With fiction, you can take something that bothers you, or that you don't have in clear focus, and you can put it under as much stress as you want. Really get underneath the skin. With nonfiction, you're restricted to what happened. Phil Klay botherclearfiction share on social
Going to war is a rare experience in American culture, so it's easy for simple notions to gain a lot of weight. The reality is always more complex. Phil Klay americancomplexculture Change image and share on social
Pity sidesteps complexity in favor of narratives that we're comfortable with, reducing the nuances of a person's experience to a sound bite. Phil Klay bitecomfortablecomplexity Change image and share on social
I have, for a very long time, been a huge admirer of Marilynne Robinson, whose work I just love. Phil Klay admirerhugelong Change image and share on social
If we fetishize trauma as incommunicable, then survivors are trapped - unable to feel truly known by their nonmilitary friends and family. Phil Klay familyfeelfetishize Change image and share on social
I always wrote - not about war, necessarily, but I always wrote stories. I tried to write while I was in Iraq. It's not really - I didn't do a very good job, and not about war. Phil Klay goodiraqjob Change image and share on social
Supposedly, going to war initiates you into this gnostic priesthood of people who've had a liminal experience forever separating them from civilians. Except... you go there, and it is what it is. A form of human activity as varied as any other. Phil Klay activitycivilianexperience share on social
It's a professional military. You sign up and agree to allow your countrymen to use your life as they see fit for the next four years. And I think we all should have a greater role in ensuring that we use those lives wisely. Phil Klay agreecountrymanensure share on social
'Redeployment' is a military term. It means to transfer a unit from one area to another. Phil Klay areameanmilitary Change image and share on social
