Customer Reviews:
 Proud to be an American November 24, 2008
I bought 4 of these books and gave them as gifts so that my friends could see that the courage displayed at Mt Surabachi Iwa Jima still exists today. I was spellbound throughout the entire narrative. Also, I remembered how outraged I was when I first heard of the loss of 15 SEALS in a RESCUE mission three years ago. High brass didnt make the decision to GO, SEAL Team 10 did. My heart goes out to all the families. I encourage the World to read this book. Americans will feel a cold chill and our enemies will know.
Now, I am amazed of the memory and courage of Carlos Hathcock, you the reader imagine 4 fighting Hathcock's enaging an entire company of Taliban. Be proud you are an American.
Mike
 Hardcore! Brought a tear to my eye November 22, 2008
This is a damn good book. Not so good if you're looking for TTP's but a very good story about some very tough men.
The first half of the book is all about how tough SEALS are, how great the SEALS are, and just how bob bitchin' the SEALS are. I really, really got sick of hearing how tough, cool, patriotic and elite the SEALS are. You would think there were no other warriors in the world. The author goes way overboard emphasizing this and I really got tired of it. OK, SEALS invented water, walked on it, then turned it into wine. Holy smokes how about a little humility?
When the authors aren't full of themselves, the details of BUDS and how physically exhausting it is, is pretty good.
The Book really takes off about halfway through, when the gunfight starts. It took me about a week to get to that part, then read the second half in a day. I couldn't put it down and when his team mates started dying it made me really, really sad. The authors did a great job of putting you there and make you feel for these guys that are dying in a far off foreign land....
Overall this was a great book and would have got 5 stars from me if it were not for the overly redundant self ingratiation. Don't get me wrong, I have immense respect for the SEALS and they are great at what they do. Especially what these guys did, which was give their lives. I do believe in Esprit De Corps, but the book IS way over the top in that dept.
If you can get a cheap copy, definitely pick it up.
Lone Survivor November 22, 2008
Very good book. Everyone who wants to better understand who the Taliban are and what their objectives are should read this book. It is also an inspiring story of courage and the will to live against unbelieveably tough circumstances. I have added this author's name to the list of people I would like to meet someday.
Lone Survivor November 20, 2008
"Lone Survivor" is an absolutely gripping account of what "makes" the men who wear the Trident of US Navy SEALS who they are.
It is educational and compelling. A great read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges of serving with special operations in the mountains of Afghanistan.
 Authentic Yes! Great Reading No! November 18, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had this book recommended to me by several people and finally bought it and read it. It is not as good as its fans want you to believe; nor as bad as its detractors would make it out.
First, the book is adequately written, but is not going to make anybody's top 100 list. It should be kept in mind that much of the credit or blame for the prose should probably be placed on the co-author Robinson, not Luttrel. My own criticism was that the book often seemed heavily redundant and repetitive. In most of those places, it was the repetition of the all liberals are the stupid, short-sighted, and ignorant henchmen of America's enemies theme which gave rise to that feeling. Whether you agree or disagree with that sentiment is irrelevant. The sentiment is one which only needed to be said once or twice to make the point.
Second, despite the book's hammering of liberals (and their omnipresent media henchmen) as being responsible for preventing the military from doing their job, the book make's very clear that it was Luttrell's decision which led to the predicament that the members of Operation Redwing found themselves facing in Afghanistan. Luttrell concedes that it was his decision to turn three unarmed Afghan tribesmen loose which led to hostile Taliban forces identifying his unit's location and attacking them.
Moreover, Luttrell's telling of the story artificially limits Seal Team 10's options to three very poor decision alternatives which are all supposedly a direct result of liberal interference with the military's ability to kill unarmed non-combatants whenever military special forces units might deem such action necessary. As Luttrell would have it, his team could either: (1) let the 3 unarmed shepherds go and wait for the inevitable Taliban attack; (2) kill the 3 shepherds and report it to their superiors and go to prison for murder later; or (3) kill the shepherds and deny it ever happened, but forever wait for the other shoe to drop and go to prison for murder sometime down the road.
While personally sympathetic to the idea that U.S. rules of engagement can be unnecessarily restrictive and stupid, even I don't see any reason that Seal Team 10's options were restricted to this Hobson's Choice of kill unarmed shepherds or be killed by the Taliban.
All of this is simply critiquing the world-view of Luttrell though. As a true telling of a military operation's planning, execution, and outcome, this is a fascinating tale. It simultaneously reveals both the best and worst in our nation's military. We clearly have the best-trained, best-armed troops in the world, and the U.S. Navy SEALS are among the best of our elite forces. If you want some insight into our military's current tasks in the Middle East, and specifically Afghanistan, this book is an excellent choice, with a fascinating front seat, first hand, eyewitness
account of one operation. If you are interested in getting some insight into the training of our Navy SEALs, this may be an even better choice.
Whether or not you think this book provides any actual insight into our military policies and efforts in the Middle East, will probably depend on how much, or how little, you support President Bush. Regardless though, it is a book deserving to be read if you take the political morality play with a grain of salt.
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