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geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
Damn Few: Making The Modern Seal Warrior is the kind of book that shows what a true hero looks like. Rorke Denver shows the intelligence and competence and willingness to do the job needed that gives me complete faith in our military. If there are minds and spirits like this in the ranks, we have little to worry about, but our enemies better start running.
Lieutenant Commander Denver takes you on his journey. From BUD/s and Hell Week to becoming a SEAL trainer, he shows what it takes to be among the elite. He is well read and self-effacing. He discusses what the SEALs are looking for, and it might not be what you would guess. He discusses training and overseas missions. He talks about some of the high profile missions the SEALs have been on, even though he wasn't a part of it. He discusses how the military wants large deployments of SEALs and why that might not be the best idea for the kind of fighting the SEALs need to do. He talks about losing comrades-in-arms and what it's like to kill someone. He starred in the movie 'Act Of Valor' and he talks about that experience, and how reluctant he was to be a part of it. And he talks about what it's like to leave a wife and children behind on deployment.
He's a true American hero as are all who serve. He is well read, and there is a 'warrior's bookshelf' at the back of the book with books that have inspired him over the years. He's well spoken, confident and humble, and I can't recommend this book enough.
I was given a review copy of this ebook by Hyperion/Hachette and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this inspiring book.
Lieutenant Commander Denver takes you on his journey. From BUD/s and Hell Week to becoming a SEAL trainer, he shows what it takes to be among the elite. He is well read and self-effacing. He discusses what the SEALs are looking for, and it might not be what you would guess. He discusses training and overseas missions. He talks about some of the high profile missions the SEALs have been on, even though he wasn't a part of it. He discusses how the military wants large deployments of SEALs and why that might not be the best idea for the kind of fighting the SEALs need to do. He talks about losing comrades-in-arms and what it's like to kill someone. He starred in the movie 'Act Of Valor' and he talks about that experience, and how reluctant he was to be a part of it. And he talks about what it's like to leave a wife and children behind on deployment.
He's a true American hero as are all who serve. He is well read, and there is a 'warrior's bookshelf' at the back of the book with books that have inspired him over the years. He's well spoken, confident and humble, and I can't recommend this book enough.
I was given a review copy of this ebook by Hyperion/Hachette and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this inspiring book.
ivrunners's review against another edition
4.0
Great book. Really makes you appreciate the things we take for granted. Rorke is a good writer and this is a quick read. Would recommend to anyone who is interested in military and military history.
scottyb's review against another edition
3.0
Not written as well as 'No Easy Day' but still entertaining none the less. Gives one more of an appreciation of how well trained the SEALs are and how difficult it is to graduate the BUD/S training. Denver, who obviously went through the training himself and has been an instructor for several years, gives a detailed account of the strenuous physical training tests prospective SEALs have to undergo. But that pretty much sums up the book; Denver talks a little bit about his deployment in Iraq but doesn't go into a whole lot of detail. Most of the second half of the book comprises Denver's opinion on the Government's intervention in the Navy's affairs, specifically the demand for more SEALs. Denver obviously thinks that the Government (and people who haven't experienced war or military training) should have nothing to do with the SEAL selection process which actually makes perfect sense to me. The SEALs are truly a brotherhood; those that complete BUD/S are a group of guys that really have no physical boundaries, that would put their brothers' lives before theirs, and who would never doubt the readiness and loyalty of the guy next to them. If the government wants more Special Operations Forces, they shouldn't lessen their standards to graduate more candidates, that defeats the purpose of the SEALs who are trained to be elite, fearless, and the most mentally and physically hardened warriors. Denver's point is that not everyone is made to be a SEAL; hardly any of his peers were 'recruited', they showed up at BUD/S because it was what they wanted to do.
The last part of the book deals with how Denver feels the American Government should have fought the Afghanistan and Iraq war. He feels they should have gotten in, taken out terrorist cells, and gotten out. He makes the point that all of the tribal factions hate each other (and the Americans have no hope to change that) but what they hate even more is having their country/territory occupied by foreign troops. I think Denver feels that there is no hope for a victory in either Afghanistan or Iraq which is why he goes on to describe his ideal form of peace keeping for the future: gather intel, find the 'bad guys', inform whichever country the 'bad guys' are located in that they are harboring an enemy of the US and give them four options: one, let the US SOF into their country to eliminate their target; two, take out the target themselves; three, take out the target in a joint operation; and four, don't let the US in. Obviously the last choice has consequences: that country, because they are harboring an enemy of the US, no longer will receive aid or support from the US. Denver's theory of peacekeeping is very American: he assumes that all countries need and/or want aid and support from the US. He does have a point though: obviously SEAL operations are more covert and therefore there is less collateral damage and less money spent on a large scale invasion. In the future (according to Denver), warfare is probably going to include many more SEAL-type operations in which a small team of elite warriors in inserted into a country, takes out their target, and gets out. Minimal collateral, maximum success. One thing's for sure, these guys are trained for one thing: to fight and to kill and their biographies are pretty damn exhilarating to read.
The last part of the book deals with how Denver feels the American Government should have fought the Afghanistan and Iraq war. He feels they should have gotten in, taken out terrorist cells, and gotten out. He makes the point that all of the tribal factions hate each other (and the Americans have no hope to change that) but what they hate even more is having their country/territory occupied by foreign troops. I think Denver feels that there is no hope for a victory in either Afghanistan or Iraq which is why he goes on to describe his ideal form of peace keeping for the future: gather intel, find the 'bad guys', inform whichever country the 'bad guys' are located in that they are harboring an enemy of the US and give them four options: one, let the US SOF into their country to eliminate their target; two, take out the target themselves; three, take out the target in a joint operation; and four, don't let the US in. Obviously the last choice has consequences: that country, because they are harboring an enemy of the US, no longer will receive aid or support from the US. Denver's theory of peacekeeping is very American: he assumes that all countries need and/or want aid and support from the US. He does have a point though: obviously SEAL operations are more covert and therefore there is less collateral damage and less money spent on a large scale invasion. In the future (according to Denver), warfare is probably going to include many more SEAL-type operations in which a small team of elite warriors in inserted into a country, takes out their target, and gets out. Minimal collateral, maximum success. One thing's for sure, these guys are trained for one thing: to fight and to kill and their biographies are pretty damn exhilarating to read.
drewflynn's review against another edition
4.0
Great insight into the life of a Navy Seal. Came away inspired and with even more respect for these warriors.
andrelacour's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
5.0
Great book. Very inspiring and I love the quotes within the book.
marmarta's review against another edition
3.0
It's a very interesting book. Not a good one, not exactly (the writing is serviceable, mostly), and I'm pretty sure the author would be offended by how I perceived it, but if you are not an American and want to see how people can worship and glorify paid killers - how those killers are trained to kill and convinced it's Good and Noble and Manly - it's a fascinating read.
wmartin's review against another edition
3.0
I gave this book 3 stars, but it is at the highest end of 3 star ratings that exist. Rorke Denver is obviously a man committed to integrity, loyalty and service. He presents this image throughout the book in an honest, intelligent and humble fashion. This book does not contain the slightest hint of tough-guy self promotion, but is an unashamed homage to the elite group of warriors known as the SEALs.
If you are looking for a snapshot of what it takes to be a SEAL, BUD/S training and Operation Enduring Freedom, this book is for you. The reason that this book is capped at 3 stars for me is because it simply didn't explore the depth of the soul and psyche of a warrior like I would have hoped. To be quite frank, I think that's simply because Rorke is a warrior, not a psychologist. He dug deep and did what had to be done to become a SEAL, protect our freedom and make the world a safer place.
Rorke we love you and all of our military men and women. Thanks for your service and for this book!
If you are looking for a snapshot of what it takes to be a SEAL, BUD/S training and Operation Enduring Freedom, this book is for you. The reason that this book is capped at 3 stars for me is because it simply didn't explore the depth of the soul and psyche of a warrior like I would have hoped. To be quite frank, I think that's simply because Rorke is a warrior, not a psychologist. He dug deep and did what had to be done to become a SEAL, protect our freedom and make the world a safer place.
Rorke we love you and all of our military men and women. Thanks for your service and for this book!
meghamonkey's review against another edition
3.0
I had to start and stop this book a few times. It was interesting and exciting to read about training and such. Everything else was pretty boring. I had no idea there was a movie made about the SEALs, and apparently this guy is in it. Luckily, it's only a small section that talks about the movie getting made. I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't get it. I gave this book three stars because this guy had passion about his Navy training and I liked reading about it! If he'd stayed on that topic, it might've made for a better book.
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