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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
4.5 stars - A phenomenal account of Operation Redwing and the heroism that took place on the mountains of Afghanistan. Marcus Luttrell begins this book with an overview of the training of Navy SEALs (BUD/S), then provides a full account of the Operation and his survival story. A truly commendable effort on all parts; a great look into the sacrifices our Armed Forces face and how they put their life on the line.
My only gripe would be his very drastic anti-liberal, anti-liberal media rhetoric. While I can understand the point of view he was trying to convey, it was a little much at times (and sometimes randomly thrown in the middle of a story which was less than ideal).
Overall though, would definitely recommend.
My only gripe would be his very drastic anti-liberal, anti-liberal media rhetoric. While I can understand the point of view he was trying to convey, it was a little much at times (and sometimes randomly thrown in the middle of a story which was less than ideal).
Overall though, would definitely recommend.
Luttrell lays the blame of his friend’s deaths at the feet of liberal politicians and media. He claims only a Republican President would have responded as strongly after the attacks on 9/11. He unsurprisingly makes no mention of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, or any of the other players that are truly to blame. The book was published in 2007, so is there room for grace for the timing of its release? A quick google search finds dozens of articles released in that time, alas they are sourced from that dastardly liberal media, so they no doubt went unread by our writer.
There are lots of grating, irksome remarks in here that sit with me post-reading. He claims to be Super Christian Warrior Man, but doesn’t know Muslims and Christians worship the same god—read Genesis, my man. He thinks weakness is synonymous with compassion, both of which are attributes of bleeding-heart liberals. He doesn’t understand why after 30 hours of continuous drilling, people are quitting the training program: “We were doing the same stuff we had been doing 12 hours before”. Is it intended to make him look stronger? It really just makes it seem that he doesn’t know what fatigue is. He feels the need to make his dad an honorary Texan, because he made the unforgivable sin of having been born in Oklahoma. It’s all bad on it’s own, but unignorable together.
The big turn of the book is the decision to let the sheep herders go rather than kill them. The reader can tell this is the crux upon what the entire thing is built, and it is wasted on Luttrell’s personal politics. There’s opportunity to have the real thought experiment of what war really means, and the consequences when innocent lives become intwined with brutal reality, but it’s undercut totally by the writer’s need to rant. Is that intentional? Is it him still processing his grief and regret? I think that sort of thematic understanding is beyond Luttrell, who appears to only be concerned with ensuring readers know three things: 1) God Blessed Texas 2) Sometimes men cry, surprised???? 3) GWB is BAE <333
There are lots of grating, irksome remarks in here that sit with me post-reading. He claims to be Super Christian Warrior Man, but doesn’t know Muslims and Christians worship the same god—read Genesis, my man. He thinks weakness is synonymous with compassion, both of which are attributes of bleeding-heart liberals. He doesn’t understand why after 30 hours of continuous drilling, people are quitting the training program: “We were doing the same stuff we had been doing 12 hours before”. Is it intended to make him look stronger? It really just makes it seem that he doesn’t know what fatigue is. He feels the need to make his dad an honorary Texan, because he made the unforgivable sin of having been born in Oklahoma. It’s all bad on it’s own, but unignorable together.
The big turn of the book is the decision to let the sheep herders go rather than kill them. The reader can tell this is the crux upon what the entire thing is built, and it is wasted on Luttrell’s personal politics. There’s opportunity to have the real thought experiment of what war really means, and the consequences when innocent lives become intwined with brutal reality, but it’s undercut totally by the writer’s need to rant. Is that intentional? Is it him still processing his grief and regret? I think that sort of thematic understanding is beyond Luttrell, who appears to only be concerned with ensuring readers know three things: 1) God Blessed Texas 2) Sometimes men cry, surprised???? 3) GWB is BAE <333
It took me awhile to finish this one mostly because I got very tired of the author's constant bashing of liberals. While I understand where he's coming from, I just don't agree that there shouldn't be rules of engagement at all or that the military should be able to do whatever it wants when it's at war. That's how we end up with atrocities. But...I do understand why you'd feel that way after the heart-wrenching dilemma he and his group had to face on the mountain. The first half of the book drags a bit as he describes what he went through to become a SEAL but the second half definitely makes up for it. A good read particularly if you like heavy action or the military, the second part reads as much like a thriller as real-life.
I hate to give this book less than 5 stars, because I really respect the author and his service to our country. That being said, I am not a huge fan of this book.
My review here may not be fair, because I mostly listened to this book through Audible, rather than actually reading it. The writing isn't all that great, and the poor narration made it even worse. I think my least favorite part of the book was the author's need to constantly push his own political agenda. While I don't disagree with his view of gun control laws and the US rules of engagement, I didn't feel that the politics belonged in this book as much as it was.
All that being said, the story is really great. You just have to look past the poor writing and politics. For me, those negatives really pulled the book down.
My review here may not be fair, because I mostly listened to this book through Audible, rather than actually reading it. The writing isn't all that great, and the poor narration made it even worse. I think my least favorite part of the book was the author's need to constantly push his own political agenda. While I don't disagree with his view of gun control laws and the US rules of engagement, I didn't feel that the politics belonged in this book as much as it was.
All that being said, the story is really great. You just have to look past the poor writing and politics. For me, those negatives really pulled the book down.
Once you get past the rants against liberals this is a riveting read of the fire fight and escape from the Taliban. I'd resisted reading this book but I'm glad I finally read it. It was worth it. It's an emotional epistle from Marcus. The miracle of the rifle, as I call it, is something else. Falling down a mountain all the while your rifle is falling right with you. And there were numerous falls where he and his rifle would be separated but they would always reunite. God was truly looking after him. He doesn't dwell much on the decision that is debated in ethics classes in the military-killing the goat herders or letting them go. Great pics of the men are included but no maps. Maps or sketches would have been helpful. It's just mind boggling trying to picture the terrain and his arduous negotiating of it. He gives a great description of Hell Week and SEAL training too. I can't wait for the movie. Hope its screen play matches the excitement of the book. Just a morality play of a classic story- good and evil. Marcus in his epilogue should have stated more about the fates of the village elder and those who sheltered him from the Taliban.
Stars for the story more so than the way it was told. Good companion to the film, but watch the movie first.
If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, this might be the one.
It was by no means an easy read. It was extremely emotional and almost draining to read, yet I felt compelled to keep reading. I stayed up until after two in the morning because I needed to finish it; I needed to know what happened to Marcus and how on Earth he survived that situation.
Lone Survivor gave me a totally new understanding of combat, Afghanistan, and the mindset of a solider and SEAL. I am in complete awe and I know this book will never leave me.
This is a must read for EVERYONE. Not for those with ties to the military, not for those with an interest in combat history, but for every human being. Luttrell does an amazing job of putting the everyman in the mind of a SEAL. I cannot recommend this book enough.
It was by no means an easy read. It was extremely emotional and almost draining to read, yet I felt compelled to keep reading. I stayed up until after two in the morning because I needed to finish it; I needed to know what happened to Marcus and how on Earth he survived that situation.
Lone Survivor gave me a totally new understanding of combat, Afghanistan, and the mindset of a solider and SEAL. I am in complete awe and I know this book will never leave me.
This is a must read for EVERYONE. Not for those with ties to the military, not for those with an interest in combat history, but for every human being. Luttrell does an amazing job of putting the everyman in the mind of a SEAL. I cannot recommend this book enough.
First couple chapters are all full of rah, rah stuff and I almost put the book down for good.
The information around their training was interesting if a bit repetitive and the battle scene and subsequent interactions with the Afghans was reasonably decent.
The writing is very pedestrian and overly simplistic. There was too much "we are great" and self congratulatory fluff to allow me to rate it higher than a 2.
The information around their training was interesting if a bit repetitive and the battle scene and subsequent interactions with the Afghans was reasonably decent.
The writing is very pedestrian and overly simplistic. There was too much "we are great" and self congratulatory fluff to allow me to rate it higher than a 2.
NOTE: I received this from Goodreads First Reads
This was such a great book & I loved it. This was such a powerful book that just makes me proud to be an American. The sacrifices that our soldiers make are truly heroic. This is such an amazing story of a soldier & his story. The story of Marcus’ survival and loyalty to his fellow soldiers and country is unbelievable. His story kept me at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This isn’t a book I would normally pick up, but I am so glad that I did.
This was such a great book & I loved it. This was such a powerful book that just makes me proud to be an American. The sacrifices that our soldiers make are truly heroic. This is such an amazing story of a soldier & his story. The story of Marcus’ survival and loyalty to his fellow soldiers and country is unbelievable. His story kept me at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This isn’t a book I would normally pick up, but I am so glad that I did.