American Writing on Modern War
A series of four conversations that explore the meaning and experience of modern war through historical fiction, memoir and journalism. Each session centers on a book selected by Ryan Swihart, a graduate student at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

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he first session focuses on Joseph Heller's classic, and often wildly funny, novel of the Second World War, Catch 22.
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This session is devoted to If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, Tim O'Brien's intense memoir of the day-to-day horror and boredom faced by a grunt in Vietnam.
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A discussion of Jarhead, Anthony Swofford's account of his experiences as a highly-trained sniper during the Gulf War.
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The series concludes with a conversation about War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning by veteran "New York Times" war correspondent Chris Hedges.
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