Bravo Two Zero: The Harrowing True Story of a Special Forces Patrol Behind the Lines in Iraq by Andy McNab Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bravo Two Zero: The Harrowing True Story of a Special Forces Patrol Behind the Lines in Iraq
Book Review: An Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I like to think that I am a tough reviewer of books. To me, books are supposed to be what they say they are. If I'm reading a fantasy, I want to read about some wild land with a great story, good details, and witty dialog. If I'm reading a biography, I want pure objectivity. Same with a history book, don't give me a one sided obsessive story about history.Having said that, this book clearly blows away any and all expectations I had going in. From roughly page 100 on, this book is so amazing, so unbelievable, and so riveting that I could not put it down - literally. I began driving to work the long way so I could read at red lights. I would read while brushing my teeth at night. I would read on my lunch break at work. It's been a long time since any book has captivated my like this.
On the cover of the book is the statement, "The Most Incredible Story You'll Ever Read." While this is a strong statement, it lived up to it for me. It really stands as one of the most incredible stories I have ever read. Granted, this is only the second book of this ilk that I have read (Black Hawk Down was the first), but it really was amazing.
I'm not going to give away the story/plot of the book. You get all you need to know from the fact that it deals with a British SAS unit which goes into Iraq during the brief war in 1991. Stuff happens. Really, it's not my story to tell. The editorial reviews above detail the story better (and more in depth) than I can do here. What I'm trying to do is give you an idea if the book met my expectations and if the experience in reading it was good or bad.
This book is well written, it displays an amazing set of circumstances that this team went through, and it gives you a real insightful look at how the SAS team operates. The author is the same man who led the expedition, so the information is first rate. In addition, you learn a good amount about the culture of the "enemy" of the moment, namely the Iraqis.
As an exercise in completeness, I read the reviews which gave this book low ratings. I find that reading the ratings are a fair way to look at the good and bad reviews any book gets and better solidify or objectify my view. I did not find a thing to sway me from the 5 star rating. Yes, there are British expressions in the book that can be confusing at times. But this is a small detail that should not deter you.
A really, really good book. Highly recommended.
Book Review: An Excellent Insight Into SAS Life
Summary: 5 Stars
A superb read. If you want to know just how hard these SAS guys are then read this book. Exciting, fast-paced and extremely absorbing.Book Review: An Inspiring, real-life story
Summary: 5 Stars
A vivid and accurate narrative of what a small group of well-trained, exceptionally capable warriors can accomplish while outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy.Book Review: An amazing story of incredible human endurance and training
Summary: 5 Stars
This just shows what the SAS can do. I read the review by Sam Damon Jr and i was almost choking with laughter. Sorry mate but who are you to question the decisions of the SAS, the greatest Special Forces unit on this very planet? I'm American and i'm patriotic and all but you have to admit that compared to the SAS and SBS Delta Force and the Navy SEALS pale in comparison and this is proof of this. It is the British mentality that shines through in this book just as much as anything esle: McNab and co. are still joking long after they have been discovered. With 200lbs bergens on their backs and a 75 mile trip (you try going 75 miles without the bergen to illustrate how fit and strong these guys are) in the baking sun and freezing moon these guys were telling jokes. We Americans would be complaining about our backs and lack of electricity. The bulldog, never say die spirit is incredible. Before reading this book i thought all the Brits did was sit and watch BBC and cricket while drinking tea. How wrong i was. The eight SAS men killed 250 Iraqis. If thats a mission gone wrong i just can't wait to hear of what a mission that goes perfectly looks like. And i can't wait for the Navy SEALS or Delta Force to pull off something like this or the Iranian embassy. But i'll be waiting a long time, a life time.Book Review: An amazing story...
Summary: 2 Stars
Yes, an amazing story for this reviewer who blithely went through life believing the PR machine that says the SAS have the best soldiers in the world.This moderately interesting story (the physical trials encountered are fascinating) was to me a massive eye-opener. These so-called elite troops demonstrated some absolutely appalling amateurish behaviour that I am pleased to say my own old week-end warrior outfit never would have. Despite parroting their slogan "check and check again" their entire mission failed because nobody checked to see if the radio frequencies they were given were correct. When you realise that their job was to radio back information one would expect that they might have at least fired up a radio before leaving to see if they could in fact do this. Sorry, no. McNab glosses over this crime by nebulously shafting some "territorial air reservist" or someone like that who allocated the frequency. Also, they apparently didn't take warm clothing because "they were going to the blanking desert!!" Are these guys morons? I know that deserts can be freezing just from watching Disney Channel. And they do nearly freeze to death....in fact 1 does I believe, and his family are rightly peeved.
A complete fiasco written up in a working lad's vernacular. I did read the whole lot 'tho, just to see where else they were going to waste the tax-payers money through stunningly unprofessional behaviour. I hope the whole story is a fiction, because if not the SAS have lost me that's for sure. And if they come looking for me I'll just give them the wrong radio frequency.