plight. Shay presents an
amalgam of scholarly Homeric interpretation and case studies of maladjusted
Vietnam veterans, arguing that leaders-from top policy makers to drill
instructors-hold the key to preventing many psychological problems in the
military. He advocates fostering a climate of community at the unit level by
training and supporting competent, open-minded, ethical military leaders who
have the full support of their superiors. While it's an intriguing argument, the
case studies do not contribute to existing literature, and the tone of the
book-which contains countless italicized words and phrases-comes off too often
as hectoring or stridently didactic. Readers with a working knowledge of The
Odyssey and a familiarity with the effects of PTSD among Americans who served in
the Vietnam War may get the most out of this book, which could affect policy if
it finds its way to upper echelons of command. (Nov.)Library Journal
Shay, a psychiatrist in the Department of Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Boston, has worked with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans for many years. In his first book, Achilles in Vietnam, Shay explored the stresses and psychological injuries caused by armed combat, using the insight of Homer's Iliad. That book was warmly received in both the medical and the military professions. In the first third of the new book, Shay uses Odysseus's epic journey to explore the stresses faced by veterans who return home, still scarred by their intense experiences. In Shay's interpretation, Odysseus experienced nearly all of the symptoms he has observed in returned veterans of modern wars fearfulness, inability to trust or be close to anyone, emotional outbursts, violence, criminal activity, sexual adventurism, and so forth. Clearly, Homer understood and appreciated what war really meant to the participants. The second section deals with healing techniques. The third contains Shay's suggested measures for prevention of such long-lasting injuries. Whether or not one agrees with Shay's prescriptive measures, this is a mandatory purchase for any library serving the military or their families, or where medical professionals deal with any kind of stress-related disorder. It is also a fresh take on a literary classic. Highly recommended. Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS Copyright 2002 Cahners
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