The Outpost cover art

The Outpost

The Most Heroic Battle of the Afghanistan War

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The Outpost

By: Jake Tapper
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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About this listen

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

The heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of the deadliest battles of the Afghanistan war, acclaimed by critics as a classic.

‘A mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice’ Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild

At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Though the 53 soldiers stationed there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war that year. Four months after the battle, a review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place.

In The Outpost, Jake Tapper gives us the powerful saga of COP Keating, from its establishment to eventual destruction, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of soldiers and their families. This modern classic of military history is an indictment of the management of the war in Afghanistan, and a thrilling tale of true courage in the face of impossible odds.

©2012 Jake Tapper (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Afghan & Iraq Wars Military United States War Solider

Critic Reviews

"For those wishing to understand the middle years of the war, they could do no better than to read The Outpost." (Time)

"Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live - and die - at the point of the spear." (Bob Woodward, author of Fear)

"There have been many books written on the subject of America's seemingly endless engagement in Afghanistan, but none better than The Outpost." (Atlantic)

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The Outpost

Very well constructed book, thoroughly researched and quite critical of failings of senior leadership for the Officers and Enlisted Soldiers at COP Keating. Recommended listening to anyone who wants an insight into combat situations.

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dont even bother

this is Hollywood's version of an attempt and a very poor 1 at that. Download Red platoon. 1000 times better

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It's okay.

Well written. But Jake Tapper did a terrible job of reading his own book. There was a great deal of background and research that went into The Outpost. But it seemed to take forever to get to the actual battle itself. Good book. Great quality. But a different narrator would have been a bonus.

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