Mark Stoneman

Veteran, Author, Teacher

 

Driving Around, Waiting to Get Blown Up

Hearts, Minds, and the Occupation of Iraq

Mark Stoneman

Veteran, Author, Teacher

 

Driving Around, Waiting to Get Blown Up

Hearts, Minds, and the

Occupation of Iraq

Driving Around, Waiting to Get Blown Up is now available to buy on Amazon.

“Just drive down that road until you get blown up.”

— General George Patton

Driving Around, Waiting to Get Blown Up by Mark Stoneman is the no-holds-barred story of what the occupation of Iraq was really like. It’s a memoir for people who don’t read war stories. It demonstrates how American soldiers did the best they could in a confusing and dangerous environment, how the Iraqi people were often willing to work with them in the hope of a better future, and of how the United States government ultimately squandered the opportunity.

"The Iraq War is mostly forgotten now. Relegated to the history books and lost in the shadows at the end of the day. But what was done there, what we failed to learn, still haunts our nation. In his superb memoir, Mark Stoneman goes far beyond the headlines of that debacle. He details his journey as well as what we appear eager to repeat on the world stage, until we discover otherwise.”

 

– Tim Wendel, bestselling author of “Rebel Falls,” “Cancer Crossings,” and “Summer of ‘68.”

"This is an incredible story [of] ordinary soldiers forced into extraordinary circumstances… Stoneman’s style is clean and compelling, … and [h]is eye for detail is sterling. Fans of Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down or Chris Kyle’s American Sniper will enjoy this blend of action-adventure and policy engagement.”

 

– BlueInk Review, December 2024

“Just drive down that road until you get blown up.”

— General George Patton

Driving Around, Waiting to Get Blown Up by Mark Stoneman is the no-holds-barred story of what the occupation of Iraq was really like. It’s a memoir for people who don’t read war stories. It demonstrates how American soldiers did the best they could in a confusing and dangerous environment, how the Iraqi people were often willing to work with them in the hope of a better future, and of how the United States government ultimately squandered the opportunity.

"The Iraq War is mostly forgotten now. Relegated to the history books and lost in the shadows at the end of the day. But what was done there, what we failed to learn, still haunts our nation. In his superb memoir, Mark Stoneman goes far beyond the headlines of that debacle. He details his journey as well as what we appear eager to repeat on the world stage, until we discover otherwise.”

 

– Tim Wendel, bestselling author of “Cancer Crossings,” “Summer of ‘68,” and “Castro’s Curveball.”

Mark Stoneman