Gentle Propositions

This book is incredible. It really takes you to the scenes and I had a very hard time putting it down. Recommend highly!

Because I write fiction which often has a strong connection to the Vietnam War, I have studied many of the non-fiction works surrounding that conflict. Seldom do I read fictional accounts. However, on occasion one catches my eye. Gently Propositions by Jason Economos was one of those stories. It is a well written account that adheres faithfully to the facts and details of that war. The meticulous research by this author is obvious, and his story telling abilities are above average. Having heard first-hand accounts of SOG activities from friends and fellow veterans, I can say Economos has produced a novel as close to the reality of the lives of the Green Berets as could be written. Unlike some branches of special operations, Special Forces (Green Berets) and Army Rangers remain faithful to their oaths of secrecy, and you seldom see their names in lights. It is therefore fitting that the most accurate telling of their stories has to be written as fiction, without their names attached. If you know a Green Beret, shake his hand and thank him, but don't expect a war story. Leave that to writers like Jason Economos.

I read a lot. I mean, a TON. I average 1500 pages a week, not including the audio books I listen to while working and commuting. Despite such an appetite for digesting the words of others, I rarely leave reviews. I think the Amazon review sections are often polluted by reviews where the author is just trying to expound upon their own literary prowess with an inane synopsis of the book.Every now and again, I'll be moved to offer my opinion and this is one of those times."Gentle Propositions" is an engaging look at a fascinating time and place, that I was too young to have experienced. The author leads the reader in with a strong setting and introduces you to solid characters that he develops with the grace of someone who's been doing this for far longer than he's been alive.One of my favorite books focusing on our tangled experience in Vietnam is Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." Economos is there with O'Brien right out of the gate.I'm glad I read this and am looking forward to more.

Having read the positive reviews & shared the author's passion for his subject via Instagram I made all sorts of strategic plans on how I would approach this book. The fact is I hit this book with utter juvenile delight & the sort of self respect a fat kid displays in a candy store - absolutely none. I gluttonously and shamelessy sped read through page after page, foregoing every promise I'd made to myself about pacing myself and savouring the story and well researched history. And when it was all done and I reached the last page of what ranks for me as one of the best books on experiences in Vietnam since Herr's Dispatches or Plaster's SOG I smiled despite my post frenzy disappointment at the promise of a sequel to come. Give it a few weeks and I'm going back for my second run through to catch any details I missed first time 'round. Heart pumpin, gun totin, fact filled SOG action - thanks Jason for putting your all into this book.

This is an amazing book, and if you are a fan at all of this genre, you need to pick it up. I cant claim to be a veteran of the Vietnam War, but I have served with the infantry in the mideast. and can tell the difference between an accurate depiction and one that is less so. This book hits the nail on the head. The technical details, accuracy, and overall attention to detail in this book are near-flawless. When you realize that the author is not a veteran, but wrote a novel on one of the foremost reconnaissance units in US history, you cant help but appreciate the research and effort that went in to getting the story precisely right. And seriously, if you arent going to get the details correct there isn't much of a point in writing on this topic. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the author's future works. Superb in all respects.

Much of this book is taken from other books. It is slow and the characters are not well developed. Combat scenes are so so and not written by someone who has been in combat. This book is kind of like a B movie, entertaining but you don't want to see it twice.

Great novel that provides solid insight into SOG operations we conducted into Laos and Cambodia. Book is well written, flows well, and provides detailed information on how the Special Forces operated clandestinely with their indigenous Montagnard/Degar peoples of Vietnam's Central Highlands. It shows the bonds and love developed between the American team leaders and the little people. Tells stories about insertions into the rugged terrain of the two countries adjoining Vietnam; how they were inserted, how they operated, what weapons they carried, and how they were supported and extracted. Book also provides the humor and hardness of the Special Forces troops, which I particularly enjoyed since it mirrors infantry Marines I had the privilege of having served with. Having served in Vietnam as a United Sates Marine I found the book very entertaining and informative as a novel; it also added to my respect for the Special Forces who did such a great job at such great cost. Only a very special breed of men could have served and did what they did.

Though "Ethan" is fictional character he is nontheless a great narrator of the MAC-SOG saga. Based on the many SOG actual narratives I have read by those who were truly there, such as John Plaster and John Stryker Myers, the author captured what SOG Ops were all about. His references to true SOG heroes such as Bob Howard, Jerry "Mad Dog" Schreiver, John Plaster and Billy Waugh are timely and for the flow of the story. The author did his homework on SOG and it shows. But he also did a great job of developing his key character, Ethan, and the supporting cast. What a great first novel. A great read in all aspects. I served as a LRRP in 1968 and can confirm the accuracy of the tactics and terminology this author so deftly utilized.

A good story, well researched - very entertaining read! Would recommend to anyone interested in the Vietnam war. Looking forward to reading the sequel

Just a truly great read. Not a fan of fiction but this forges the gap between history and legend. Can’t wait for the sequel. Buy it.

Awesome can’t wait for the next instalment

This was an excellent read right from the very beginning! This was true to the previous non fiction SOG books that I’ve read by authors who are SOG vets! 👍👍

Fast paced, informative, a good read for those of us who served there and others interested in the Vietnam War