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Psychology is not a new field. For millennia, writers have attempted to capture some aspect of human nature. In fact, one might say that the ability to resonate with humanity is what makes writing good and causes it to endure. So what does that say about the foundational literature of the Western world? Quite a lot, according to this book.
In _Achilles in Vietnam_, Dr. Jonathan Shay, Psychiatrist at the Boston VA, has applied his professional experience working with Vietnam veterans and his love of classic literature.
Though Dr. Shay says very little about PTSD that is new or earth shattering (and now, the book is actually technically out of date, since he relies on the DSM-III-R, and work on DSM-V is well underway), he does present a new perspective on the events of Homer's tragic epic. He also manages to bring in Shakespeare's Henry IV to solidify his point that PTSD is nothing new. Overall, this book is interesting for anybody who enjoys the classics or just wants to enjoy a broader reading of Homer.
The real payoff, though, is in the way he confronts some of the current practices of the United States Armed Forces, many of which actually exacerbate the trauma of those serving in the military. Sadly, his warnings have fallen on deaf ears, and the same destructive practices causing problems for our Vietnam veterans are in play now and are in the process of destroying another generation of soldiers. This book will be more and more relevant as soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan come back home.