Carmen Gentile

Carmen Gentile is an American journalist, author and war correspondent known for covering conflicts and social issues in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other global hotspots. His work has appeared in major publications including The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek and USA Today. In 2010, Gentile survived being shot in the face with a rocket-propelled grenade while reporting in Afghanistan, an experience he documented in his 2018 memoir "Blindsided by the Taliban: A Journalist's Story of War, Trauma, Love, and Loss." Following extensive recovery, he returned to conflict reporting and continues to cover challenging assignments worldwide. As founder of Innovate Media Group, Gentile produces multimedia journalism focused on underreported stories from overlooked places and communities. He is particularly recognized for his coverage of the American Rust Belt and post-industrial towns, including his hometown region of western Pennsylvania. Beyond his reporting, Gentile serves as a journalism instructor at Point Park University and regularly speaks about conflict journalism, post-traumatic stress, and media innovation at universities and institutions across the United States. His second book, "Stack of Rust," examining America's post-industrial communities, was released in 2023.

Readers describe Carmen Gentile's war reporting and journalism as unflinching and personal, particularly in his book "Blindsided by the Taliban." Readers highlighted his honesty about trauma and PTSD, with one Amazon reviewer noting "he doesn't try to play the hero." Multiple reviews mention his dark humor and conversational writing style. Military veterans appreciated his accurate depictions of combat zones. Some readers found the narrative structure meandering and wanted more depth on certain topics. A few reviews criticized what they saw as an outsider's perspective on Afghanistan. Ratings: Blindsided by the Taliban - Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 reviews) Aftermath: Beyond the Bullet - Goodreads: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) - Amazon: 4.7/5 (15 reviews) Note: Limited review data available as Gentile's work focuses on journalism rather than books.

Blindsided by the Taliban (2018) A first-person account of Gentile's experience surviving a rocket-propelled grenade attack to his face while reporting in Afghanistan, and his subsequent return to journalism in conflict zones.

Aftermath: War is Only Half the Story (2018) A collection of photographs and stories documenting post-conflict recovery in various war zones, featuring contributions from Gentile and other journalists.

Sweet Success (2022) An examination of Pittsburgh's transformation from a steel industry town to a technology hub, focusing on the city's economic and cultural evolution since the 1980s.