The Fight of Their Lives
“World War II may have ended nearly eighty years ago, but it indelibly marked the troubled times we inhabit and those who know nothing about it navigate this world blindly. Andy Kutler’s The Fight of Their Lives makes an ideal introduction to that awful yet important page in our history, as well as a vivid and fast-paced refresher for those better acquainted with the past.”
GREGORY J.W. URWIN, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, AUTHOR OF FACING FEARFUL ODDS: THE SIEGE OF WAKE ISLAND
“Have you ever had questions about World War II but were afraid to ask? Are you looking for a well-written introduction to history's greatest conflict? Well, look no further. The Fight of Their Lives fits this bill. Whether you're a novice or an expert, you're likely to learn something new from these pages.”
JOHN C. MCMANUS, PH.D., CURATORS' DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR, MISSOURI S&T, AUTHOR OF TO THE END OF THE EARTH AND THE DEAD AND THOSE ABOUT TO DIE
“World War II was a seminal event for folks of my generation, but for younger people who want to know what all the fuss was about way back in some of the darkest and most pivotal days of the 20th century, this new and incisive book will be a welcome and comprehensive reference. In The Fight of Their Lives, Andy Kutler has adroitly and skillfully organized a complex study into brief, easy to digest bites, capturing all the major aspects of the conflict that shaped our world today.”
DALE DYE, CAPTAIN, U.S. MARINE CORPS (RET.), AUTHOR, ACTOR, AND TECHNICAL ADVISER TO AWARD-WINNING FILMS PLATOON, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, AND BAND OF BROTHERS
“In The Fight of Their Lives, author Andy Kutler has crafted an engrossing and history-packed primer on World War II. From Stalingrad and Midway to the internment of Japanese Americans and the role of women in the workforce, Kutler tackles everything from the war’s major battles to the economics, technological innovations, and societal struggles that played a role in the global conflict that shaped the world we live in today. This is a well-written and engaging read that will appeal not only to those first timers looking to learn about World War II, but to enthusiasts and historians alike.”
JAMES M. SCOTT, PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST AND AUTHOR OF BLACK SNOW AND RAMPAGE
“The legacy of World War II lives with us still but for current generations it is a war now fought long ago. Andy Kutler has succeeded here in presenting a straightforward narrative that lays out the story of the war for today's readers simply and clearly. The Fight of Their Lives will benefit all those who want to make sense of the war both on the battlefield and on the home front without having to wade through a shelf-load of far lengthier books.”
RICHARD OVERY, HONORARY RESEARCH PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, AND AUTHOR OF BLOOD AND RUINS: THE LAST IMPERIAL WAR, 1939-1945
“For those searching for a concise, well-rounded, and gripping account of the most consequential era of the twentieth century, Andy Kutler’s The Fight of Their Lives is a welcome and overdue addition that will surely appeal to younger and history-minded readers alike.”
BRIAN HOLDEN REID, EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON AND AUTHOR OF THE SCOURGE OF WAR: THE LIFE OF WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
“The Fight of Their Lives is a great gift in so many ways — accessible, thorough, and accurate. Andy Kutler has done a superb job of selecting and presenting what young adult readers need to know and remember about the most consequential event in the 20th century. Readers at all levels can learn from and enjoy the book—I know I did.”
NICHOLAS REYNOLDS, AUTHOR OF NEED TO KNOW: WORLD WAR II AND THE RISE OF AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.
“Admirably scholarly yet imminently readable, Andy Kutler's The Fight of Their Lives will appeal to both scholars and general readers alike. No book is definitive, certainly not one about a catastrophe as far-reaching and widespread as World War II and whose aftershocks we are still feeling today, but Kutler's clear-eyed account will be hard to match in its scope and coherency.”
MARK A. BRADLEY, FORMER CIA INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AND AUTHOR OF A VERY PRINCIPLED BOY, THE LIFE OF DUNCAN LEE, RED SPY AND COLD WARRIOR.
“An incredible book!”
TIM GRAY, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND FILMMAKER, THE WORLD WAR II FOUNDATION
“World War II was not only the defining event of the last century but one of the pivots of the past millennium. At a time when serious history—and military history in particular—is shunned by so many, this superb, bullet-fast overview by Andy Kutler is a treasure for all readers. It is also a cautionary tale of the grim cost of unpreparedness and the bitter price of the freedom we take for granted.”
RALPH PETERS, AUTHOR OF CAIN AT GETTYSBURG AND DARKNESS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE
Honorable Profession
“A fresh, engrossing take on the political novel with a striking hero.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Andy Kutler knows Washington and politics from the inside out, and his novel spans the great divides of our politics: gender and generation; ideology and principle, in a way that will speak to you regardless of which side you’re on.”
PAUL BEGALA, CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE
“This is an engaging and memorable read. The author brilliantly balances the cutthroat and harrowing nature of American politics with the heart and emotional struggle of a father and his daughter trying to build a relationship after years apart and divided on politics in general...the perfect read for those who enjoy political thrillers and dramas.”
HOLLYWOOD BOOK REVIEWS
“This is a perfect novel for readers who want to understand contemporary politics; it is brilliant and unflinching, beautifully paced and featuring characters that make for great company. Honorable Profession: A Novel of American Politics is terrific, a delicately balanced and skillfully accomplished tale that puts readers on the edge of their seats.”
THE BOOK COMMENTARY
“Gripping and creative…The characters in this book are unique, multi-dimensional, and believable, with each one coming to life on the page following layers of personality and history…Their strengths make them powerful. Their flaws make them relatable.”
INDIE READER
“Honorable Profession is an important, compelling book with great relevance to American politics today. Andy Kutler has crafted a winning story for people who believe in the virtue of public service, and believe government can be an instrument of good.”
BOB KERREY, FORMER GOVERNOR AND UNITED STATES SENATOR
“Engaging…unpredictable…thought-provoking.”
BLUEINK REVIEWS
The Batter's Box
“We remember World War II as ‘the Good War,’ when right and wrong seemed so clear. We won, they lost, and our guys came home as heroes. But as gifted author Andy Kutler tells us in THE BATTER’S BOX, mortal combat is anything but good, heroism comes with a horrific price, and some of the most tragic wounds don’t bleed - and don’t go away. If you want to know what really happened at Bastogne in the terrible winter of 1944, read this powerful, haunting book.”
DANIEL P. BOLGER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, US ARMY (RET.), AUTHOR OF OUR YEAR AT WAR: TWO BROTHERS, VIETNAM, AND A NATION DIVIDED
“Historical fiction, if it reflects careful scholarship, is a powerful tool in the hands of a gifted writer, and can deepen our understanding of real events and people. Andy Kutler's THE BATTER’S BOX offers an impressive addition to World War II literature, bringing fresh attention to the adjustment struggle faced by so many returning war veterans. Kutler's depiction of one of the more heroic small-unit engagements in US Army history is also both compelling and long overdue."
GORDON H. "NICK" MUELLER, PRESIDENT & CEO EMERITUS, THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM
“Andy Kutler has the eyes and ears of combat soldiers and the heart of those who love them. The horror, courage, and camaraderie of battle rivals the grit of Once an Eagle, while the poignant authenticity of Will Jamison’s struggles with his hidden wounds highlight that, for many, the impact of war lingers far past the last shots of battle. THE BATTER’S BOX is a superb work of historical fiction that carries important lessons for today.”
WILLIAM E. RAPP, MAJOR GENERAL, US ARMY (RET.), FORMER COMMANDANT, US ARMY WAR COLLEGE
“While the author’s book is fictional, the rigorous historical research he must have done to achieve such an impressive sense of period authenticity is evident on virtually every page. Kutler vividly portrays the excitement of American baseball, but the best sections of the work are devoted to the depiction of the war and the horrors that were committed in its name. Will’s trauma is powerfully described—forced to helplessly witness unspeakable barbarism, he is forever changed, his experience 'etched in his memory for eternity'...this is an emotionally affecting story, both heart-rending and thrilling, as dramatically captivating as it is historically edifying.” Read the full review here.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Intersecting baseball with the horrors of war, THE BATTER’S BOX is a creative, compelling, and profound piece of historical fiction. You won't be able to put this book down.”
TIM KURKJIAN, SENIOR BASEBALL ANALYST/WRITER, ESPN
“Enjoy gripping tales of World War II? Heroic sports sagas well told? Or just a fine novel full of engaging characters? THE BATTER’S BOX gives readers all three and more. I enjoyed every page I read of this epic story. Highly recommended!"
RALPH PETERS, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF CAIN AT GETTYSBURG
“The Batter’s Box is a tour de force—a riveting tale of baseball, war, and the human spirit...This is an amazing story—well-written, beautifully designed, and emotionally satisfying." Read the full review here.
MILITARY WRITERS SOCIETY OF AMERICA
“THE BATTER’S BOX is a riveting read. It is a love story and a war story and a novel with far more truth than fiction. I’m a psychiatrist specializing in treating men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder. If you love someone with that invisible wound, read this book. If you are curious and concerned about the condition, read this book. Most survivors of profound trauma lack a language to convey their life stories because those stories include the unspeakable. When the hero of this compelling novel speaks, we listen, we learn and we are transformed. If you are currently struggling with the impact of major trauma, reading passages here may be disturbing and ‘triggering.’ But I believe it is worth the risk because this book affirms your reality and your dignity.”
FRANK M. OCHBERG, MD, FORMER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
"THE BATTER’S BOX is historical fiction but emotionally real. Anyone who has experienced or led soldiers in combat understands the untellable horrors, traumatic sensory overload, and emotional depravity of war. Andy Kutler weaves baseball, combat, and the deep relationship between an emotionally scarred couple to show how even when dreams may change, the human spirit has the capacity to rebound."
MARK HERTLING, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, US ARMY (RET.), FORMER COMMANDER, US ARMY EUROPE AND SEVENTH ARMY
“THE BATTER’S BOX is an exceedingly well-written and timeless tale of the sacrifices men and women make both on and off the battlefield and after the war is over. Regardless of what it is called throughout history – ‘shell shock,’ ‘battle fatigue,’ or ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’ – it continues to be an issue that is not discussed or treated as openly as it should be."
RICHARD M. LAKE, MAJOR GENERAL, US MARINE CORPS (RET.)
“Author Andy Kutler has a deft knack for the kind of entertaining narrative storytelling that firmly grips the readers attention from first page to last...A truly memorable read from cover to cover."
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
“THE BATTER’S BOX is a thoughtful and imaginative look at a conveniently hidden part of our history - the psychic wounds carried by The Greatest Generation. The battle scenes are a taut mix of fear, tension and chaos.”
ED RUGGERO, AUTHOR OF THE FIRST MEN IN: US PARATROOPERS AND THE FIGHT TO SAVE D-DAY, AND FORMER INSTRUCTOR, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
"Andy Kutler’s THE BATTER’S BOX is a compelling story about a star athlete’s transition from All-Star baseball player to shell-shocked veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn't put it down. It may be a work of historical fiction, but the story was all too real for many of America’s veterans. This is a must-read about those who survive a war only to realize the fight for their future in peacetime has just begun."
LEO BARRON, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF PATTON AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: HOW THE GENERAL'S TANKS TURNED THE TIDE AT BASTOGNE
“As a historian, a World War II veteran, and a devoted baseball fan, I can say that Andy Kutler’s imaginative dive into the past gave me special pleasure, but his new novel, THE BATTER’S BOX, will richly reward any reader who enjoys a gripping and skillfully told tale.”
BERNARD A. WEISBERGER, HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR OF WHEN CHICAGO RULED BASEBALL
“When Andy Kutler has his main character, Will Jamison, a talented baseball player, decide to refuse a safe job promoting war bonds on the home front, he sets him on course for a rendezvous with destiny during the siege of Bastogne in the winter of 1944. THE BATTER’S BOX provides the reader with an indelible impression of how war changes those involved forever, and how their battle continues long after the war has officially been declared over."
DR. PETER SCHRIJVERS, AUTHOR OF THOSE WHO HOLD BASTOGNE
The Other Side of Life
“With amazing characterization and a clever use of various genre tropes, this is a fascinating adventure through time...The story is artfully paced, limiting its predictability and making for a powerfully charged emotional roller coaster...A fabulous character study of a man torn by loss and shattered by war, but who refuses to lie down and die." Read the five-star review here.
FOREWORD MAGAZINE
“A captivating historical military story that blends genres and crosses through time and space...Kutler pulls this off with an intriguing storyline and well-orchestrated action sequences that put us in place and time. Highly recommended." Read the starred review here.
CHANTICLEER BOOK REVIEWS