Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming - Softcover

Jonathan Shay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 074321157X ISBN 13: 9780743211574

Publisher: Scribner Book Company, 2003

Synopsis

In this ambitious follow-up to "Achilles in Vietnam, " Dr. Jonathan Shay uses the "Odyssey, " the story of a soldier's homecoming, to illuminate the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road back to civilian life. Seamlessly combining important psycho- logical work and brilliant literary interpretation with an impassioned plea to renovate American military institutions, Shay deepens our understanding of both the combat veteran's experience and one of the world's greatest classics.

About this title

Review:

Richard Rhodes Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Why they Kill and The Making of the Atomic Bomb A brilliant successor to Shay's groundbreaking Achilles in Vietnam.

Library Journal [A] fresh take on a literary classic.

Thomas E. Ricks Defense correspondent, The Washington Post Should be read by anyone interested in the effects of combat on troops or in the meaning of Homer's works -- and by everyone who wants to better understand today's United States.

Asa Baber Vietnam-era marine veteran and the Men columnist for Playboy One hell of a book. It is well written, honest, healing, and aimed at all of us who have trouble handling the stress of our crazy world.

Gregory Nagy Professor of classical Greek literature, Harvard University A true American Odyssey.

Steven Pressfield Author of Gates of Fire and Last of the Amazons Jonathan Shay plumbs the Odysseus myth for healing, working the real-life agonies of his own clients at the V.A. in Boston into the wisdom left to us by Homer. An important book.

Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor USMC, retired, Marine Corps Gazette Groundbreaking work in understanding, preventing, and treating mental injuries....Leaders at all levels would profit from a journey with both Achilles and Odysseus. Homer and Jonathan Shay are excellent tour guides.

About the Author:

Jonathan Shay, M.D., Ph.D., is a staff psychiatrist in the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Boston. His patients are Vietnam combat veterans with severe, chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Visiting scholar-at-large at the U.S. Naval War College in 2001, Dr. Shay speaks frequently at the invitation of U.S. military services, universities, and colleges. He lives in the Boston area.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 074321157X
• ISBN 13: 9780743211574
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352