2014 Book Goal: 52 (mostly non-fiction)
2014 Books Read: 15 (73% non-fiction)

I started reading the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell right after seeing the movie Lone Survivor starring   (Friday Night Lights) and   Wow is all I can say.

As good as the movie was ( I rated it 9 stars) the book is even better.  Marcus Luttrell’s story is gripping,  heart wrenching, inspiring and at times frustrating.  The first half covers the actual training that goes into being a Navy SEAL and does a better job than any film could at describing the superhuman tasks given the trainees.  It is a lesson in human endurance and determination.

Once you have sufficient appreciation for just how hard these men worked to become SEALs, they are tossed into the most unimaginable circumstances with Operation Redwing.  What was supposed to be a simple recon mission, turned into a steaming pile of dung when hundreds of Afghan soldiers armed to the teeth rained bullets, grenades and RPGs down on these four men.

lone survivor

Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, Marcus Luttrell

I found myself proud to be an American at times, disgusted to be an American at others and all the while inspired by the sacrifice and selflessness of each of these men.  Be prepared though, you will get emotional reading this excellent book.