Pay in installments of $28.00 with
,
and
Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 1 - Aug 6
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
Licensed to KillBy: Robert Young Pelton Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used. Enter a blood soaked world of South African mercenaries and
By: Robert Young PeltonRobert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used.
Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.
Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.
The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 26 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 2
Not a Scripting Book. Wrong title, should read " Learn Godot for Beginners"
Format: Paperback
The book was not designed to focus on GDscript, it had a snippets for basic game interactions, but was primarily a make a simple game in Godot. I returned it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Excellent guide for those seeking to learn.
Format: Paperback
I highly recommend this book if you are getting into Godot and want something tangible to sift through. the Book does an excellent job of explaining and curating a good foundation by explaining and stepping you through the Nodes and their purposes and potential usage. it touches on multiplayer(client synchronization, etc), and other fantastic aspects like object pools and a brief intro into state machines that reflect a professional environment that respects your intelligence but still graceful enough for beginners to digest, understand and grow their own creative projects from these roots.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
★★★★★ 5
Masterful, Hilarious, and Insightful
Format: Hardcover
The writing style reminded me at times of Michael Lewis ("The Big Short", "The New New Thing") in the way Jason Schreier captures the madness of gaming executives trying to succeed despite their bosses.
The way the book describes various antics often had me chuckling or even laughing out loud:
"As Pardo's responsibilities grew and his time became stretched between projects, he became known for what many of his subordinates called seagull management: He would swoop down, poop on ideas, and then fly away."
It's full of insight about what makes a good game, or even a good remake of a game:
"One tenet, adapted from legendary Civilization designer Sid Meier, was that one-third of the units should return from the old game, one-third should be modified versions, and one-third should be brand-new."
This book is masterful. I found it impossible to put down: one of the very best books I've ever read about a games company, or any company for that matter.
If you are in the games industry, you like reading about crazy businesses or you just like games, get it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2026
★★★★★ 4
"Inside Blizzard: The Creativity, Crunch, and Corporate Clash in Play Nice”
Format: Hardcover
Positive:
"Play Nice" by Jason Schreier is a fun, eye-opening dive into the highs and lows of Blizzard Entertainment. Schreier does a fantastic job unpacking the tension between Blizzard's creative magic and the corporate pressures that started to shift the company’s culture, especially after its merger with Activision. It's filled with juicy insider stories that give you a sense of what it’s really like to work at a powerhouse game studio. For any gamer or industry enthusiast, it’s a fascinating look behind the curtain that also feels relatable for anyone who's had their passion collide with corporate demands.
Negative:
On the downside, the book sometimes gets a bit repetitive. Schreier really drills in on the company's struggles with work-life balance and workplace culture, which are important but can feel like they’re hitting the same notes over and over. And while the insider jargon adds authenticity, it can be a little hard to keep up if you’re not already familiar with game dev lingo. But honestly, these are minor gripes in what’s otherwise a great read about the complex, often messy reality of making games.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2024
★★★★★ 5
From Pixels to Problems! Great read!
Format: Hardcover
“Play Nice” offers an enjoyable deep dive into the tumultuous history of Blizzard Entertainment, chronicling its journey from a ragtag group of brilliant college students to its evolution under corporate ownership and its current state. Schreier provides fascinating insights into the antics of Blizzard’s early employees, showcasing their outlandish attitudes, relentless work ethic, and tight-knit camaraderie.
The book explores how Blizzard transitioned from a company renowned for producing high-quality, polished games that left competitors in the dust to one struggling to preserve its heart and soul amid mounting corporate pressures. While the corporate side and C-suite executives are often cast in a negative light, Schreier thoughtfully examines the motivations behind their decisions, offering perspectives from all levels of the company—from executives and middle management to QA testers. This balanced approach provides a refreshing take, avoiding oversimplified blame and instead considering multiple sides of the story.
And while it’s easy to villainize the suits in the boardroom, Schreier does a great job showing why some decisions were made. From executives to QA testers, he pulls back the curtain to reveal a mess of perspectives, reminding us that every bad decision has some kind of reason behind it (even if it’s still a bad decision).
The book also revisits the scandals that put some serious smudges on Blizzard’s reputation, offering new angles and fresh commentary. As someone who once lived for Blizzard games—cheering at Overwatch League matches and losing entire weekends to Diablo marathons—I can’t help but root for Blizzard to find its way back to glory. And hey, if it means waiting another decade for their next masterpiece, so be it. It’s done when it’s done.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
recommand products
Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood
27.00
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
13.00
Floral Fantasia Pigeons Folded Letter Writing Set
21.00
Collaborating with the Enemy (Second Edition Paperback): How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust by Adam Kahane
45.00
Myths and Legends of the World by Alli Brydon
30.00