Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

To say that Bruce Neckels has led a colorful life would be an understatement. His memoir Matter of Conscience is so much more than a book about his experiences as a conscious objector who fought the system that drafted him for service in Vietnam. It describes his early upbringing from his birth in 1944, through dysfunctional homes, his college education, and aspirations to become an actor. In this, he achieved success, until he was drafted into the US Army in 1968 to fight an unpopular war in a far-off land. By that time the ugly side of the war had become all too apparent, and Bruce began to question his stance. As an actor, he was cast in movies, commercials, and stage productions, establishing his career and shaping his character. During this time, he researched the history of Vietnam, spoke to returning veterans, some maimed for life, and engaged with anti-war demonstrators. He then embarked on a lengthy legal battle, which culminated in his being sentenced in 1971 to a jail term of two years for refusing to serve in the military. That was a saga in itself, and his time in prison and later life makes for fascinating reading. After his release on parole at the end of 1972, he continued his career, becoming an acclaimed actor and scriptwriter. He was pardoned in 1975. The book offers a different take on the Vietnam War, this time from a non-combatant perspective.

Bruce Neckels has written an evocative, insightful, and thought-provoking account of his life that is centered on his fight for justice as a conscientious objector. More than that, it is a record of those heady days of the late 1960s and early 1970s - a time of profound social change that played out against a background of the music of the likes of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and a host of others. It chronicles the sharp contrast between the hippie movement and pacifist ideologies versus the conservative militarists who believed in a war that would never be won. The cost in terms of lives lost, debilitating injuries, and PTSD was devastating. The only groups that thrived were the armaments industry and black-market traders. Matter of Conscience weighs up the moral, philosophical, and political issues in a compelling manner. The author questions the draft and the effectiveness of the justice system, particularly when dealing with conscious objectors who were not hardened criminals. His thoughts on prison conditions and the necessary reforms are particularly noteworthy. The political intrigues in the USA extended far beyond the war in Southeast Asia and the corruption and deception that it brought with it, culminating in the Watergate scandal and the American capitulation in Vietnam. The book concludes by asking searching questions about the America of today, and whether the lessons of the past have been learned. It is illustrated with photographs and press cuttings, backed up by an extensive list of references plus an index. It is an enthralling read and highly recommended. An outstanding book.