resources invested in their education and training. I think Army/West Point wanted a young mind looking at their educational process and possibly helping them come up with some ideas to keep these brightest and best of our young people interested in a career in the military.

Do I fully agree with their choice of author? In some ways, yes. Lipsky took on this assignment being very pessimistic and his exposure to West Point showed him what our military, in its truest form, is all about. West Point cadets come from every state in the 50 United States plus some foreign countries. They are a cross-section of our population - every race, male, females, many different religions. Quite a representation of many types of the freedoms our country is known for. Their acceptance is based on nomination, not fiscal worth, and is based on academic, athletic and leadership skills. It didn't take long for Lipsky to be charmed by West Point and become a strong proponent for the Academy and cadets.

My oldest son is a West Point graduate (pre Lipsky). He got a world-class, stellar education at West Point. Memories I will hold close to my heart forever come from my visits to the Academy and there is a history and charm there that is undeniable.

I didn't mind the way Lipsky laid out his book, unlike some reviewers. I had no problem going back and forth between cadets and ideas rather than having a very linear book. I thought it made it more interesting. But then I am familiar with the Academy and most traditions, rules, etc. so that might have made a difference. Would I have written the book and chosen the same subject matter as Lipsky? Not in most cases. I liked the glimpses into the different cadets' lives. I felt, like some reviewers, that too much emphasis was put on George Rash, a very mediocre (maybe that is even being kind) cadet. I can understand his inclusion in the story just not the emphasis put on his character.

I liked that Lipsky didn't totally sugarcoat his experiences and did tell of some of the infractions. I do wonder if the Army had final okay on the publishing of the book because there are many questions that were not answered in the book and I wonder truly if that was Lipsky's artistic choice or just how much was edited out of the final published copy. I would have liked to have read more about classrooms, teachers, the Thayer teaching style, campus layout and things the general public does NOT know, Academy policy, funding, hard teaching choices such as deciding how do you teach a young person to be a soldier but still keep their compassion and humanity, cadet selection policy, and much more. There is so much behind-the-scenes action and this really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore all the hidden corners and corridors of West Point; I wish we could have read some of that.

But I truly do like Lipsky's writing style and the book kept me engrossed to the last page. I would love to see a movie made of Cadet Huck Finn's transformation. West Point really does change lives. It was especially absorbing reading about September 11 and the impacts on the Academy.

As a mother of a former graduate and an American, I do not agree with "The Changes" and some of the new lenient rules at the Academy. Our young people (at least most of them) choose West Point because it is NOT like other colleges or universities. It takes a lot to get into West Point and it shouldn't be an easy ride once the cadets are there. There is an sense of pride in being able to say you graduated from West Point. People who know about the institution know about the deprivation, hardships, extreme hard work, loneliness,etc. that comes with attending and therefore know the accomplishment and well-earned sense of pride these young people have earned and deserve once they have made it through all four years. And they know these truly are officers ready to lead in our Armed Forces. Don't soften the requirements and thus, their sense of a job well done.

Poorly Reported

I was excited about reading "Absolutely American" because I have deep respect for West Point, the place that produced Robert Lee, Ulysses Grant, Eisenhower, and all the great American military heroes. When I bought the book I thought the book would be written by a West Point graduate detailing his four years there, but only when I began reading the book did I know it was written by a Rolling Stone journalist who grew up with deep prejudices against the military.

After reading the book did I realize that West Point graduates do not write, and they don't seem to read that much at all (the most popular class is on public speaking). I was expecting a lot of scholar-athletes from distinguished military families, but West Point really is just a cross-section of America, a multicultural place of ambitious young people who are mostly interested in the free education. The West Point admissions office is fully aware of the utilitarian aspects of today's young people, and must accept this or risk having a very weak student body pool.

This book is really poor reported. It's supposed to be four years at West Point, but it's more likely the author drove to West Point twice a year to check out on his badly selected cadets/subjects. There aren't any sympathetic characters in the book, and they all seem callow and selfish. (One of the main protagonists George Rash is behind both academically and physically, and struggles through to graduation -- but it's always obvious he's struggling because he's lazy and indifferent.) The author doesn't really get to know his subjects and he doesn't get to know West Point at all. There isn't that feeling of immediacy and intimacy, and the book is a slow and dull read.