I don't care what a persons political views are, this is a must read. I also don't care if Marcus Luttrell is not Hemingway, that is not the point of this book. Thank you to all the people who recognized this book for what it was instead of tearing it apart for something it wasn't even trying to be. Thank you Mr. Luttell for writing your story.

I have read a lot of war books, and I do not think I have ever read a more gripping account of prolonged close combat than "Lone Survivor." The way these four guys fought off a determined taliban force is just an amazing testament to the SEALs' fighting ability and their valor. Luttrell's survival of the battle and continued survival in the Pashtun mountain village are so unlikely that one can't help but think this is a work of fiction, except you know it actually happened. I must admit, I skipped the entire section on the SEALs' training regimen. It kind of goes without saying that there training is over the top insanity at the highest level, to get these guys ready for anything. The book definitely raises a lot of questions about the setting of the battle. Luttrell and his buddies all had serious misgivings about operation Redwing, but none of them voiced any of this to their superiors. This operation indeed seemed doomed from the start. And this doesn't make sense, as one gets the impression the SEALS themselves were deciding on the operations to conduct. If they all felt this operation was doomed, why did they do it without a protest? I know soldiers are to follow orders, but why weren't the orders questioned? And how good was the intel, if they didn't even know that sheep herders used the terrain they would be on? The bottom line, is some of our finest troops were lost on a mission they never should have been on. And while you have to admire the courage of the rescue troops who died on the helicopter, one can't help but feel such an ill advised mountain landing should have been avoided. I say these things out of the profound sadness over the deaths of all these men. I understand the "don't leave a man behind" mentality, but more care needs to be taken to make sure these warriors are not put into no-win situations.

Fabulous,fabulous book. Couldn't put it down. Truly shows how our country's Rules Of Engagement costs our dedicated warriors their lives and someday may cause our own.

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10This should be required reading for all Americans. It not only shows what real life experiences can be achieved but, it also shows the Commitments of these religious groups and what they will do to achieve world rule. Most of the world is unaware of the total brainwashing capabilities of the Mullas with their power over uneducated people and train them from infant to teens in one belief that it is OK to kill another just because they are a different religion, or do not believe as they do.

I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, this past May, where Marcus Lutrell was a featured speaker. As soon as I returned home I ordered his book from Amazon, and found it very hard to put down. It speaks of almost impossible training (only twenty-some men finished out of the 180 that started), and the incredible men who love their country so much they not only endure the training, but then perform special operations all over the globe, to defend our freedom. And remember, these are all volunteers. Every American should read this book, then get down on their knees and thank God that we have such people on our side. Every politician who is trying to hamstring our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan should read this book, and make a vow to support, not try to hamper our efforts.

This is a tragic, yet inspiring true story. Anyone who reads this will be proud of our fighters, yet will be overwhelmed by the tragic power the media has to make our valiant warriors second-guess wartime decisions they KNOW are right. I didn't need convincing, but this book certainly reinforced that the good old USA has the best fighting warriors in the world, bar none. If only our country would allow our fighters to fight to WIN!! This book will spell it out, draw the picture for you and shout it loud and clear...Shut up and let our warriors fight to win. Lift the ridiculous rules of engagement and let common sense war minds make valid war decisions to put this terror war into history. We can only do that by being brutal, ruthless and smart. Every American, no matter your politics, should read this book. Marcus Luttrell is a patriot who has been there and done it and then some. Until you know what he knows, you are uninformed. God bless him, the Seals and all our warriors from all branches. The NEXT Greatest Generation.

I am usually a big fan of books on current (and not so current) military history, especially the ones that contain first-hand accounts. I count Generation Kill, Black Hawk Down and Band of Brothers among my all-time favorite books. As you can imagine, I was really excited to read Luttrell's Lone Survivor. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed by it. First of all, as much of a military hero as Luttrell may be, he is really not much of a writer. He overuses adjectives to try to make his prose come off as elevated, but it only comes off as inexperienced (for example, he talks about Saddam Hussein's "hidey-hole". I mean, do we really need the adjectives "murderous" and "evil" before every mention of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden? It's not like we've never heard of them or their actions before. He also bombards you with his opinion on just about everything, from the media to politics to religion, and comes off as extremely closed-minded and even xenophobic (he talks about Arabs wearing "colorful towels" on their heads). I think that if he had simply stuck to telling his story without inserting his preachy personal opinion into it, the book would have been greatly improved. Also, this story could have benefited from a much more capable second writer than Robinson, who did not seem to add much to Luttrell's tired prose.
I really wanted to like this book, trust me. I kept reading it despite my initial negative reaction to it, but it definitely was not worth those hours of my life that I spent reading it. Read Generation Kill instead.Generation Kill

Great reading, hard to put down!. Makes me wish we could turn a couple of seal teams loose in the Halls of Congress.

Encouraging to know that there are still patriots among us. Sometimes hard to remember that the patriots are the ones that fight for our nation, not the ones that try to destroy it.

Amazing the difference between "Lone Survivor" and "Winter Soldier". Recall that the "Winter Soldier" author is part of the criminal left that controls the Senate.

Marcuss Luttrell describes well the dedication of the good men that sacrificed all for our country.

Should be required reading for every high school student in America.

This was one of the most powerful and moving books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. I was inspired by the Seals' perseverance, dedication, and discipline and moved by their sacrifice.

The book was an easy read - a compelling story told by a great story teller. I think the mixture of actual events told by one of the participants and the story teller being a fiction writer helped make it so exciting and real.

The only complaint I have (and it is a relatively small one) is that Marcus rags on the liberal media a bit too much. I don't disagree with him, but I think a little goes a long way. On the other hand if he has to worry about that while he's fighting a war, that says a lot about the press's negative influence.

I recommend this book to anyone. It is an amazing story told very well.

The thing is about liberals, who write reviews like those seen here, they never even buy the book or read it. They thumb through the book that they checked out from the library, never read it in its entirety, but maybe skim through it, they then try to make people believe they are writing some unbiased review to deceive people to not buy it.

This book was excellently written in a very engaging manner. I felt like I was there with him and simply could not put the book down. I enjoyed him recounting different stories from his growing up, like his brother wrestling alligators. I was there with him as he was going through hell in his naval seal training... and it was intense being there with him, as his friends, and fellow frogmen died.

Thank you for telling your story, I only wish there were more politicians and Americans worthy of the blood that you all have shed on our behalf. Unfortunately, our freedoms and rights as Americans are being systematically destroyed by both major parties in Washington. Global communism, or its slightly more humane socialism, is continuing to gain in power through most of the media, education system, and by both parties. Fortunately, truth WILL win out in the end.

First of all, let me say that I couldn't even make it past page 44 of this book. So maybe it's not fair to judge the entire book based upon this, but I did actually wanted to stop reading sooner but told myself to give the author a chance.

I was expecting a book along the lines of Black Hawk Down. Instead of a first hand account of the author's experience in the war, I got the authors opinion on everything from how great God, Bush, Texans and Navy Seals are. I'd rather have the author give me a compelling first hand account and let me form my own opinions.

I apologize for not reading further, but life is too short for amateur story telling. If I want that, I'll just watch the nightly ratings of Fox TV.

First, what amazing men Luttrell and his fellow SEALs are and everyone who enjoys the freedom and security of living in the USA should be thankful that men like this exist. I was taught at a young age to respect anybody in uniform. It boggles my mind that anyone in the country could look down on men and women who risk it all for immaterial things like God and Country, but there are. And the fact that it would creep into the thoughts of these brave men at a criticle time (to worry what would happen at home, based on a decision in the field) says alot about the how politician's and the pinheads in the press are poisoning our society.

Unfortunately, Marcus Luttrell should have interviewed a few more writers before deciding who would write his story. Patrick Robinson, who wrote the story, did a sophomoric job, which does not rise to the standard that Luttrell's story should be written. The writing is so bad through the first quarter of the book, it is almost painful. However, it does improve when the action gets underway, and you are feeling for his team mates and cheering Marcus on to the point where you want to cry in happiness with him when he's rescued.

It's a five star story, written by a one star writer, so I gave it a three for that reason.

Ok first of all all the rangers posting on this don't be mad because SEAL training is considered harder than yours. If you are such a bad man it shouldn't matter. Second, I agree that Luttrell is wrong about killing the 3 civilians but they should have been kept from leaving the area. They made a mistake and I am sure that it is hard for him to deal with. Third, this is a very good book that tells HIS story from HIS point of view, so why is everyone upset about that? Should he apologize because his opinion is not yours? That is ludacris. Anyway this is a very good book.

This was wonderful read i would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good war book.

I wanted to like this book. I've read 40 or so books on current military operations and was glad to hear this guy had written his story. Unfortunately, it seems he got Fox News to write the book for him--either that or his way of dealing with the trauma is to internalize the fallacious logic of Bush's "You're either with us or against us" thinking and blame anyone with views that differ from "his" (I put it in parenthesis because I don't think he really thought anything up for himself--it's all straight from AM radio or Fox or wherever).

I imagine he's probably a good guy--a talented and hard worker. He may even be intelligent, though you wouldn't know it by his simple-close-minded views. If he had stuck to the story (mission goes south, saved by locals) without all the preaching it would have been a decent read. Unfortunately, he can't stop spewing right-wing talking points. He's so emotional that it compromises his logic on numerous occasions. I imagine he'll make a lot of money from the book and a movie--he'll certainly get all the adulation he seeks from the right-wing blowhards and politicians calling him a hero for, y'know, following orders and getting his arse handed to him. Though the non-preachy parts were mostly well done, I'd have rather not known what a apple-pie wrapped in a flag tool this guy was; most of the special operations guys I know are free thinkers, many liberal or somewhere in the middle--none are this rah-rah hu-ahh macho kill for god and country (oh, and Mom and Texas). As is, he has a bright future as a commentator for Fox News or in the Republican party--he's got all it takes to succeed (obey orders, recite talking points, cover for the incompetence of others and they'll cover for you, distract people from the fact that everything's going to crap by scaring them and/or attacking them as anti-american). Yeah, he'll do very well for himself indeed. Very well.

Excellent read. Great book. Unbelievable heroism. I could not put this book down.

As a former military pilot of pointy nosed jets I am still in awe of the Navy SEALS and Delta guys. While we zip around in our fancy jets and fly LGB's thru doors, I (speaking for myself instead of all fighter pilots) I am totally in awe of the professionalism, incredible bravery, dedication, athleticism, determination, and heroism of these "teams". I had the privilege of working around some of these guys and they are truly the finest athletes and warriors on the planet. I felt that I was in the presence of the Dallas Cowboy's or Greenbay Packers star running backs when I met these guys. There was always four of them when I ran into them (they actually did stay in four packs when they trained) and always had the latest weps :) From what I've seen, I believe the story told by Mr. Luttrell to be very factual. This story sounds like exactly what it is like to be a SEAL and how they fight (as well as the stories I've heard about BUD/S). I felt so sad when I read how the ROE of the battlefield was made a mess of by our current totally clueless political types. The finest warriors are having their hands tied by nit wits.... So sad, I feel for you....

Who do fighter pilots envy?? For me, it is the Navy SEALS and Delta.... I don't hold a candle to these guys, the finest warriors on the planet...

Instead of addressing the story of the SEAL training program and the battle itself, because so many have done it before me and probably done a better job than I could, I'll address the criticims regarding the author's comments about the "liberal media." (1) like never before, the competition among the media has resulted in a frenzy to get a story out as quickly as possible if the editors believe it will sell more papers, get better ratings etc. Speed, not accuracy or the truth is the goal of the modern day media. I can't respect people who do such a poor job in their own profession criticising people who are performing a job that nobody in the media has a clue or the abilty to perform. To the modern day media, a dead soldier, sailor, airman or Marine is a number to be added to a total to cite in their story.
2) It is a rare academic who has served in the Boy Scouts, let alone the military. Duty, Honor, Country are foreign concepts to academics who dwell on relative morality, the lack of truth and the trivial. Senior academics working in US colleges are for the most part, people who avoided serving in the military during the 1960's and 1970's, who are not only ignorant of the military or law enforcement, they despise those people who work in those professions. William Ayers, the former friend of Obama is a prime example of this type of person, no remorse, no regrets about what he has done or how he has lived his life, even while he feeds at the public trough provided by the government he despises.
3) Finally, our modern day politician who, like the academics, avoided service in Vietnam or in the case of some, managed to get safe jobs because they were the sons of senators etc. Much as I dislike Al Gore, I do not include him in this category because as I understand it, he did not choose his job, the Army told him what he would be doing and where and in his case, it was Vietnam. I can respect that. But, for the most part, the men and women serving in the Congress may know a lot about appropriations for the military, but really, have no clue about the sacrifices made by the people in the military and frankly, I believe they don't care unless these people can be used for political purposes.

So, there are 3 groups of ignorant and dispicable people who exert far more influence than they should about the "rules of engagement." What to do about it? Unfortunately, there isn't much of anything that will be done about the ROE or these people until another 9/11 or worse occurs, then these same people, much in the same way they hate the police until one of them is robbed or killed, will be clamoring for the military "to do something." And the military will. WHY?
DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY
Semper fi
JWMatney U.S. Navy 1974-1978

This would've been a better book without the entire first half. Far too much time is devoted to subjects that have been covered many times ("The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228" for example provides an in-depth narrative on SEAL training.)

The second half of the book is highly dramatic and, at times, touching. Still, my overall impression of the book is that it offers too much testosterone and not enough insight. Which is a shame because there are enough truly compelling passages to make you realize what a great book it could have been.

My step dad bought me this book since I am almost out the door to Afghanistan. I had high hopes for it from reading the back cover, but Lutrell stands on his political / religious soapbox throughout the course of the book. I can't recommend this book.

The story is excellent. Great narration, great detail about BUD/S and the Navy Indoc program. I felt like I was there with Luttrel. The narrative about Operation Redwing is very detailed and also subtlety tugs at the heart strings during the engagement when he loses his three team mates. Patrick Robinson's influence is also present, and I think this helps Luttrel in focusing his narrative.

Luttrel obviously has a well earned axe to grind against what he perceives American Policy and the media. However he also broadly condemns the media and Liberal, (I am interpreting this as Democrats) politicians in the United States Justice system's application of the rules of engagement. The rules of engagement cost him his friends and a part of his life. For that there is no compensation large enough. However by broadly condemning what he calls the "liberals" I think he is doing the narrative a disservice. I think it would have been better to leave it to the reader to draw their own conclusions about what might be wrong with the rules of engagement, our society, our approach to engaging in military conflict. I would have hoped that Patrick Robinson would have helped with this as an experienced writer and journalist. But perhaps Robinson has his own axe to grind as well.

I am not drawing judgement on Luttrel. His service and sacrifice are beyond anything anyone could have asked of one person. I just think that a narrative the draws conclusions for the reader is more of a personal vendetta than an exploration into the story that allows the reader to draw their own conclusion.

Makes me proud to be an American and have guys like these fighting for us!
Thank You.

Thank-You Mr. Luttrell for this amazing book. Not many of us gets to hear the stories of the Navy Seals. I have read Rogue Warrior, and Combat Swimmer and this one beats them all. If you are interested in what it is like to be in battle as a Navy Seal when you are up against unbeatable odds then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.

As a former Navy Corpsman from the 60s, and have friends that are Seals, I have great respect for what they do. They rarely talk about their training and what they went through to get there. After reading this book, and being moved to tears, my level of respect for these men is indescribeable. Thank God for men like Mr. Luttrell and his team, this country owes them more than it can or will ever repay. This book perfectly shows what the words "Duty - Honor- Country " stands for.

You are made of sterner stuff than me if you can read Luttrell's eulogy to his fallen comrades without tearing up. I found the book to be fast paced, exciting and heartrending. Luttrell is a man of action, and his voice is simple, forceful and direct. I suspect some readers will object to Luttrell laying the blame for the death of his comrades at the feet of overly restrictive rules of engagement, which he says have been forced on the military by liberal media and lawyers.

U.S. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell recounts the 2005 maneuver he led against Al Qaeda operatives along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. Details the fierce mountain battle that led to the loss of Luttrell's three comrades and describes his own escape, capture, and rescue. The book does have violence and strong language.

IF THIS BOOK DOESN'T TOUCH YOUR EMOTIONS, THEN NOTHING WILL. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE ULTIMATE AMERICAN PATRIOTS. IT TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT THESE MEN MUST ENDURE IN ORDER TO BECOME A NAVY SEAL. THESE MEN WOULD GIVE THEIR LAST DROP OF BLOOD TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM. THEY ARE THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED SOLDIERS IN THE WORLD. YET, WITH ALL THIS TRAINING THEY MUST FOLLOW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY PEOPLE THAT WILL NEVER BE PUT IN HARMS WAY. A CHOICE THAT A GROUP A SEALS MUST MAKE THAT GOES AGAINST ALL THAT THEY HAVE TRAINED FOR LEADS TO THE GREATEST LOSS OF SEAL LIFE IN ANY SEAL MISSION TO DATE. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK.

This is the most powerful book I have read in a long time. Rates with books like Marine. It does bog down some in the parts about training unless you are interested in such and can relate it to personel training, but the sections on their mission is very difficult to put down.

This is a first class story about real American heros. The story is so well written it is very hard to put down. There was not a time the story dragged. It tells very well what we should be thinking and saying about the enemies of the United States and not worry about offending those who hate us. The author went through a nightmarish adverture in Afghanistan and makes it very clear that his buddies who did not make it upheld the finest traditions of the Unites States Military. The author did also, but does not boast at all as to the really heroic and honorable conduct by him. I was very sad and proud of the descriptions of how the members of the Seal Team fought very valiantly and how the author overcame the tremendous odds he faced in trying to survive long enough to be rescued by American troops.

I enjoyed this book, but it is not one I would want to read again. Nearly the entire first half is a detailed - too detailed - description of SEAL training. After about ten pages, I thought, "I get it. SEAL training is hard. Got it."

The story of the author's adventures once he lands in Afghanistan and his subsequent rescue is exciting and (just barely) makes the first half of the book worth wading through. I also found interjections of his political views a bit off-putting, not because I disagree or agree with his views, they just seemed out of place in a story about his thrilling adventures. I felt their interjection detracted from the story he had to tell.

The most irritating thing in the book, though, is the author's ignorance of which companies manufactured the aircraft he flew in. Every plane he flew in was referred to as a "Boeing" as well as the jet engines in the planes he was in. For example, the C-130 and the C-141 are not Boeing aircraft, they were made by Lockheed. In addition, Boeing does not make engines at all but purchases them from GE, Pratt & Whitney and other companies just as does Lockheed, Northrop, etc. These easily verified errors made me wonder what other errors exist that I missed? One is left wondering just how much work was put into editing this book.

I very much enjoyed his description of the Battle of Murphy's Ridge and his very charming description of his days with the Pashtun villagers. His recognition of their humanity and basic decency was heart-warming. I admire the tenacity he displayed and his loyalty to the memories of his dead comrades. But I still believe that the book would have been improved with a more attentive editor.

"I tried to get a hold of myself. But again in my mind I heard that terrible, terrible scream, the same one that awakens me, bullying its way into my solitary dreams, night after night, the confirmation of guilt. The endless guilt of the survivor. `Help me, Marcus! Please help me!' It was a desperate appeal in the mountains of a foreign land. It was a scream cried out in the echoing high canyons of one of the loneliest places on earth. It was the nearly unrecognizable cry of a mortally wounded creature. And it was a plea I could not answer. I can't forget it. Because it was made by one of the finest people I ever met, a man who happened to be my best friend."

In 2005, Marcus Luttrell was part of a four-man mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. A member of the elite Navy SEALs, he was tasked with killing a Taliban leader who had close ties with Osama bin Laden. This small team was hidden outside a village, surveying the area and looking for their target, when a small group of goat herders stumbled upon them. The soldiers quickly detained the two men and the teenage boy and debated what they should do. The most obvious solution and the one that would be most conducive to their mission would be to immediately execute their prisoners. But when the four soldiers put it to a vote, it was determined that they should let these people go. Morality won over personal preservation. But was it morality or fear? "Was I afraid of these guys? No. Was I afraid of their possible buddies in the Taliban? No. Was I afraid of the liberal media back in the U.S.A.? Yes. And I suddenly flashed on the prospect of many, many years in a U.S. civilian jail alongside murderers and rapists." The former prisoners quickly and inevitably reported to the Taliban leaders and the SEALs were soon fighting for their lives. Before long three of the men were dead and the fourth, Luttrell, was running for his life (though not before they killed somewhere around 100 enemy soldiers. Don't mess with the SEALs!). It was a terrible slaughter, made worse when a helicopter carrying a rescue force was shot down, killing sixteen more Americans.

Lone Survivor tells the story of this mission through the eyes of Littrell, the only man who lived to tell the tale. The book was released to great acclaim and has become a fixture on the bestseller lists. While the book is in many ways a typical war story (a description of SEAL training camp, tales of combat, lots and lots of bad language and tales of remarkable heroism) it goes beyond the story to share at least a couple of very important statements about warfare today. And this is, I think, where the reader stands to benefit most.

One of this book's most important statements is that the current rules of engagement soldiers are required to adhere to are irrational and are the product of politicians who are far from the action. "Any government that thinks war is somehow fair and subject to rules like a baseball game probably should not get into one. Because nothing's fair in war, and occasionally the wrong people do get killed." American soldiers are being forced to fight in situations where they are almost guaranteed to take casualties because of restrictives rules of engagement. These rules may make sense to politicians safely ensconced in their Washington offices, but they are utterly unfair and unsafe on the battlefield. Luttrell states that these rules are costing lives and that the United States should not be willing to fight wars that she cannot fight to win.

The other important statement is about the role of the media in modern warfare. Luttrell's disgust for the media knows no bounds. "It's been an insidious progression, the criticisms of the U.S. Armed Forces from politicians and from the liberal media, which knows nothing of combat, nothing of our training, and nothing of the mortal dangers we face out there on the front line." "I promise you, every insurgent, freedom fighter, and stray gunman in Iraq who we arrested knew the ropes, knew that the way out was to announce that he had been tortured by the Americans, ill treated, or prevented from reading the Koran or eating his breakfast or watching the television. They all knew al-Jazeera, the Arab broadcasters, would pick it up, and it would be relayed to the U.S.A., where the liberal media would joyfully accuse all of us of being murderers or barbarians or something. Those terrorist organizations laugh at the U.S. media, and they know exactly how to use the system against us." Those of us who have watched recent wars from afar can attest that this is exactly the case. The media, and particularly the liberal media, seems to side with the bad guys. Soldiers are fighting brutal warfare, all the wonder more terrified of their own nation's press than the guys shooting at them. They hardly know who the real enemy is.

Lone Survivor is an enjoyable book, typical in many of its facets, but atypical in its deeper message. It is a book Americans would do well to read and to consider.

Amazing Book!
I can't stop reading it. As soon as I finished it, I start over again. Increadible example of selfsacrifice, patriotism, heroism and comradeship.
I liked this book so much, that I bought several for my friends.

Marcus Luttrell writes about--becoming a SEAL, how hard that is, and relating that endurance to the mission that takes up the last 2/3rds of the book.
He does blame chair-bound, pontificating Bureaucrats who have never seen for the death of his four team members. Rules OF Egagement, [ROE's]made by someone who has never heard a shot fired, prevented them from taking measures that resulted in them being exposed to Taliban and killed.

IF you do not read any other book about the Afghan War---READ THIS ONE!

Havent finished reading this book , its becoming a hard read with all of the authors personal views.....alittle of nausea....just a litte

This is a real life thriller, a page turning action story. Because it promises so much gut wrenching, life endangering drama later on, it can be easy to get bored by the earlier chapters where the author takes you through the ropes, training to be a Navy Seal. But if one is patient, all of that makes the characters come to life later and makes the losses more poingant and meaningful. If you want to cut right to the action, go to page 211 and it is non stop from there to the last page.

I wasn't in the mood to read a war story but I had heard Marcus Luttrell on the radio and wanted more details of his story. I bought his book quite a while ago and didn't pick it up until recently and literally couldn't put it down. I'm a woman who doesn't read war stories very often at all (Band of Brothers is the only one I can think of off the top of my head) but this one really intrigued me. It really explained in more detail situations I never knew, and I've known quite a few military personnel.

At the beginning Luttrell is in the present but then he goes back to his intense training, even that he has wanted to be a Navy SEAL since childhood. He has quite a wry sense of humor that is hidden at times and made me laugh out loud more than once. (Like how he could wrestle alligators and snakes but dealing with snow for the first time about killed him.) I'm from snow country so that's funny to me!

When Luttrell was explaining how the Afghans dealt with daily life, that was quite intriguing. I would never have known that and I found it very interesting how he combined a military book with a short history lesson while still keeping the story.

My only complaint was that in the middle of the book the language got a little rough. Okay, quite rough. Military, right? Not necessary.

In any case, this book was worth the read. I've recommended it to many people and my own personal copy now has a waiting list.

The story is really great. And I'm not near as bothered as some people by Luttrell's personal feelings about politics, the media and ROE. (This is not, after all, a detached history. It's his story. His thoughts and feelings don't detract from his own story. They add to it.)
I just wish the professional writer attached to Luttrell had helped a bit more.

There are simply too many distracting, ill-written sentences. Also, there is a lot of needless repetition.
Cutting maybe 10,000 words throughout the book would have really helped. The book would have been about twenty or twenty-five pages shorter, but better for it. That's what the professional writer (and, at some point, the editor) should have done.

Halfway through the book I thought it was a mistake to put so much about SEAL traning up front. But that turned out to be a good idea. His early experience, particularly the Hell Week stuff, really justifies his (and his teammates') abilities to withstand all that they do on that mountain. So the people that critique that are wrong.

I liked it - it was gripping and interesting. But it needs a strong edit.

This book is awesome...one of the best i've read. These guys are truly amazing heroes. I read alot and this is one of the few books I presonally recommend.
The details on the training are a little drawn out, but well worth it to get to the story.

We owe such a debt to these men that we can never repay. This story unfolds like a movie, only it has a better 'script' than anything Hollywood could muster. As you are pulled in and gripped by this incredible narrative, you are sobered and humbled that this isn't entertainment - this is real pain, real sorrow, real sacrifice, real heroism.

After reading this book I recently learned of another SEAL, a childhood friend, who gave his life serving the Iraqis. It's so refreshing to learn that our country still produces such extraordinary men.

This is well written in the first person format. Outstanding audiobook for placing the listener in the moment.

I don't read "war stories". I am after all a woman - who doesn't live in the military world, or with family and friends who are serving. My idea of a war story is The Kite Runner (Riverhead Essential Editions) or Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times. The stories of the machinations and impact around the war, not of those fighting it in the trenches. On top of that in political circles, my die-hard republican acquantances call me "flaming liberal", my die-hard liberal acquaintances call me "ultra-conservative" (I think that makes me moderate).

And still --- And still, I feel this is a story that will appeal to everyone - if they read it through. Yes, as others point out Marcus is an over-the-top, unabashed patriot with hyperbole equally promoting patriotism, the SEALs superiority and vilifying the humanitarian constraints placed on them and that damned liberal media. This level of "greatest, best, worst, and most evil" would make even Trump, the master of hyperbole, blush. (And for the first half of the book - will undoubtedly annoy dedicated liberals - and have ultra-conservatives yell ooh-raa! (sp?)

But... But, this is authentically who this man is. What after all would you expect from a SEAL? What more could you want from a SEAL sent to do things none of the rest of us would want to do (or for some, at least would refuse to do).

And underneath all of that hyperbole - is really a psychological story of a man whose identity is patriotism, discipline and obeying his leader and is now burdened with unimaginable guilt of choices. Whether he's a hero or not - is best left to each reader. But, this is a riveting story of survival, heart breaking circumstances, ingenuity, dedication and the pain and disillusionment even the most dedicated military folks that serve us can face.

I challenge every other woman and "non-war story" person to read it - and look beyond the war story - to the true story that lies beneath, and not be touched or at least experience a new perspective. Along the way, you won't be dissappointed by what a fast-paced thriller this ultimately becomes - or what you learn about the true trenches of Afghanistan.

This book should be required reading for schools across our nation. We should all share in the bravery, courage, compassion, dedication and pride in and of our fighting forces. This book made me laugh, cry, happy, sad, and everything else in between! I could not put it down, and read it straight through. I only wish I had heard about it earlier! All Americans should be made aware of what we are up against. My husband went over during the first Gulf War, and recently survived cancer treatment--likely caused by chemicals/biologicals in Iraq! All Americans should read this book - maybe then they could really and truly understand what our military and their families give up willingly for all of our freedoms. To the author, and his team, words cannot express, so I'll end with a heartfelt thank you - our entire military are all true heros.

YES! THE EVIL LIBERAL MEDIA! The war is being mis-managed NOT by the commander in chief, his Nixon-era appointees or the military high command BUT BY THE LIBERAL MEDIA! according to this insipid instant cliche of a soldier's memoir. THE LIBERAL MEDIA IS TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF HIS MISSION... not the mistakes he made that an illiterate third worlder would know better than to make.
This book is slightly improved when the narrative expands to describe his experiences with the local villagers of the high Afghan mountains, but never sufficiently to make up for the self serving moronic republican fox-news drivel that he has been brain-washed with (and proceeds to drown us in). He needed the professional writer to co-write this bragadocious monstrosity because his political statements betray that he is dumber than a box of rocks.
He may be a hero, but reading his story makes you equally as embarrassed for him as it makes you proud of him.

Great book are hard to come by, well at least while deployed. LONE SURVIVOR is beginning to end the best and most thrilling military related book that I have read. I read this book front to back with out a break. I recommend everyone to read this book. I would also like to thank the author for putting this book together; because I'm sure re-living the memories was not easy and thank him for his service.

"First of all, I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you're hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Them if you're still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time. One evolution at a time."
"Don't let you're thoughts run away with you, don't start planning to bail out because you're worried about the future and how much you can take. Don't look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there's a wonderful career ahead of you. Captain Joe Maguire, Navy Seal" If this is not the best advice for LIFE, then I do not know what is. These words had to have been crucial in Marcus's survival.
The book is so detailed that you actually feel as though you were a part of the experience on the mountain that day (not to mention the training leading up to and including Hell Week). It was so real that I also felt a loss when Axe, Danny and Mikey were killed.
I had the opportunity to meet Marcus recently, and he was as humble as could be about what he did; he almost felt regretful about living, however, he knew he needed to tell the story of what happened out there. He does not want any recognition; as he put it, "I was just doing my job."
From a former U.S. Marine to a former Navy Seal, Thank you Marcus. Semper Fidelis, Jesse Vitagliano

After reading the product reviews especially by the publishers, there was no reason to read the book except to fill in the details.

It is like going to see a movie and hearing someone say "the butler did it" as you walk in.

Why can you reviewers not comment on the merit of a book without revealing the whole story? It is the unraveling of events that create the joy of reading any work.

The book is both inspirational and heartbreaking. It is simply, but well-written. I hope some politicians read it (including Arlen Spector)and that they readdress their priorities. We are blessed to have people like them protecting us.

Jamie Baraldi

The men of SEAL Team 10 are true American heroes. This should be required reading for all Americans. Regardless of your political views, you cannot read this book and feel anything other than pride that men like Marcus, Mikey, Axe, and Danny are on our side.

While reading this book, I felt I was Marc Lutrell and it was me going through SEAL training and fighting along side Axe, Mikey and Danny. Thats how well this book is written. It was an educational, exciting, painfully realistic, humorous and exhilerating read. This book will wake you up! It opens your eyes about the damage that liberal know nothing media, lawyers and politicians do to our military and war fighting capabilities. This is not a read, it is an experience.

What a great little book about an amazing group of people who defend the USA from threats many of us are aware of, but know little about. The author, Marcus, is a Navy Seal who was involved with one of the worst disasters in Seal Team history. This book goes in depth into how someone becomes a Seal, and what the Seal's do for the military and our country. The training they go through is really unbelievable - that part of the book is as good as the story of the failed mission where Marcus has to survive for five days while being hunted down by the Taliban.

Marcus is a hard-core right-wing Texan - and he does not hide that fact. He is honest about what he believes about the media, the 'liberal' politicians, and the like. I may not agree with all of his political beliefs, but that does not change the fact that the story is truly moving. I honor what he, and others like him, do for the USA.

Joseph Valentine Dworak