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389 reviews for:
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10
Marcus Luttrell
4.08 AVERAGE
389 reviews for:
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10
Marcus Luttrell
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
This is the most gut-wrenching, heartbreaking book I've ever read. Even if you're someone who isn't prone to crying in books (as I was before I read this), read with a tissue box nearby.
I have always had the highest respect for the military, and after reading this, if possible, I respect them even more. The training that these men go through to become Navy SEALs is amazing.
What is even more amazing is the sheer determination, courage, and valor that these men showed against the enemy. It is a miracle in and of itself that Marcus Luttrell survived, and I am glad he did. These men deserve to have their story told, rather than becoming part of the tragedy and another statistic.
Absolute stunning book!
Reading this made me even more proud to be an American and a Texan!
I have always had the highest respect for the military, and after reading this, if possible, I respect them even more. The training that these men go through to become Navy SEALs is amazing.
What is even more amazing is the sheer determination, courage, and valor that these men showed against the enemy. It is a miracle in and of itself that Marcus Luttrell survived, and I am glad he did. These men deserve to have their story told, rather than becoming part of the tragedy and another statistic.
Absolute stunning book!
Reading this made me even more proud to be an American and a Texan!
I'm leaving this unrated because I have so many mixed emotions. Overall, the story of what these men experienced is really heartbreaking. I can't imagine what they went through physically and emotionally. I am torn, however, because of some of the alleged false claims that have been addressed regarding Marcus's account of what happened. That's the primary reason why I don't know how to rate it. Aside from that, I was surprised that so much of the book was about Marcus's past and beliefs about politics, religion, etc. For a man who says he isn't into politics, he definitely could have fooled me! The man is definitely not a fan of liberals. It was kind of comical at times. Regardless, I have tremendous respect toward these men for their bravery and patriotism. I am thankful for having people like these men defending our country.
As I write this, a film version of this book is making its rounds in theaters throughout the nation to surprisingly high attendances. Many whose politics runs left of center have decried this as a pro-war book. I truly don’t think so. Let me try to explain:
This nonfiction title follows Marcus Luttrell, a Texan, who wanted to be a navy SEAL almost since he could talk. In the community where he grew up lived a former SEAL who provided some of the training similar to what actually gets done in California. So when Marcus signed up with the navy, his only goal was to be a SEAL, and nothing could dissuade him of it.
You watch with fascination and sometimes an emotion verging on horror the entire SEAL training experience. These are men who are forced to perform under circumstances beyond grueling and terrible. There are midnight trips into water and hours and hours of stressing the value of the team.
Luttrell is an unabashed, unapologetic conservative. He lashes out without apology at what he calls the liberal media elite. His love and reverence for both George Bush senior and Bush 41 is evident and again expressed without apology.
The book details at its climax a bloody battle in the desolate mountains of Afghanistan during which four SEALS, including Luttrell, take on a large group of Taliban fighters. Initially, the numbers are 35 to 1, with the four Americans being massively outnumbered and outgunned. This is not a pro-war book so much as it is a pro-teamwork and love of comrades who have your back book. All three of Luttrell’s men are ultimately killed, and all three of them fight up to the final seconds of their lives.
You see teamwork here, too, in the description of the people of west Texas who turn out in droves to support the Luttrell family when they learn that Marcus is missing and presumed dead. It’s the harrowing account of a young American facing ultimately discovery and destruction by a force intent on nothing more than his death. It’s the account of Afghani friends who felt love and loyalty to the young American who, despite threats from the Taliban to burn the entire village, rescued the American, took him into their bosom collectively, and nursed him while going to great lengths to notify American military personnel that he was alive though barely. You feel the love Marcus Luttrell developed for his Afghani rescuers. The book describes the terrible cost they paid for their friendship and hospitality to him—a hospitality bound up in ancient Islamic law that seems to override Taliban demands in some places.
You’ll read here, too, of Luttrell’s survivor’s guilt—of the fact that he still hears the screams of his dying teammates as they plead with him for help he cannot give. His love for them is even more vividly expressed than are the battle scenes, which are heart-raising and riveting indeed. The three dead Americans are portrayed as men who love their families and their country deeply. All three of them have wonderfully different personalities that are detailed here nicely. You will feel a real bond with all four of these young men from different parts of the country with different behaviors, habits, and ways of looking at the world. These were men who, despite their differences in background, had in common the unique SEAL training that taught them the supremacy of teamwork.
There are no sexual descriptions in this book, but there is a fair amount of profanity, as you might expect considering its topic and characters. There is humor in here as well—a good bit of it—and there are well-crafted examples of love and hope. This may be worth reading just for the description of the evil Pepsi bottle. I’ll leave it to you to get a better understanding of that.
There’s a lot to think about in here, too, about how decisions made in Washington by lawyers who make policy rather than sailors and soldiers who must then live under its impact shapes lives. The pivotal point of the book is a decision Luttrell and his teammates are forced to make. It was a decision made as a result of the fear of the media and the lawyer policymakers back home, and it was key in the remaining events of the book.
This nonfiction title follows Marcus Luttrell, a Texan, who wanted to be a navy SEAL almost since he could talk. In the community where he grew up lived a former SEAL who provided some of the training similar to what actually gets done in California. So when Marcus signed up with the navy, his only goal was to be a SEAL, and nothing could dissuade him of it.
You watch with fascination and sometimes an emotion verging on horror the entire SEAL training experience. These are men who are forced to perform under circumstances beyond grueling and terrible. There are midnight trips into water and hours and hours of stressing the value of the team.
Luttrell is an unabashed, unapologetic conservative. He lashes out without apology at what he calls the liberal media elite. His love and reverence for both George Bush senior and Bush 41 is evident and again expressed without apology.
The book details at its climax a bloody battle in the desolate mountains of Afghanistan during which four SEALS, including Luttrell, take on a large group of Taliban fighters. Initially, the numbers are 35 to 1, with the four Americans being massively outnumbered and outgunned. This is not a pro-war book so much as it is a pro-teamwork and love of comrades who have your back book. All three of Luttrell’s men are ultimately killed, and all three of them fight up to the final seconds of their lives.
You see teamwork here, too, in the description of the people of west Texas who turn out in droves to support the Luttrell family when they learn that Marcus is missing and presumed dead. It’s the harrowing account of a young American facing ultimately discovery and destruction by a force intent on nothing more than his death. It’s the account of Afghani friends who felt love and loyalty to the young American who, despite threats from the Taliban to burn the entire village, rescued the American, took him into their bosom collectively, and nursed him while going to great lengths to notify American military personnel that he was alive though barely. You feel the love Marcus Luttrell developed for his Afghani rescuers. The book describes the terrible cost they paid for their friendship and hospitality to him—a hospitality bound up in ancient Islamic law that seems to override Taliban demands in some places.
You’ll read here, too, of Luttrell’s survivor’s guilt—of the fact that he still hears the screams of his dying teammates as they plead with him for help he cannot give. His love for them is even more vividly expressed than are the battle scenes, which are heart-raising and riveting indeed. The three dead Americans are portrayed as men who love their families and their country deeply. All three of them have wonderfully different personalities that are detailed here nicely. You will feel a real bond with all four of these young men from different parts of the country with different behaviors, habits, and ways of looking at the world. These were men who, despite their differences in background, had in common the unique SEAL training that taught them the supremacy of teamwork.
There are no sexual descriptions in this book, but there is a fair amount of profanity, as you might expect considering its topic and characters. There is humor in here as well—a good bit of it—and there are well-crafted examples of love and hope. This may be worth reading just for the description of the evil Pepsi bottle. I’ll leave it to you to get a better understanding of that.
There’s a lot to think about in here, too, about how decisions made in Washington by lawyers who make policy rather than sailors and soldiers who must then live under its impact shapes lives. The pivotal point of the book is a decision Luttrell and his teammates are forced to make. It was a decision made as a result of the fear of the media and the lawyer policymakers back home, and it was key in the remaining events of the book.
This story shredded me apart. I am so grateful it was written and shared with us. I don't read very much non-fiction, but I did not find this grueling at all, as I do most non-fiction. I am so grateful for our brave military women and men, and this book was an insight to how much they sacrifice.
Marcus is cocky as I would imagine many Navy SEALs are. There is a bias in this book that is, to me, easily forgiven. Maybe not to everyone but I feel like it is contextually important to understand.
Lastly, I really appreciated this as a tribute to good people. People deep in the heart of Texas and high in the Hindu Kush if Afghanistan.
Marcus is cocky as I would imagine many Navy SEALs are. There is a bias in this book that is, to me, easily forgiven. Maybe not to everyone but I feel like it is contextually important to understand.
Lastly, I really appreciated this as a tribute to good people. People deep in the heart of Texas and high in the Hindu Kush if Afghanistan.
After careful consideration, and some tears. the only word that I can use to describe this book is VALOR. I'm in awe of each and every member and past member of the armed forces. To each of you, thank you for each and every sacrifice you make. To those involves in special forces you are without a doubt the epitome of the word patriot. I highly recommend this book to everyone to be able to see behind the words SEAL to receive a glimpse of what these men go through to protect our great nation.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
This book was very slow to start. I had to get about halfway through the book before it hooked me. If the book was condensed I think it would deserve 4 stars.
I read this sometime in 10th grade. Not quite the height of my military reading, but definitely the start of it.
I found this book in a pile of books my grandmother had given me. She never finished it. I could tell by the creases in the spine. How they just stopped a quarter of the way through. But I was intrigued from the start. I do recall how a lot of the beginning of the book went into great detail about the SEAL training, but I personally liked that. It gave me context. I was unfamiliar with just how intense their training was, apart from on a surface level.
As the book progressed I was riveted. And also horrified. This isn't just some fictional story. It's a real life account of one SEAL's fight for survival. To this day, I can't fathom enduring what Luttrell went through on this deployment. Between the decisions he had to make, to the horror of what he himself endured, to watching the others die... Knowing that, quite literally, you are the lone survivor. I have much respect for Luttrell and his service.
I'm fuzzy on some of the details since it's been so long. I do think I'd appreciate this book even more now than I did back then, even though I don't read nonfiction of this kind much anymore. But I don't have anything to complain about. This book made me feel a lot of things. On top of that, it was well written, if memory serves. So I'll leave it at that.
I found this book in a pile of books my grandmother had given me. She never finished it. I could tell by the creases in the spine. How they just stopped a quarter of the way through. But I was intrigued from the start. I do recall how a lot of the beginning of the book went into great detail about the SEAL training, but I personally liked that. It gave me context. I was unfamiliar with just how intense their training was, apart from on a surface level.
As the book progressed I was riveted. And also horrified. This isn't just some fictional story. It's a real life account of one SEAL's fight for survival. To this day, I can't fathom enduring what Luttrell went through on this deployment. Between the decisions he had to make, to the horror of what he himself endured, to watching the others die... Knowing that, quite literally, you are the lone survivor. I have much respect for Luttrell and his service.
I'm fuzzy on some of the details since it's been so long. I do think I'd appreciate this book even more now than I did back then, even though I don't read nonfiction of this kind much anymore. But I don't have anything to complain about. This book made me feel a lot of things. On top of that, it was well written, if memory serves. So I'll leave it at that.
Title: Lone Survivor
Author: Marcus Luttrell
Rating: 5 stars
You all know how big of a fan I am of non-fiction works, right? Ha ha. Yeah. Right. Not at all. I typically don't read much besides fiction and its various subgenres. However, occasionally I will come across one worth reading. My younger brother actually talked me into reading this one. My younger brother doesn't read much, so the fact that he read a 440-page book told me it was worth it. Plus, I admit I saw the movie sometime last year, so I already knew the gist of the story. The movie made me tear up, but it in no way prepared me for the attack of feels from the book.
Marcus Luttrell and his three Navy SEAL comrades embarked on Operation Red Wings in 2005. Spoiler alert (but not really, because the title kind of gives it away): only three of the four men made it out of those Afghanistan mountains. Lone Survivor is the firsthand account of the ordeal by Luttrell. Never before has a non-fiction work ever interested me, and certainly not made me cry, as much as this novel did. I was fascinated by every painful chapter, and as much as it hurt to read on, I did. I knew the outcome; I knew how the story ended, but that didn't make it any less intriguing or heartbreaking. The movie did not compare at all to this book. It took me a couple months to read it because I'm an English major and my school books kind of have seniority over my fun books...but in the course of those months, I learned a lot about the Navy SEALs, Afghanistan, and combat in general.
About the first half of the novel is about Luttrell's life and his training leading up to becoming a SEAL. The second half is about Operation Red Wings and the aftermath. Many people complain that the beginning is too slow, too boring, too autobiographical, yadda yadda. I did not think that at all; in fact, I found it incredibly interesting to learn about Luttrell's life and the BUD/S training. I've never had much of an interest in the Navy, Army, Marines, and so on, but I'm really glad I learned so much from this book. It was very insightful, informative, and interesting, as well as heartbreaking, captivating, and powerful. A lot of the reviews on here make me sick, saying the book is boring, inaccurate, or that it's basically entirely about Luttrell "patting himself on the back" and focusing solely on himself rather than his fallen teammates. These people obviously did not read the book, and if they did, they didn't quite understand Luttrell's words.
After finishing the book, I gave it back to my younger brother and we watched the movie again. This time, I noticed how much was cut from the movie (like all book-to-film adaptations). More specifically, though, I realized how much more I knew from reading the book than watching the movie. Luttrell is so detailed and the book is incredibly informative. Everything made a lot more sense after reading the book. Anyway, after the movie ended, I turned to my brother and said, "I can't help but wonder how things might have turned out if they just would have killed the goatherds." Not that I'm saying it was the right decision, because God knows I don't know what the right decision would have been. I truly and honestly don't know. And I don't know how things would have played out if they had killed them. But my brother replied, "They probably would have all survived, and you never would have known about any of them." I thought about that for a second, and after having seen the movie twice and finally just read the book, I told him this: "I would much rather these men have survived, even if that means I never would have known they existed. With everything in me, I wish they would have survived."
They did not survive, though - only one managed to make it out of those mountains, and because of it, I now know about Murphy, Danny, and Axe. I know about Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor. And I can honestly say, after reading what I just read, I will never forget them.
Author: Marcus Luttrell
Rating: 5 stars
You all know how big of a fan I am of non-fiction works, right? Ha ha. Yeah. Right. Not at all. I typically don't read much besides fiction and its various subgenres. However, occasionally I will come across one worth reading. My younger brother actually talked me into reading this one. My younger brother doesn't read much, so the fact that he read a 440-page book told me it was worth it. Plus, I admit I saw the movie sometime last year, so I already knew the gist of the story. The movie made me tear up, but it in no way prepared me for the attack of feels from the book.
Marcus Luttrell and his three Navy SEAL comrades embarked on Operation Red Wings in 2005. Spoiler alert (but not really, because the title kind of gives it away): only three of the four men made it out of those Afghanistan mountains. Lone Survivor is the firsthand account of the ordeal by Luttrell. Never before has a non-fiction work ever interested me, and certainly not made me cry, as much as this novel did. I was fascinated by every painful chapter, and as much as it hurt to read on, I did. I knew the outcome; I knew how the story ended, but that didn't make it any less intriguing or heartbreaking. The movie did not compare at all to this book. It took me a couple months to read it because I'm an English major and my school books kind of have seniority over my fun books...but in the course of those months, I learned a lot about the Navy SEALs, Afghanistan, and combat in general.
About the first half of the novel is about Luttrell's life and his training leading up to becoming a SEAL. The second half is about Operation Red Wings and the aftermath. Many people complain that the beginning is too slow, too boring, too autobiographical, yadda yadda. I did not think that at all; in fact, I found it incredibly interesting to learn about Luttrell's life and the BUD/S training. I've never had much of an interest in the Navy, Army, Marines, and so on, but I'm really glad I learned so much from this book. It was very insightful, informative, and interesting, as well as heartbreaking, captivating, and powerful. A lot of the reviews on here make me sick, saying the book is boring, inaccurate, or that it's basically entirely about Luttrell "patting himself on the back" and focusing solely on himself rather than his fallen teammates. These people obviously did not read the book, and if they did, they didn't quite understand Luttrell's words.
After finishing the book, I gave it back to my younger brother and we watched the movie again. This time, I noticed how much was cut from the movie (like all book-to-film adaptations). More specifically, though, I realized how much more I knew from reading the book than watching the movie. Luttrell is so detailed and the book is incredibly informative. Everything made a lot more sense after reading the book. Anyway, after the movie ended, I turned to my brother and said, "I can't help but wonder how things might have turned out if they just would have killed the goatherds." Not that I'm saying it was the right decision, because God knows I don't know what the right decision would have been. I truly and honestly don't know. And I don't know how things would have played out if they had killed them. But my brother replied, "They probably would have all survived, and you never would have known about any of them." I thought about that for a second, and after having seen the movie twice and finally just read the book, I told him this: "I would much rather these men have survived, even if that means I never would have known they existed. With everything in me, I wish they would have survived."
They did not survive, though - only one managed to make it out of those mountains, and because of it, I now know about Murphy, Danny, and Axe. I know about Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor. And I can honestly say, after reading what I just read, I will never forget them.