General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, former Director of the CIA
“Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet is a very moving, deeply introspective, and exceedingly forthright book. Few war memoirs achieve the level of literary depth and emotional resonance of Downriver. And even fewer help us understand the enduring impact of war, the burden of leadership in combat, and the resilience required to forge a new path beyond the battlefield.”
Edward Freeman, Stephen E. Bachand University Professor of Business Administration and Olsson Professor of Business Administration, the Darden Business School, University of Virginia.
“A heart warming memoir that will help with life’s struggles."
Gary Patriquin, Gold Star Parent of Captain Travis Patriquin, U.S. Army
“This book not only honors the memory of those we have lost but also ensures their legacy endures, capturing the essence of who they were—not just as soldiers, but as extraordinary individuals whose impact continues to inspire.”
LTG Ed Cardon, US Army (Ret.)
“Ryan embodies the American spirit of resilience, opportunity, and hope. Through poems written in the moment, we witness the journey of his soul. Most importantly, Ryan captures his quest for meaning—a story lrooted in the profound question, Why?”
LTC Rock Marcone, US Army (Ret.), Former Commander, Task Force 3-69 Armor in Iraq
“During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Task Force 3-69 Armor was the Advanced Guard for the 1st Brigade and the 3rd Infantry Division, leading the charge toward Baghdad in one of the most intense and decisive armored offensives in modern warfare—truly embodying our motto, 'Speed & Power.' Ryan McDermott’s platoon played a crucial role in this historic operation. Downriver is not only a personal account; it is a tribute to the warriors who led from the front in one of the most significant campaigns of our time.”
James G. Clawson, professor emeritus of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, the Darden Business School, University of Virginia.
“Ryan McDermott gives us an intimate and detailed account of what it is like to be a modern American military family--from childhood trauma, being on the tip of the spear going into Baghdad to marital separation, to home invasion, to encouraging sons to go to West Point, to rebuilding his life. His account is patriotic, emotional, telling, and like life, often chaotic and messy. All Americans owe a big debt of gratitude to families like McDermott’s for their service, sacrifice and utter commitment to American ideals. His style engaged me to the point I could feel the tingling tension leading armor into harm’s way, the gut-wrenching pain of losing the love of his life, the shock of violent burglary and the pride over his developing son. His account made me proud again to be an American with fellow citizens like him.” James G. Clawson, professor emeritus of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, the Darden Business School, University of Virginia.
Review by Literary Titan
5 - Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Ryan McDermott’s Downriver is a gripping, soul-baring journey through war, love, loss, and redemption. Told with brutal honesty and poetic depth, the memoir follows McDermott from his childhood in Florida through the invasion of Iraq, the collapse of his marriage, and the aftermath of a Wall Street crash—all woven together with heartfelt prose and stirring poetry. What sets Downriver apart is how it tackles both battlefield chaos and the quiet devastation of postwar life, showing that the real war often begins once the uniform comes off.
Right away, I was pulled in by how personal this book feels. McDermott doesn’t hold back. He opens with a harrowing moment—bruised and bloodied after a home invasion, alone in a city apartment, stripped of everything but memory. That raw vulnerability never lets up. He takes us through childhood in a fractured home, trying to make sense of who he is without a father. Chapters like “Foreclosing of a Dream” hit hard; the foreclosure wasn’t just on a house, but on his sense of stability and identity. It’s not often you read a military memoir that starts this far upstream, and I appreciated that McDermott let us walk with him through every bend of the river.
The writing, at times, just knocked the wind out of me. His use of poetry throughout—like the haunting “Remains of the Night”—adds emotional punch in all the right places. When he writes about leaving for war in “Saying Goodbye,” or about the surreal emptiness of returning home in “Coming Home,” I didn’t feel like a reader. I felt like I was there, sitting beside him, taking the same blows. His style is clean and unpretentious, yet layered with meaning. Even the way he describes seemingly mundane things—like living off canned tuna in a DC apartment—feels heavy with metaphor. This guy doesn’t just tell you what happened. He makes you feel why it mattered.
That said, it’s not all poetry and heartbreak. There’s grit here. There’s leadership, courage, and a whole lot of failure-turned-growth. I loved the chapters about his early military training, particularly “Becoming a Leader.” The scenes of combat are vivid but not glorified, and what stuck with me wasn’t the action but the moral gray zones, the toll on the soul. I saw echoes of The Things They Carried and even a bit of Catcher in the Rye, but with more sand, steel, and stock market crashes. When he pivots into his postwar life—working at Lehman Brothers during the 2008 collapse, then spiraling—it’s not a smooth arc. It’s jagged, messy, human. Just like real life.
In the end, this book left me with a deep respect for what veterans face—not just in uniform, but in the years that follow. Downriver isn’t just about surviving war. It’s about surviving everything after. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the emotional aftermath of war, or who’s ever felt lost and tried to find meaning through pain. It’s a must-read for fans of memoirs, veterans, poets, and anyone wondering what resilience really looks like when the river turns dark.
Review by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
5 - Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet by Ryan McDermott is a gripping memoir that chronicles a soldier’s personal and emotional journey before, during, and after his deployment in the Iraq War. McDermott’s narrative is a haunting recollection of the brutal realities of war and a deeply personal account of his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), providing unique insights into the complexities of military service and its lasting effects on individual identity. The memoir is structured around McDermott's counseling sessions, which provide a framework for exploring his past experiences and the challenges he faces in reconciling them with his present life. The story is a poignant examination of the American dream as viewed through the perspective of a soldier who aspired to greatness but confronted the harsh realities of war and personal loss.
Ryan McDermott's writing is compelling and richly detailed, capturing the intensity of battle scenes and the quieter moments of introspection with equal skill. His journey is one of transformation, marked by moments of despair and redemption, which he narrates with raw honesty and emotional depth. Poetic language and vivid imagery enhance the narrative, creating a powerful and immersive read. McDermott’s struggle to find normalcy and peace after returning home is portrayed with sensitivity and a heartbreaking and inspiring openness. Downriver offers a reflection on the human cost of war and the power of storytelling to cope with and overcome trauma. It is a significant contribution to the genre of military memoirs, providing a personal perspective often missing in broader discussions about war and its aftermath.
Review by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite
5 - Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
In Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, author Ryan McDermott compares both his book and his life as a river flowing within boundaries in calm waters and over rapids toward an unknown destination. The memoir is divided into four parts titled by his sessions with a psychologist whom he consults to understand the stresses of his life and to chart a path forward. The linear structure begins with his youth when he was a championship pole-vaulter with a tumultuous home life, raised by a troubled single mom who deserts him during his senior year. Not only was he working on his athletic skills, but he was also struggling to excel in academics that would qualify him for entrance to the U.S. Military Academy where he was finally recommended and accepted. Part Two combines his time at West Point where he begins to shape his thoughts and feelings into poetry, then his combat training, and finally his experience as a platoon leader during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Part Four recounts his family, career, and financial struggles after he leaves the army.
I was deeply moved by Ryan McDermott’s humility, sincerity, courage, and straightforwardness. He is direct in analyzing what he sees as his errors and shortcomings, the most serious being his time apart from his wife Lucy, and their three children. My feeling is that he puts too much blame on himself whereas the circumstances he powerfully describes would be overwhelming challenges for even the strongest individuals. The description of his role during the Battle of Baghdad reveals the harsh realities of warfare. The civilian challenges he faces trying to establish a career foothold on Wall Street are also difficult to overcome. To gain perspective on his experiences, he includes the poetry he wrote as he navigated down his life’s river. Downriver by Ryan McDermott is frank and moving, a sincere, self-examining, heroic (to me) personal account that will inspire any reader who has faced and may be facing seemingly overwhelming difficulties and heartaches in their lives.
Review by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
5 - Stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet by Ryan McDermott is a poignant exploration of the author's journey through war, personal loss, and the quest for identity and meaning. Through visceral encounters from his military training at West Point and his combat experiences in Iraq, intertwined with reflections on his upbringing and relationships, McDermott reveals the profound impact of trauma, love, and the American Dream. After losing his childhood home, McDermott joined the military and served as a platoon leader in the Iraq War following the September 11 attacks. He later left the army and entered the corporate world, hoping to provide for his family, but he ended up losing sight of what truly mattered to him. A home invasion that nearly took his life caused his bottled-up trauma to resurface, prompting him to seek therapy to confront his past.
Downriver is a powerful memoir that highlights the importance of resilience, self-reflection, and healing. Ryan McDermott not only shares his life story and the lessons he learned over the years but also explains how poetry has helped him process his pain and reclaim his life. The turbulent waters of his past have shaped him into both a soldier and a poet, embodying the duality of strength and vulnerability. I particularly appreciated his perspective on how both sides in a conflict are fighting for their country, and how understanding this can foster empathy and compassion amid war. His writing is well-crafted, as he connects moments from different chapters effectively. One striking example is his description of a burned child during the war and his subsequent reaction to his son being burned by an iron. This illustrates how trauma can echo through time. I admired his ability to accept his mistakes and embrace growth, especially when many people choose pride and self-deception on their healing journeys. This memoir is engaging, balancing heavy moments with lighthearted humor. Overall, Downriver is a deeply moving account that offers valuable life lessons about resilience, healing, relationships, and the quest for meaning and identity.