The Fourth Star

Questioning the military's methods of doing things usually brings punishment; nevertheless, the four soldiers spotlighted in THE FOURTH STAR broke tradition. By standing up to the Army's status quo in constructive ways, Generals Abazaid, Casey, Chiarelli, and Petraeus all rose to the top. Understanding why they became so exceptional comes from hearing their service-related biographies. Narrator Richard McGonagle adapts his resonant, authoritative voice to the pervasive Army lingo, making himself sound like he might have been a drill instructor. His sentences fly at listeners like bullets, separated by small pauses. The frequent switching from one general to another in a single work can be a little disconcerting, so one must pay careful attention to stay oriented. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine