venya reviewed Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart
Amazing story of an amazing person, but borders on hagiography
3 stars
I first read about Rick Rescorla in a deep dive piece about his life after he perished in the World Trade Center attacks. His actions that day (and in the years leading up to it) were almost certainly responsible for many people's escape before the towers collapsed. Decades earlier, he had also been a minor but significant player in the series of battles memorialized in "We Were Soldiers Once.... And Young" as a young but veteran lieutenant in Vietnam. Unfortunately, his story was in the second half of that book, which was sort of ignored by the movie adaptation.
I was predisposed to enjoy this book, and it is good, but it borders on hagiography. The author loves his subject a little too much and the book suffers for it. I think Rick Rescorla was the sort of person who would have preferred a more critical, honest assessment of his …
I first read about Rick Rescorla in a deep dive piece about his life after he perished in the World Trade Center attacks. His actions that day (and in the years leading up to it) were almost certainly responsible for many people's escape before the towers collapsed. Decades earlier, he had also been a minor but significant player in the series of battles memorialized in "We Were Soldiers Once.... And Young" as a young but veteran lieutenant in Vietnam. Unfortunately, his story was in the second half of that book, which was sort of ignored by the movie adaptation.
I was predisposed to enjoy this book, and it is good, but it borders on hagiography. The author loves his subject a little too much and the book suffers for it. I think Rick Rescorla was the sort of person who would have preferred a more critical, honest assessment of his life, not flinching from the less admirable parts.