His unique narration combined personal events and fiction. This allowed him to write about a controversial war and make his book critically acclaimed. In an interview, O'Brien stated that he "wanted to write a work of fiction that would make the reader feel like this had happened or in some way was happening at the time I'm reading it" ( “Looking Back”). He achieved his goal by inserting his personal experience; this made the books more accessible to the public. Hearing about the Vietnam War in a social studies class is very different from reading a book about the Vietnam War written by a veteran. Social studies provided facts while storytelling provided emotions and thoughts. Placing oneself within the narrative also helped to obscure the distinction. But in books he didn't insert himself, his exploration of purpose, obligation, and courage also helped blur the lines. His personal experience made it a fictional story, Going after Cacciato seemed realistic. Even though the events of the novel did not take place, the characters' actions and thoughts made them seem real. Despite his unique narrative, he was incapable of writing a real war