All American: Why I Believe in Football, God, and the War in Iraq

This is simply first rate. I called this a real "hammer" of a book, because Mcgovern keeps hitting the nail on the head again and again and again. You can safely ignore the one-star review allegedly written by another Army Captain as a hoax, as no real military officer would be so gutless as to hide behind a single "first name". David K. Taggart Captain, U. S. Army Infantry, Retired

Several reviews I have read have come down hard on the author for his stand on the war in Iraq. But this is his autobiography, the story of his life, and his opinion of the war is just one part of it. It is a well-written account of his childhood, his family, his education and his aspirations, and continues into his adulthood to the present time. He lets us know how he was trained by his parents to be unselfish and give back to the community some form of service, and this was undoubtedly the motivation for joining the Army Reserve, and eventually finding himself on active duty in Iraq. A good part of his story comes before that. He was competing with his older brothers in athletics, trying to be as good as they had been in high school football, and then in college football. He received an athletic scholarship from Holy Cross, an enormous accomplishment in his eyes, and he was grateful for the opportunity. And then came pro football, four years of it on three different teams. He was pretty good at it, but not outstanding. He simply was not big enough (hefty, bulky) to be a great linebacker. He was thankful for this chance to make the big league, but took the advice of one of his coaches to give it up. From there he decided to study law and with his law degree took a job as an Assistant DA in New York City. Then came 9/11, to which he was an eyewitness. In his role as a US Army Reserve officer he volunteered to help. Immediately following, he applied for active duty, leaving his job as assistant DA, and became a prosecutor for the Judge Advocate General Corps, and then deployed to Afghanistan and later to Iraq. His experiences there were extraordinary because he was involved in the trial of Hasan Akbar, the US Army Sergeant who killed two Army officers and wounded a number of others when he threw hand grenades into the tents of the soldiers. This is a well-written account of the life of a man who became a soldier in the US Army. Why would anyone find it strange that he has strong opinions in favor of the war in Iraq ? It is his contention that we are there as part of the war on terrorism. The patriotic feeling that he had on 9/11 was something that almost all of us shared at that time. For him it continued; for many of us it disappeared. Should we still be in Iraq? That is a matter for debate, which has been ongoing for some time now. Captain McGovern feels that we are making a difference, and that is why we are still there. This book is certainly worth reading, if only to gain some insight from a different perspective.

Captain Robert P. McGovern's All American is a fascinating account of an intriguing life. Captain McGovern tells of the things he has done, the people he has met, the places he has been, the opinions he has developed, and so much more. Captain McGovern has a conversationalist style of writing, and a witty self-deprecating humor that makes this book very easy to read. All American describes familiar experiences (such as facing the wrath of an angry mother), fantastic experiences (playing in the NFL), and unimaginable experiences (the 911 recovery efforts, prosecuting Hasan Akbar and then insurgents in Iraq). However, the real purpose of the book is to pay homage to the people, well-known or not, that have had a positive impact on Captain McGovern's life, their communities, and their country. Captain McGovern, thank you for telling us your story, and for telling us the stories of so many other unsung heroes. I take considerable issue with Publishers Weekly's editorial which itself was guilty of being simplistic and one-sided. It is apparent, just by reading a sampling of reviews, that Publishers Weekly is an ideological rag. It chooses to bestow praise upon authors that preach a specific vision of the world, and conversely uses sophomoric attacks to try and scuttle the works of those that dare try to tell a different story. It is clear that the folks at Publishers Weekly could not allow themselves to move beyond their initial reaction to the title of the book before reading and ultimately reviewing it. In certain instances, Publishers Weekly lies about the content of the book in its review. For instance it claims that Captain McGovern "blames the violence in Iraq entirely on foreign terrorists while ignoring the sectarian strife engulfing the country." To the contrary, Captain McGovern clearly shows the complexity of the situation in Iraq in a number of ways, not the least of which are his detailed accounts of prosecuting foreign insurgents as well as Baathist loyalists, and his firsthand observations of tribal-related instability. I thought it was very telling that Publishers Weekly did not mention at all the portion of All American that Captain McGovern dedicated to describing the strong women in his life, and those he has met in the military; he makes it clear how important female soldiers have been in fighting the War on Terror and adamantly applauds their service. This must be what Publishers Weekly considers "jockishly cloying salutes." The Publishers Weekly review was shameful and moronic at best.

I have had ahard time putting this book down. Captain McGovern acknowledges that not all people may agree with his opionions, but asks us to at least consider them. The style in which this book is written flows as if you are sitting in a room with a friend in the military who has just returned after being deployed and listening in awe to thier expieriences. I am so thankful that we have Americans like Captain McGovern and the people he writes of.

I just finished reading Captain Rob McGovern's "All American". Rob McGovern has had a front row seat to our country's most significant historical moments over the last 6 years, and his perspective is one of hope and optimism, rather than the constant pessimism and defeatism that are shoved down our throats. I was refreshed to hear a perspective from someone who doesn't want to make their name by seeing how many bad things they can say about their family, religion, and the United States. Captain McGovern tells stories about his life and the lessons he's learned through the people he met along the way; learning from both failures and successes. He uses a conversational style to talk to the reader, and relays a genuine passion for what he believes. Far from ignoring critics, he acknowledges the negative, but does not make it his job to rehash what we hear in the news everyday. He wants us to know the other side of the story; where good people are doing their best to do good things. I was very disappointed in Publisher Weekly's review, as I think whoever wrote it missed the point entirely. Apparently being a book reviewer doesn't require knowing the definition of an "autobiography". They seem to feel that when a person writes a story about THEIR OWN LIFE they must give equal time and confront potential critics. Captain McGovern's note to the reader at the beginning of the book makes clear he is talking from his point of view. Interestingly, PW's last review of Al Franken's Book "The Truth" (which is not an autobiography) is hailed for its attack on "the Right wing". Opposing points of view are not necessary as long as PW is happy. I highly recommend "All American". Captain McGovern balances the funny moments (e.g. his encounter with John Elway) with the seriousness of the subject matter. For anyone interested in sports, law, politics, and stories about people exceeding their potential through hard work, Captain McGovern's is a great story.