None of Us Were Like This Before

None of Us Were Like This Before follows an American tank battalion deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. The narrative centers on their encounters with detainees and the psychological impact of those experiences during and after their deployment. Through interviews and investigations spanning several years, Phillips documents how ordinary soldiers became involved in detention operations despite lacking proper training. The book tracks their struggles with trauma and moral injury upon returning home, while also examining the broader implications for military policy and culture. The soldiers' story intertwines with perspectives from military officials, medical experts, human rights researchers, and Iraqi former detainees. Phillips reconstructs key events through multiple viewpoints to create a detailed account of what occurred. This work raises questions about the true costs of war beyond physical casualties, examining how institutional failures and battlefield pressures can transform both individuals and organizations. The book serves as a chronicle of how wartime choices reverberate through lives and communities long after conflict ends.

Readers describe the book as a sobering look at how torture affects both victims and perpetrators. They praise Phillips' investigative depth and his focus on individual soldiers' psychological transformations. What readers liked: - Personal stories that humanize complex issues - Clear connection between torture and PTSD in soldiers - Extensive research and first-hand accounts - Balanced reporting without political bias What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style in some sections - Repetitive examples - Limited scope focused mainly on one tank battalion - Some felt conclusions were underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Sample review: "Phillips follows the threads of individual lives to show how torture destroys everyone it touches - both the tortured and the torturers. Required reading for understanding the real costs of these policies." - Goodreads reviewer Several military readers noted the book accurately captured their experiences and concerns about detainee treatment.

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📚 Author Joshua Phillips spent five years researching and interviewing soldiers, detainees, and their families across multiple continents for this book. 🎖️ The title comes from a quote by an American soldier who noted that neither he nor his fellow soldiers were prone to violence before their wartime experiences changed them. ⚡ The book was inspired by Phillips' chance encounter with a veteran's family in 2006, which led him to investigate how ordinary soldiers became involved in detainee abuse. 🏆 The work received the Ridenhour Book Prize, which recognizes "acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest or promote social justice." 🗣️ The narrative focuses heavily on members of the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, who served in Iraq's Diyala Province, examining their transformation from typical American soldiers to participants in detainee abuse.