Editor’s Note: This article by Kristin Davis appeared as part of the 2021 MOAA Holiday Gift Guide in the November 2021 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.
Inspirational, uplifting, and raw, these books are for anyone on your list. Learn more about the titles featured above.
Walk In My Combat Boots: True Stories from America’s Bravest Warriors
Based on hundreds of interviews by bestselling author James Patterson and retired Army First Sgt. Matt Eversmann, this collection of stories from men and women who fought in conflicts overseas from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan provides a visceral look into war and military service for those who haven’t experienced it firsthand.
Specs: Little, Brown and Company, 416 pages
[RELATED: MOAA's Military Professional Reading List]
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
David Goggins grew up battling poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse. Yet he went on to transform himself, becoming the only person to complete training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller. In his New York Times bestseller, Goggins provides a path for anyone looking to reach their full potential.
Specs: Lioncrest Publishing, 364 pages
Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield
Best-selling author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the story of Cultural Support Team-2, a unit of women who served in a secret pilot program that put females alongside Special Operations soldiers in Afghanistan. At the center of the tale is 1st Lt. Ashley White, who was killed during combat operations in Kandahar province on Oct. 22, 2011, and whose story is all the more significant as women continue to serve in armed conflicts around the world.
Specs: HarperCollins Publishers, 336 pages
The Happiest Man on Earth
Eddie Jaku spent seven years facing unthinkable horrors in the Nazis’ most notorious death camps. He made a promise to himself: If he survived, he would smile every day for the gift of life and to honor the 6 million Jews who didn’t survive. At 101, Jaku calls himself the “happiest man on earth.” In his memoir, he shares the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness.
Specs: HarperCollins Publishers, 208 pages
Return to the 2021 MOAA Holiday Gift Guide.
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