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278 reviews for:
No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden
Mark Owen
3.72 AVERAGE
278 reviews for:
No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden
Mark Owen
3.72 AVERAGE
I actually really enjoyed this. Having said that, I am a History major and I absolutely adore war-time history. I still re-read Evan Wright's Generation Kill, so this book was completely up my alley. It was face paced, informative, and most of all didn't lose me anywhere amongst the Navy/military jargon.
Admittingly, it isn't the most well written, or going to win any literature prizes. Having said that, I don't think you read books such as these to be impressed about how well they are written, or how descriptive the author will be. You read them to learn, to in some way be a fly on the wall of experiences most of us couldn't even imagine.
Admittingly, it isn't the most well written, or going to win any literature prizes. Having said that, I don't think you read books such as these to be impressed about how well they are written, or how descriptive the author will be. You read them to learn, to in some way be a fly on the wall of experiences most of us couldn't even imagine.
This isn't the type of book I would normally pick up, but I was highly rated at my library so I decided to give it a whirl and listen to it on audiobook. I'm neither what you'd call a warmonger or a peacenik so I think I had just the right kind of temperament to read this story without getting worked up about it.
I was incredibly well written and the story itself is interesting as hell (but I don't have to tell you that). The parts where the author went into long detail about the properties of his firearms fell a bit flat for me, but I was pleasantly surprised at how captivating the tactical scenes were. Best of all, the author threw in a lot of anecdotes to put a really human face on Osama's killers, which I thought were the strongest narrative vehicle to keep the story moving along, I thought.
The author makes a point to mention that he's donating a large portion of the profits to charities that aid families of those wounded in action, so I'd say that alone is worth the purchase, not to mention, it's a really great story.
I was incredibly well written and the story itself is interesting as hell (but I don't have to tell you that). The parts where the author went into long detail about the properties of his firearms fell a bit flat for me, but I was pleasantly surprised at how captivating the tactical scenes were. Best of all, the author threw in a lot of anecdotes to put a really human face on Osama's killers, which I thought were the strongest narrative vehicle to keep the story moving along, I thought.
The author makes a point to mention that he's donating a large portion of the profits to charities that aid families of those wounded in action, so I'd say that alone is worth the purchase, not to mention, it's a really great story.
This is what I expected, both the good and the bad. Owen's provides a gripping glimpse into the life of a Navy SEAL. He certainly portrays the determined, tunnel-visioned operatives who have a job to do and single-mindedly act to achieve this. I understand and appreciate the sacrifice. The dehumanised approach to dealing with civilians doesn't sit well with me and more details of the origins and nature of the conflict for both combatants and civilians, though probably out of the scope of this book, would have made a more balanced account.
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
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A great military memoir book. Thank you for your service.
A great military memoir book. Thank you for your service.
I enjoyed this book very much. I started the book on a Friday afternoon, and finished it early Sunday morning. I think the author did a great job, well written, page turning. My husband whom doesn't much read books, is next in line to read this.
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Although I admit I came to this book (a book club choice) without enthusiasm, the book simply isn't very good, neither well-written nor particularly interesting or informative. If you're interested in the specifics of SEAL training, then you might want to read it. But for insight into anything more than the specifics of the killing of Bin Laden, you'll have to look elsewhere. And since I'm concurrently reading Halberstam's The Best and the Brightest, the juxtaposition couldn't be more radical, both in writing ability and in conclusions: "Owen" complains repeatedly about the politicians in Washington interfering with the much more knowledgeable military folks on the ground as to a "war plan," while Halberstam makes clear the enormous dangers and fallacy of relying on the military folks on the ground, or in command centers, to see the bigger picture or to take into account the international political consequences of military decisions.
Succinct and not overly dramatized. I haven't done much research, and I'd be curious to learn from some of my friends 'in the know' just how honest this telling is, but the story itself is what it is, and it was great.
The narrative lets you form your own opinions and judgments, and I appreciated it's (surprising) lack of political posturing. Though not written emotionally, I did find myself tearing up a number of times. I suspect that's fairly common for an American who lived through September 11.
The narrative lets you form your own opinions and judgments, and I appreciated it's (surprising) lack of political posturing. Though not written emotionally, I did find myself tearing up a number of times. I suspect that's fairly common for an American who lived through September 11.