In "Where Men Win Glory," author Jon Krakauer tells a story of risk-taking, courage, and inspiration -- themes also at the foundation of his  previous books "Eiger Dreams," "Into the Wild," "Into Thin Air," and "Under the Banner of Heaven" -- interwoven with corruption, deceit, and immorality.

"Where Men Win Glory" centers around the well known story of Pat Tillman, the pro football star (he played for the Arizona Cardinals from 1998 to 2001) who turned down a multimillion dollar contract to join the Army’s elite Rangers infantry regiment in the wake of 9/11. Tillman was killed in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan, supposedly by enemy fire. Later it was revealed that his death was actually the result of friendly fire, and Army investigators, commanders, and senior government officials had worked together to hide this devastating truth from the public -- and from Tillman’s own family.

Krakauer paints a clear picture of Tillman’s inner life from a young age, revealing elements of character that had always made him a star of sorts, as well as a martyr. But this book is not just about Tillman; it also includes Krakauer’s open critique on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, U.S. foreign policy, and the Bush administration’s initial cover-up of Tillman’s death.

Krakauer, in his signature way of diving in head first into emotionally loaded subject matter, conducts extenstive interivews with Tillman’s devastated family members, including his brother Kevin who was in the Army Rangers with Tillman and there the day he died. Listen below for an except of this intensely absorbing story.