I have enjoyed books about Special Forces in the past and admire the men who have made it to this level. I was really looking forward to a good read about an admittedly amazing mission in Afghanistan.

After 50 pages my gag reflex was working at full strength. Do you really have to mention every other sentence how big, bad, and tough you are. I'll give this terrible author a hint that any screenwriter or decent action author knows. People are going to be impressed by describing in detail what the heroes do and letting us supply the admiration. You don't have to constantly tell the reader what to think. This book is the worst example of writing down to an audience that I have read in a long time. Another major fault is the constant repetition. At one point within the space of 6 or 7 paragraphs the Taliban were described with almost exactly the same adjectives 3 different times. I think the author thought he was being paid by the word.

I could go on, but the basic idea is that the book is very poorly written. I don't know how anyone above a 4th grade reading level slogs through this mess. I'm sure its a great story. Maybe someone could make a movie out of it. It would be one of the few times that the movie would have to be better than the book.

I read this book when it came out and found it to be completely riveting. Regardless of your position on the war in Afghanistan or global politics, you will appreciate the courage and honor of these guys. I am sharing my copy of the book with friends and they are all blown away by the story... This needs to be a motion picture!

I read this based on the amazing story of combat and survival. I've read many similar books over the years. I have complete respect for the US Navy SEALS, Marcus Lutrell's story and that of his SEAL brothers, but was very turned off by the bravado writing style and political ranting regularly crow-barred into the narrative. I much prefer the humility that came across in Dalton Fury's book "Kill Bin Laden." While I am glad I got a better understanding of the story of Operation Red Wing, I would not recommend this book based purely on poor writing style.

This is an engaging account of Navy Seal Training and of the Tragic end to a Special Forces Mission in Afghanistan. However, anyone who buys into the author's simplistic political diatribe should be very, very careful. Below are some of the discrepancies raised by the Father of the Seal Team Leader- Michael Murphy killed during the Mission described in the book.


****It's impossible to know if Mr. Luttrell, as the only American survivor of the attack, got his account right, but based on his knowledge of his son, Mr. Murphy contends that several things are wrong.

First, he says, as commanding officer, his son would not have relied on a vote. He might poll his men to get a sense of their feelings. He might let them think they were making the call, as long as they agreed with the decision he intended to make. Mr. Murphy said his son, who loved history, admired how Abraham Lincoln would pose a problem to his cabinet and let them think they were deciding, when he was actually guiding them to the answer he wanted. "Michael and I had long talks about this," Mr. Murphy said.

Second, he said, he never heard Michael use the term liberal media, nor did Michael think that way. From Mr. Murphy's years as a prosecutor, he has many journalist friends. "Michael knew and liked them," he said.

And third, he said, his son would never have seriously considered killing noncombatants.

"He wouldn't be able to live with himself," Mr. Murphy said. "Michael's view was there are more good people in this world than bad, and he gave people the benefit of the doubt. He was definitely not going to kill a 14-year-old boy who would have reminded him of his brother."

Mr. Murphy said that "even knowing the outcome" he was proud that his son let the herders go.****

Seems as though the author may have "spun" his account to fit a particular political viewpoint and in the process wrote a book full of red meat for ideologue partisans.

You will not put this book down. Buy it. Read it. Then appreciate what others have done for your freedom. The book details the harrowing firefight of a 4-man SEAL team during a mission to kill or capture Ahmad Shah in Kunar Province.

Great read. I am a grandmother who is as un-SEAL-like as one can be, but I was riveted and fully engaged from beginning to end. Had to have my hubby read it immediately. My son also told me Marcus spoke at a company function, and Marcus was as dynamic in person as he is on paper.

If dangerous revisionism like Howard Zinn has been sadly required for three decades in our schools, why not be balanced?

Firstly, to the small but vocal critics, who cares if the book is "well-written" by your standards? It is very readable, and as this is an intense story, it's hard to be wordy, like many preachy writers, when you're recalling these harrowing incidents. The book's story speaks for itself. This story is, thankfully, not Avatar.

Secondly, Luttrell's book actually is well-written! And this comes from someone who's written four novels and about 1000 published articles the past six years, and therefore can be picky. The story is chronological, smooth, and the syntax and vocabulary are above-average. The descriptions of Coronado and SEAL training and very well done.

There is also more military history (and important US history) and military education in Mr. Luttrell's book than you or Barack Obama would learn in seven years at Harvard! So the critics are ignorant and wrong. It is essential for American youths to read this book.

As for the other criticism, jealous/proud military guys have more credence, but the bottom line is that the author leaves no stone unturned (book is 400 pages, but could've been fewer than 300) and does not sugar coat this tale. And his story was simply more gripping and tragic than anyone else's from the G.W.O.T. as far as I know. He's not pushing an agenda either. He's telling the truths we're not told by our state-run media.

As a reviewer accurately wrote: "One does not survive any severe challenge without strong opinions and attitude. It is part of the man, therefore a required part of his story."

My cousin, who served two Afghan tours, knows Luttrell, and he agrees this is one of the best and most important books of our lifetimes. He says to ignore the "stupid comments" and most of the one star reviews (90% are 4-5 stars) are just that.

As for the substance, how can this book not receive four or five stars? Aside from the incredible nuts and bolts of the main topic (the battle for Murphy's Ridge, survival, etc), as mentioned, it flows nicely, with the opening chapters giving personal background, descriptions, and so on. No complaints here, as I wasn't even expecting that bonus (nearly 200 pages before we get to the action).

Summarizing, left-wing haters here and abroad will despise this book because it is honest, important and inspiring, rather than supercilious, petulant and politically correct. It also rips the despicable anti-American media, which has endangered our freedom-loving, proud nation and our troops to a higher degree than any AQ or Taliban member could. It's all spelled out.

Thank goodness we didn't have Olbermann/Maher/Stewart, Blitzer, Leno/Letterman, Moyers, Maddow, Brokaw, Moore, Cameron, Gore/Kerry/Murtha/Boxer/Pelosi, Family Guy scribes, Colbert/Stewart, Williams/Couric/Gibson, and disingenuous 'educators' making these same inane rules during WW2, else we'd be speaking German and my Jewish European brothers & sisters would cease to exist.

These heroes who died for our country could have saved themselves and killed "innocent civilians" (who eventually turned them in, leading to American deaths) but really did fear the American liberal media (and the aftermath) more than AQ or the Taliban. How does that make you feel when you turn on PBS, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN or MSNBC each night, folks?

I am glad at least some of these misguided reviewers actually read the book, so at least they may have learned something from the content...before they went back to the guitar and the campus offices.

Luttrell's book is also -- gasp -- pro-American, anti-Jihad, patriotic, and ends with a real life scene involving Pres. Bush. That this scene accurately shows our 43rd Commander in Chief to be humble, noble, caring, intelligent and perceptive -- all qualities lacked by the current affirmative action narcissist ruining our great nation from the White House now -- will anger some. So be it.

The honor and respect this author (and by his account, nearly every person in Special Forces (our most elite military men) with whom he served) has for President George W. Bush is just another area of the "War to Save Liberalism" sadly ignored in these Orwellian times for partisan reasons.

Occasionally I read a book that I feel must be shared. Such a book is "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell. It is the true story of four US Navy Seals who were deployed to capture and kill a notorious al Qaeda leader located in the rugged mountainous region of northeast Afghanistan, and ultimately find themselves caught up in a ferocious firefight against an army of hundreds of Taliban soldiers. Not only does the book excellently portray the US Navy Seals' codes of honor, courage, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit of the enemy, it also tells of the ancient tribal code of honor of the rugged tribal Afghan Pashtuns, who, at great risk, provided refuge for the battle's lone survivor, Petty Officer Luttrell. Yet, this book is more than just about the battle and the ultimate sacrifices made by the Navy Seals, it is the first person account of becoming a Navy Seal as experienced by the author, Marcus Luttrell. You will definitely find this book well worth the time and effort taken to read its 444 pages.

Thank you Marcus for sharing your herioc story. Your story has gaven me a whole new perspective on what you really go through. The little things that we take for granted. God bless you and your brave friends who gave their lives for us. You have my undying gratitude! You and your brothers are always in my prayers. I thank God every day that there are brave men like you willing to put their lives on the line to protect us and our great country. I've harped to my Congressmen for years that the service men and women are vastly underpaid and underappreciated. I wish your book was mandatory reading for all politicians.

God bless you!

Jeanne

I'm genuinely sorry the author's comrades perished and I genuinely appreciate their service to our country.

Having sincerely said that, why their (poorly written) story gets overlaid with political screed is beyond me.

The "liberal media" forces "politicians" to create rules of engagement that hamstring soldiers.

If I could point out five things:

A. Other politicians (the term is an insult of course) like FDR and Lincoln used "rules of engagement" to win wars. Consider how carefully Lincoln dealt with the border states in the Civil War. Grant was keenly aware that alienating these states might lose the war. Or how FDR made sure that Germany was the belligerent, not us.

Or consider how foolhardy the Germans were in World War II as they pillaged the Ukraine, etc, turning possible supporters into angry partisans. Or the effect of the Germans plowing through Belgium in WW I. Etc.

B. If you don't like my military analysis, consider what tactics seem to be working in Iraq and are now heavily employed Afghanistan at the military's behest -- of trying not to alienate Afghanis by killing civilians. I wonder what Petraeus would think of this book's basic premise that any "military" tactic is acceptable. "Military is in quotes."

C. The author repeatedly points out the tribal culture, with a sense of vengeance, and the key role they can play in supporting (or not supporting) the Taliban. Given those views, isn't treating the tribes with as much respect as possible sure seems to make as much sense.

D. The author has grave concerns about being beheaded by the Taliban (which is understandable) but somehow thinks shooting civilian shepherds is ok. hmm.

E. Was it the liberal media that caused their radio to fail? Maybe it was tuned into NPR. Or if he was so concerned about the shepherds turning them, I think the "liberal media" would have tolerated (a) tying them up or (b) leading them at gunpoint out of the dead-end position the Seals had positioned themselves in, until they could find an exit route.

F. So the conservative media like Fox and the WSJ agree with killing civilians? I think not.

The book would be 3 stars if it didn't harp on the politics. But to me, a little military history should be part of the Seals training.

The book spent a great deal of time, way too much time, describing the NAVY Seals training. I guess I'd expected more about the actual Redwing mission in Afghanistan.

I nearly put the book down about half-way through with the intention of not finishing it because of all the Seals training narrative. However, since I had dedicated so much time in reading through it thus far, I did finish it.

I enjoyed reading about the actual mission, and subsequent events.

The writer just spent too much time on the California side of the subject. I have read about every book on both the Afghanistan war and the war in Iraq. This certainly was not my favorite, and I felt the level of readability was maybe, high school aged audiences. It certainly was not high on what I consider good quality writing.

Amazing book, I could not put it down. It gives you a first hand look at what our soldiers are going through trying to win the war on terrorism and it isn't easy when we have to follow rules and the terrorist don't.

This story was difficult to read and difficult to put down. I praise the men and their families as well as to thank them. I have finally found something that is tougher then pregnancy to delivery - Navy SEAlS. Some people who wrote reviews stated that the menitoning of the liberal media and politicians should not have been part of this story. The fact of the matter is that right now we have 4 Navy SEALS charged with abuse of a known terrorist (murderer). Why? Why is a world wide known terrorist given any credibility, rights and a lawyer. As stated in the book the thugs know how to use our system against us.

Back to the book; it was amazing to read what these men go through to become defenders of our country. The SEALS, Green Beret, Special Task Force all are heroes in all that they do for our freedom and security. The training of these patriotic men is sometimes beyond comprehension and I thought I was patriotic. If you give a damn about our country and the brave men and woman serving this is one of the best books. I would stop reading this book to relay the events back to my husband. God Bless all our Men and Woman who bravely fight for all of us, even those who don't like the military.

One of the most gripping books I have ever read. The story is tragic but inspiring as well.

I didn't really know what to expect when I got this book. I read the sample on my kindle and decided it was worth buying. The first half of the book talks about his training (SEAL) and life as a child. The second half of the book and most interesting was of his ordeal in Afghanistan where he lost several team members while on a mission. Althought I was not that interested in the first half of the book (already knowledgeable in what SEALs go through in regards to training) it still moved along at a quick pace. Very easy read, and the second half of the book will not dissapoint.

If you have an interest in military, and or are former military, then this book should be in your library.

Semper Fi.

This book is awesome!I'm not going to give an in depth review but this is definently a good read.I'm guessing it would have more appeal to a male but I may
be wrong.Once I started reading this book I could'nt stop.When I was done reading the book I wished that there was more to read.I never wanted it to end.
Even though Marcus writes about his time with the Navy Seals he does'nt get into
a bunch of boring Military strategy and tactics which was appealing to me because I've never been in the Military.
This book is a easy read and I highly recommend it.Well-Don't just sit there
reading reviews,go buy this book now,it won't disappoint!

Product was delivered as advertised and arrived in a very short amount of time. Would definitely purchase from seller again.

The book is an excellent read for anyone especially people interested in war non fiction books. Marcus Lutrell and his teammates are true heroes.

VERY EXCELLENT PORTRAYAL OF A TOUGH TIME IN A SOF REACTION FORCE HAVING A BAD DAY.

I have been reading a ton of military non-fiction lately, and this book outshines everything I have read so far. The story told in this book is beyond anything you can imagine. It is too amazing to even be manufactured. This story is most certainly true.

Upon reading this account of the most epic warriors in existence, you will walk away with an entirely new perspective on what these guys go through on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America. God bless these guys wh...more I have been reading a ton of military non-fiction lately, and this book outshines everything I have read so far. The story told in this book is beyond anything you can imagine. It is too amazing to even be manufactured. This story is most certainly true.

Upon reading this account of the most epic warriors in existence, you will walk away with an entirely new perspective on what these guys go through on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America. God bless these guys who are willing to go all the way for us.

Well written and powerful account of a heoric mission that went horribly wrong. It's emotionally compelling and makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of the decision making and dealing with the results. One of the best books I've read in years!

This book is a sort of double edged sword for me. You really root for the Navy SEAL's out there in the back lines of Afghanistan, but at the same time, you get distracted by the author's political view on liberals, politicians, and so forth. I just wish he could have stuck to the story about how they fought to the death, Alamo style. In that respect, it truly is a heroic story. And these guys are brave, no doubt about it, but when you read a book that has an author that despises liberals as much as the Taliban, it's a bit hard to swallow. The funny thing is that I'm not even a liberal, but it was even hard for me to take. Just the facts Ma'am, alright?

By the way, a much better book on this subject is 'BravoTwoZero' by Andy McNab. He's a British elite SAS member stuck behind enemy lines with four others in Iraq. Sound familiar? It is, but more than anything, it concentrates on the battle at hand, not the political battle at home.

I first learned of this story after hearing Marcus talk as the guest speaker at a corporate event. Having been a veteran but having not gone through anything near his ordeal I could at least put it in context. This story is both awe inspiring in the picture it gives us into the Navy Seals training and the picture it gives us of the great men serving this country. I must say I also have grown to respect some of the Afghans based on this tale.

If you are a liberal you will hate this book so don't even bother. If you want to read a great story about love, faith and heart than this is for you.

A friend loaned me this book to read. He read it based on the premise; an operation gone wrong and one man left to tell the tale. He asked me to read it and let me me know what I thought. He revealed little of his opinion other than to share what the story was about. I found out after reading the book why he neglected to tell me more about it. It is one poorly written book. Others have certainly noted this, but I have to add just how tiresome the "voice" of the writer is; how it sounds like someone who is talking to you at a bar, going on and on about their exploits. And how you have to trudge through hundreds of pages before you even get to the event that the book is about. And how the loathsome "liberal media" somehow emerges as worse than the Taliban, indeed targeting them for blame for the events that unfolded. I could go on. I was struck by how the writer amplifies events for effect, i.e., he makes a perfunctory drive through Bahrain seem a scary, be on the lookout event, because of all those scary people there who don't like us. Having been to Bahrain on many occasions, walked unaccompanied, unarmed, through the streets at all hours, never feeling the least bit scared, I found this to be unbearable hyperbole. This helped ruin the book for me since it happened in the beginning, I found myself suspicious of everything else that came after. Unfortunately, since the writer is the only one who can tell the crucial part of this story, you only have his voice to go by. Upon completion of this book, I returned to my friend who asked my opinion. After I responded he laughed and said he had felt the same way. I certainly respect the heroics of all involved and there is a good story in here, but the person telling it comes off as so self aggrandizing and insufferable, that it ruins the whole affair. Finally, I agree with others who have stated that an editor might have helped.

As a former Army soldier, I have a great interest and respect for the stories of dedication and sacrefice. It was an honor to read this great NAVY Seal's tale, a man who along with his team sacraficed so much for themselves and their country.

Please read this book, you will be let inside the lives of men who fight. He allows you to see the comical side of fighting men even in the middle of a heated fire fight. The scenes get so intense that you just don't want to put the book down. The auther has a way of painting a vivid picture of his friends/team-mates that when the worst happens you feel like they were your close friends. You feel as if you are part of the very story itself, feeling every emotion along with him.

In addition to that ill-fated expedition in Afghanistan, Luttrell gives you a convincing inside look as to what it's like to pass through Navy SEAL training. All of that was the best part of the book.

It's a page turner, sure enough, but my complaint was that the characterization of the slain SEALs we were supposed to care about was so flat.

As it is, everybody was "a great guy" and "the best SEAL out there" and "extremely professional." It's like they're flat characters, not even human, not even fleshed out. Nobody has any negative sides, for example.

Luttrell, of course, knew that the families of those men would be reading this, so I guess he had no choice. Plus, who wants to give one's slain fellow soldiers feet of clay. My only point is that Luttrell should have waited a few more years before writing this.

The "used" book was in fabulous condition and arrived as advertised. I am most pleased.

First rate account of a mission gone bad and the sad consequences. I read the book twice and recommended it to many people. It contains unique insights into how NOT to wage a war! ROEs, or rules of engagement, are ham-stringing our soldiers and causing unnecessary deaths and injuries. Of course, you have this conflict being controlled with regard to leftist political considerations and reported on by the left wing media in the USA. Once again, we have another "war" being run by politicians.
You get insight into the upbringing, education and training that lead the author to becoming a SEAL. Notable also, you see how men who endure this training become closer than brothers.

I highly recommend this book.

I bought this book as a gift, my husband enjoyed reading it. He loaned it to our daughter to read as well. I am next on the list to read it.

Bad writing. With all due respect to Luttrell as a soldier, his heroism doesn't excuse him from criticism when it comes to the book. I don't care whether you're a war-hero, a Nobel Prize winner, or a pig farmer--if your name is on a book, then you (or your ghost writer) should be able to put two sentences together. This guy has never met a cliche he didn't like. It's like reading a romance novel for GI Joe enthusiasts.

The tale is extraordinary; this treatment of it is awful. Which is a shame because what could be inspiring and captivating is merely a waste of time.

I think the book is interesting for one unintended reason: it provides insight into an elite-military personality. I'm not so concerned with debating Luttrell's point of view (which is conservative) or the moral points of his story (shoot the goat-herders, don't shoot the goat-herders, etc.), because ultimately, the book doesn't invite that kind of discussion. If you read it with a political mindset, then the book merely participates in the ridiculous shouting match within the "liberal" and "conservative" culture war.

I'm not saying that one shouldn't read it with a political mindset, but the book was far more interesting to me as a portrait of the sort of individual you need to be to be a Navy SEAL. Luttrell devotes most of the book portraying the SEAL persona as one of discipline, ambition, loyalty, patriotism, and ultimate macho-manliness. It's self-aggrandizing and his swagger is annoying, but behind that is the impression of the sort of person who has to have a pretty simplistic and essentializing way of understanding the world. In Luttrell's worldview, good and evil seem to be clearly defined--Taliban sympathizers are simply born bad (nevermind the impact of poverty or growing up in a continuously occupied region), for example. It makes sense, considering the requirements of his job, and it is that psychological characterization that was the most interesting part for me. However, I don't think Luttrell intended that at all--he'd rather you think of him as the tough American hero who can do 900 push-ups before breakfast, thinks one of the US' heaviest bombs is "awesome," and cites "The Count of Monte Cristo" (the movie, not the book, of course) as his life's inspiration. It's the unyielding faith in that persona and the need to so fervently adopt it that's fascinating.

But in the end, the story might be an amazing one; it's poorly written. I mean, really poorly-written. It's one thing to have a colloquial voice, but this is written as if Luttrell thought he was writing the screenplay to his own bad action flick. He uses "godd---n" as an adjective about as frequently as he uses commas and has no other way of describing the Pacific ocean and the Afghanistan desert as "cold" and "hot," respectively. He's also fond of two-bit maxims (he may have been short, but to me he would always be fifteen-feet tall) which makes the book sound a lot like a strange militaristic Hallmark card. And Luttrell also likes to make--you guessed it--rhetorical asides which some people might find charming, but I find cheap. And finally, what kind of writer actually uses the phrase "words fail me"?? Isn't that the job of a writer, to find the words?? (and if it wasn't Luttrell's job, then it was at least Robinson's). To use a parallel borrowed from Luttrell's world, "I'd love to push out 30 more, but my arms fail me." A competent editor would have been nice as well. The three chapters on Luttrell's SEAL training are two too long, and while we're beaten over the head with how hard SEAL training is (it's really, really hard, fyi), we're also beaten over the head with how his fellow SEALS were the greatest soldiers and friends a man could ever have. Except we don't really have a sense of who they were because their representation is so thin. In the end, the writing was so bad that it seriously impaired my enjoyment of the book. I recommend that this be a library perusal before (and if) it's a purchase.

Adds to the library of current events in Afghanistan, the story that unfolds exposes many of the failings of our attempt to successfully resolve the conflict. First and foremost the team demonstrates a serious lack of judgement and decision making skills, but they equally demonstrate an ability to engage in and execute a running battle while being vastly outnumbered. Their incredible ability to stay in the fight while being hit, and exacting heavy casualties is reflective of their high level training and dedication to their team. I am thankful for and respectful of these young men, and their dedication to our country, we owe them more in training than they were apparently given. This story is a microcosm for the larger military efforts in Afghanistan, poor judgement and decision making followed by incredible acts of courage and soldiering. Here we have 4 elite ghost warriors inserted into enemy territory, and they get overrun by a herd of goats and three goat herds. Unbelievably, they contemplate killing the non-combatants, and even put it to a vote. Happily they do not kill the civilians, but inexplicably they continue their mission unabated. The battle itself is heart wrenching, the tale of death and survival beyond comprehension. More amazing is the cultural mores that result in a village taking in LPO Luttrell and protecting him from the enemy forces whom he and his team had just killed nearly 100. They nurse him, feed him, hide him, and ultimately defy face to face the small army who want him dead. What we can learn from this book is that America can absolutely fight in Afghanistan, but we have not demonstrated we can win. We have not demonstrated we have the leadership at any level to achieve our dual goals of carving out the cancerous tumours of the jihadist leadership who have been able to perpetuate an anti-western world war, or create a more stable, peaceful, prosperous environment for the people of that part of the world that would lead to a successful partnership of our two countries. Many more of our young men and their young men will die, and sadly so.

This book is the most inspiring I have ever read!!! I love to read books, articles, magazines, but this one touched me in way to change part of my outlook. Now when something is hard, whether it be a situation, event, or workout, I say to myself: "If a Navy SEAL can do THAT!!! I can certainly do this!!!" Such an inspiration. Thank you Officer Luttrell for sharing your story! You and your team have also shown me a greater love and respect for my country and its people. God Bless America.

This is one of the most amazing stories ever! It would be impossible to write a novel and make up situations more intense than this! It is a great insight into the training and the actions of our military men and women - especially the Seals who are truly special people.

Absolutely a heartbreaking book, but a must read. I read it based on a recommendation from a friend and I have to say that I was so moved by the book that I passed it along and bought another copy for my stepfather. Do yourself a favor and buy it, read it, and I assure you that you will be telling others about it.

Horrible- just horrible. A complete waste of a book and a worthy subject. Horrible.

Marcus Luttrell's book describes his journey through the Navy SEALS training program and then describes the one day that changed his life forever in Afghanistan where his fire team was ambushed by many enemy forces. In the end, one survives and lives to tell the tale. A sad but amazing book on the Navy SEALS.

A deep and personal view into what very few experience.

Very pleased with the condition of the used book I ordered and it got here in a timely manner.

This book is great because it is a true story. First book I ever stayed up late reading because I wanted to know what happened next. I can't say enough about it. I heard there was a movie but unable to find it. If not there should be.

His sanctimonious tone ruins this otherwise 2 star book. He actually blames "the liberal media" for the events that ensue after they decide to release the two civilians they run across during a recon. I don't recommend this purchase.

When I read the prologue, I was in tears. The most well written four pages I've ever read and that was just the beginning! This book is a must read for every American who cares about our troops.....and a great history lesson also.

This book is terrible. Terribly written, full of hypocrisy, and generally a waste of time. It's full of right wing rhetoric, religious zealotry, and Texan chest beating. While the actual story, about what happened and surviving the aftermath is interesting, there are about 250-300 pages which don't actually talk about the plot at all or serve any sort of character development. While I can respect Luttrell for his sacrifices for his country, he is an embarrassment as a human being. It's depressing that Luttrell is a serving abroad and representing the United States of America with his narrow minded ignorance.

Buy this book...you will not be able to put it down!
Such an amazing story. Great gift for dads, brothers
or current soldiers...

I admire all those who serve and especially those who have willingly put themselves at the tip of the spear. It was a struggle to get past the first half of the book where Lattrell pumped his chest and goes on about how great the SEALS are and how hard BUDS was. I stuck it out to read about the mission and his survival story. The second half is quite a compelling story of survival and the bond between soldiers in arms. That said, what bothered me was that this mission was a goat fork from the beginning. The underlying problem with this mission is the fact that the military continues to misuse resources for the glory of the brass in each branch. Every branch has to get in on the action regardless the fact that the SEALS aren't really the best unit for that mission. More than one story has been told where the SeALs were clearly out of their element in the mountains of Afghanistan. Here are a few striking admissions that bother me. No compass in his H-harness? No 550 cord to secure the goatherds, so they are cut loose to alert the Taliban of the unit's location? The SEALS actually, seriously considered killing these civilians?

It's sad 3/4 of this unit was lost on the mountainside along with the rescue team. Things go wrong when the wrong units are used for the wrong task. I don't expect Lattrell or any of his brethren to accept that they weren't the right men for the job. These men don't say no to a mission. The problem is that WE expect their command staff to be smart enough to check their egos at the door and know when to say no so that the best trained units for the task are used.

I think Mr. Lattrell and his team are great examples of our elite warriors. I'm proud to have him and others like him out there fighting the fight against these terrorists. He's a great American and I'm glad to have read his story in his words. He's a great model for our children.

hope our guys and gals in Afghanistan are reading this insight into the pashtun tribes. As for our Seal Teams, these guys are Supermen. Enough said.

This book kept my attention from start to finish. It was an amazing account of how Marcus became a Navy Seal, and the incredible mission his team went on. The story makes you truly appreciate our military, and lets you know exactly what is going on over in Afghanistan.

This should be required reading in all middle schools or in every families personal library.

Very, very powerful book. I started reading it last night and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. I bawled my eyes out. Marcus Luttrell does a fantastic job of introducing the reader to his teammates and of recounting the horrendous events that transpired on that Afghani mountainside. I felt like I was right there with them, like I knew them all, like I lost friends. These men are without a doubt true American heroes. My prayers are with each and every one of them. To all our servicemen and women: come home safe and thank you for all you do!!

This is an awesome book from start to finish. Marcus takes you from training to one of the most incredible battles. This book is headed to Hollywood in the near future (this is in the works) and Marcus will preserve the integrity of the Seal team and the USA vs. Hollywood.

This true story is riveting. Marcus Luttrell is a real hero. We need more like him!