FIXING HELL An Army Psychologist Confronts Abu Ghraib

Army psychologist Larry James describes his paradoxical role as both soldier and healer in Iraq. Narrator Eric Kramer captures this contradiction in a sure voice that also projects James’s gentleness, creative thinking, and compassion. James bring listeners into the painful realities of Abu Ghraib with powerful dialogues, and Kramer's delivery makes the most of these conversations. We feel the despair and frustration of men blamed for a situation brought about by poor leadership and understand the power of James's ability to transform their feelings as he shows them how to think out of the box. Finally, Kramer makes even more credible James's horror upon realizing that he himself has not escaped post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brought about by living amid psychological trauma and by personal attacks on his humanity. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]