Tim O'Brien uses vivid details drawn from his experience in the Vietnam War to craft novels that immerse readers in the realities of the war. By providing rich descriptions of characters, settings, and emotions, O'Brien allows readers to feel as if they are experiencing the stories themselves. While some men avoided serving in the war, most soldiers went despite the difficulties of dealing with their experiences after returning from Vietnam. O'Brien explores how different soldiers coped with the pressures of the war through multiple characters across several novels. He stands out from other war authors through his skilled use of detail to represent how the war was experienced.