The Things They Carried

by Tim O'Brien, Tim O’ Brien
The Things They Carried cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Biography and Memoir
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 5698
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780007386802
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2015-09-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

The Things They Carried is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complexities of war, memory, and storytelling. Through a series of interconnected stories, Tim O'Brien masterfully blends fact and fiction to create a profound meditation on the Vietnam War and its lasting effects on those who fought. The book is not just a collection of narratives but a deep exploration of the human condition, revealing the emotional and psychological burdens that soldiers carry long after the war is over. /n/n O'Brien's unique approach to storytelling, where he blurs the lines between reality and imagination, allows readers to experience the war from a deeply personal perspective. The book is celebrated for its raw honesty and poetic prose, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the psychological and emotional impact of war.

Reviews
J Kent Messum · 2025-12-19
brilliant 4.75

The reviewer found the book to be brilliant, somber, hilarious, horrific, and hard-hitting. They praised O'Brien's writing style and the pace of the stories.

The reviewer was struck by the range of emotions evoked by the book, from brilliance to horror. They highlighted O'Brien's top-notch writing and the fast-paced, engaging storytelling. The reviewer appreciated the way the book delves into the complexities of war and its impact on individuals, making it a powerful and unforgettable read. They also noted the book's ability to balance humor and tragedy, creating a rich and layered narrative.

Quick quotes

    It's brilliant, somber, hilarious, horrific, and hard-hitting.

    O'Brien's writing is top notch with an incredible pace and flow that wastes no reader's time.

    The book delves into the complexities of war and its impact on individuals.

thebooknanny.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
profound 4.50

The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving collection of stories that delves into the emotional and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on soldiers. The interconnected narratives offer a raw and honest portrayal of war, memory, and the human condition, making it a profound and unforgettable read.

The Things They Carried is a collection of interconnected stories that explore the lives of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Each story is a vignette that captures the emotional and psychological toll of war on the soldiers. The author uses a blend of fiction and non-fiction to create a raw and honest portrayal of the soldiers' experiences. The stories are deeply moving and offer a profound insight into the human condition. The collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to convey complex emotions and experiences. The interconnected narratives create a cohesive and immersive reading experience that stays with the reader long after the last page is turned.

Quick quotes

    The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving collection of stories that delves into the emotional and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on soldiers.

    The interconnected narratives offer a raw and honest portrayal of war, memory, and the human condition.

    The collection is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to convey complex emotions and experiences.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
insightful 4.00

The Disinterested Witness is a detailed study of the concept of saksin in Advaita Vedanta, comparing it with Western phenomenology. The book is a major contribution to comparative philosophy, offering a vantage point for cross-cultural comparison. The reviewer finds the book clear and insightful, though some aspects of the treatment are complex and challenging.

The Disinterested Witness by Bina Gupta is a comprehensive exploration of the concept of saksin, or witness-consciousness, in Advaita Vedanta. The book delves into the phenomenological relevance of this concept in Indian philosophy and demonstrates its importance for a sound theory of knowledge. Gupta compares the Advaita notion of witness-consciousness with similar ideas in Western phenomenology, addressing a wide range of epistemological issues and the perceived commonalities and differences between Eastern and Western philosophy. The reviewer appreciates the book's clarity and the author's exemplary schematic approach, which lays out the concept systematically. However, the reviewer notes that the distinctions and relationships between the individual self, the witness, and consciousness are complex and challenging to navigate. The book is particularly valuable for students of philosophy interested in placing Advaita in the context of broader philosophical questions about knowledge and certainty.

Quick quotes

    The difference between them is that in the former the mind is a qualifying attribute (visheShaNa) and in the latter a limiting adjunct.

    This witness in the individual self is different in each individual. For if it were what Maitra has known, Caitra would also recollect.

    Mental cognitions cannot reveal themselves because they are inert as well. Hence, the need for the self-luminous witness consciousness to reveal mental cognitions.

Writing Near the Lake · 2023-08-08
great 4.25

The reviewer described the book as an unvarnished war story without heroes and romanticism. They found O'Brien's writing to be beautiful and memorable.

The reviewer appreciated the book's unvarnished portrayal of war, which avoids romanticism and heroes. They found O'Brien's writing to be beautiful and memorable, highlighting the raw and honest depiction of soldiers' experiences. The reviewer noted that the book's power lies in its ability to convey the harsh realities of war and its impact on those who fight in it. They also praised the book's structure and the way it weaves together different stories to create a cohesive narrative.

Quick quotes

    The Things They Carried is an unvarnished war story without heroes and romanticism.

    O'Brien's beautiful, but unflinching, prose brings the reader into the heart of the Vietnam War.

    The book's power lies in its ability to convey the harsh realities of war.

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