Among the Walking Wounded - by John Conrad (Paperback)

About the Book

This is a Canadian veteran's experience of PTSD delivered in an intimate personal account that is as visceral as it is blunt -- a courageous story of dark descent and painful triumph that stands as a testament for many Canadian soldiers who still fight and suffer in the shadows.

Book Synopsis

A gripping account of PTSD, and a stark reminder that, for many, wars go on long after the last shot is fired.

In the shadows of army life is a world where friends become monsters, where kindness twists into assault, and where self-loathing and despair become constant companions. Whether you know it by old names like "soldier's heart," "shell shock," or "combat fatigue," post-traumatic stress disorder has left deep and silent wounds throughout history in the ranks of fighting forces.

Among the Walking Wounded tells one veteran's experience of PTSD through an intimate personal account, as visceral as it is blunt. In a courageous story of descent and triumph, it tackles the stigma of PTSD head-on and brings an enduring message of struggle and hope for wounded Canadian veterans. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about Canadian veterans and the dark war they face long after their combat service is ended.

Review Quotes

★ A tragedy whose telling here should be required reading for anyone still dismissing the unseen wounds of warriors.-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

A devastating expose of the failures of the Canadian Forces and VAC to take care of the country's military personnel.-- "Ottawa Citizen"

A love letter to all of those who love humanity so much they willingly sacrifice their lives - and mental health - for us. Conrad writes with a passion and beauty that can only come from someone who took that oath to protect millions of people.... Conrad's writing will evoke anger, tears and pride.-- "Artistic Bent"

A must-read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the long-term effects of PTSD on our wounded war veterans.-- "Voxair: Official Publication of the RCAF in Winnipeg"

An extremely intimate memoir, not just of Conrad's deployment, but of the personal difficulties he experienced after he returned home ... incisive [look] at a thorny, frequently misunderstood topic.-- "Globe and Mail"

An inside look at the psychological and moral dilemnas of the Afghanistan war and the ongoing impacts for many veterans, who still face stigma if they are honest about their internal struggles.-- "Christian Courier"

Here is a soldier who speaks like a poet and writes like one too. It's a story about PTSD from the inside out, but more than that, it's an indictment of Veterans Affairs Canada and the other rigid, petty bureaucracies which have always existed to make things harder for men and women in uniform, but which do it now at real peril to their lives and health. Shame on them, and hooray for John Conrad.-- "Christie Blatchford, columnist for Postmedia and author of Fifteen Days"

Poignant...gives us insight into the way a PTSD mind works, one incident triggering a memory that triggers an out-of ordinary reaction. A must-read for anyone who suffers from or knows someone suffering from the effects of PTSD.-- "G-Pop, blog review"

The author courageously uses his own struggles to paint a visceral, blunt picture of what lurks in the mind of someone with PTSD.-- "e-Veritas"

This book, which at times has a novelistic style to it, is a must read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the long term effects of PTSD on our wounded war veterans.-- "Voxair"

What sets Conrad's book apart is the writing and degree of introspection. More than any other book that I have read, this one effectively conveys what it is like to have PTSD ... Among the Walking Wounded is a layered and textured account of living with PTSD.-- "Safehouse"

About the Author

John Conrad has served thirty-four years in the Canadian Army. A bestselling author and colonel in the Army Reserve, he has authored a number of books and articles on Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, including What the Thunder Said, a Military Book of the Month club selection in 2009. Colonel Conrad currently resides near Cooking Lake, Alberta.