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Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units
At the age of eighteen, Aaron Cohen left Beverly Hills to prove himself in the crucible of the armed forces. He was determined to be a part of Israel's most elite security cadre, akin to the American Green Berets and Navy SEALs. After fifteen months of grueling training designed to break down each individual man and to rebuild him as a warrior, Cohen was offered the only post a non-Israeli can hold in the special forces. In 1996 he joined a top-secret, highly controversial unit that dispatches operatives disguised as Arabs into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank to abduct terrorist leaders and bring them to Israel for interrogation and trial. Between 1996 and 1998, Aaron Cohen would learn Hebrew and Arabic; become an expert in urban counterterror warfare, the martial art of Krav Maga, and undercover operations; and participate in dozens of life-or-death missions. He would infiltrate a Hamas wedding to seize a wanted terrorist and pose as an American journalist to set a trap for one of the financiers behind the Dizengoff Massacre, taking him down in a brutal, hand-to-hand struggle. A propulsive, gripping read, Cohen's story is a rare, fly-on-the-wall view into the shadowy world of "black ops" that redefines invincible strength, true danger, and inviolable security.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 23, 2019
Aaron Cohen grew up in Beverly Hills, California. Then, he spent three years in one of Israel’s “black ops” units, Sayeret Duvdevan. This is that story and also what happened immediately afterwards.
( I just found out he was hired as security for Kim Kardashian West after the Paris robbery?!) Apparently, since this book is older, I didn’t realize he has trained and run security companies, etc. and been in the news (spotlight) quite a bit since the book was published.
He’s good and he trained with some of the best!
( I just found out he was hired as security for Kim Kardashian West after the Paris robbery?!) Apparently, since this book is older, I didn’t realize he has trained and run security companies, etc. and been in the news (spotlight) quite a bit since the book was published.
He’s good and he trained with some of the best!
February 6, 2018
Really, really interesting read. I thought I knew a good bit about the Israeli military philosophy, not even close. This book takes a deep dive on how and why the Israel military operates the way it does, with no excuses. Very polarizing. No matter what you think of Israel tactics in the territories, it's an incredibly eye-opening read.
September 1, 2011
Do not be baulked by this books unattractive cover, because it doesn't do justice to the story within.
This is the memoir of an American/Canadian/Jew (a mouthful I know) who leaves a silver spoon existence in Beverley Hills as a teen to join the Israeli Defence Force.
He knows what he wants long before he arrives in Israel. He wants to be a Special Forces soldier in one of Israel's leading counter terrorism units. The Duvdevan.
After some unforeseen hurdles, he makes it through one of the toughest elite forces training in the world and becomes a fully fledged Special Forces soldier in the most elite counter terrorism branch of the IDF.
When he completes his service he returns to America and starts his own security firm which not only offers security to Hollywood, but also offers counter terrorism training to the U.S military and police, including SWAT and local state departments.
This is not the story of battles and getting shots off and calling for medics, it's the story of the brutal training program of IDF's various Special Forces programs, and it's a story of terrorism in Israel, and how the Israeli's became the leaders in urban counter terrorism methods.
I should also mention that there was one negative for me with this book. There are few pages in the closing of this book where Cohen remarks on how the U.S could be doing things differently. Doing things like Israel does them. Half of what he says would never work in the U.S, I beleive. He doesn't take in the difference in culture and lifestyle, and the differing management and implementation issues that would be required if the U.S were to introduce similar military and police presence within cities. But this is only my opinion of his opinion. I wasn't going to drop a star based on a differing opinion.
This book has gone straight to my favourites folder!
This is the memoir of an American/Canadian/Jew (a mouthful I know) who leaves a silver spoon existence in Beverley Hills as a teen to join the Israeli Defence Force.
He knows what he wants long before he arrives in Israel. He wants to be a Special Forces soldier in one of Israel's leading counter terrorism units. The Duvdevan.
After some unforeseen hurdles, he makes it through one of the toughest elite forces training in the world and becomes a fully fledged Special Forces soldier in the most elite counter terrorism branch of the IDF.
When he completes his service he returns to America and starts his own security firm which not only offers security to Hollywood, but also offers counter terrorism training to the U.S military and police, including SWAT and local state departments.
This is not the story of battles and getting shots off and calling for medics, it's the story of the brutal training program of IDF's various Special Forces programs, and it's a story of terrorism in Israel, and how the Israeli's became the leaders in urban counter terrorism methods.
I should also mention that there was one negative for me with this book. There are few pages in the closing of this book where Cohen remarks on how the U.S could be doing things differently. Doing things like Israel does them. Half of what he says would never work in the U.S, I beleive. He doesn't take in the difference in culture and lifestyle, and the differing management and implementation issues that would be required if the U.S were to introduce similar military and police presence within cities. But this is only my opinion of his opinion. I wasn't going to drop a star based on a differing opinion.
This book has gone straight to my favourites folder!
November 1, 2011
An American take on what it is like to be an Israeli commando.
This is a great read for anyone wanting to know what goes into the making of a warrior. The kind of guys who seek to become special forces are not like the rest of us; they're smart, tough, fearless, tightly controlled yet highly aggressive, seeking action, tremendously competitive.
Aaron Cohen is a troubled American rich kid who learns to love the discipline of the military. From the book's gut-wrenching opening at the scene of the horrific 1996 Dizengoff Mall suicide bombing (comparable to a terrorist setting off a bomb stuffed with nails in the middle of Times Square on New Years Eve) he takes us into the world of the commando, with simple, direct prose, vivid descriptions of training methods, exercises, and missions, and wonderful sketches of the people he meets who also choose to pursue this scary, stressful life.
I wanted to meet everyone he wrote about. Mr. Cohen writes about his fellow soldiers and superiors in a compassionate and affectionate way, making these warriors both understandable and human.
This is a great read for anyone wanting to know what goes into the making of a warrior. The kind of guys who seek to become special forces are not like the rest of us; they're smart, tough, fearless, tightly controlled yet highly aggressive, seeking action, tremendously competitive.
Aaron Cohen is a troubled American rich kid who learns to love the discipline of the military. From the book's gut-wrenching opening at the scene of the horrific 1996 Dizengoff Mall suicide bombing (comparable to a terrorist setting off a bomb stuffed with nails in the middle of Times Square on New Years Eve) he takes us into the world of the commando, with simple, direct prose, vivid descriptions of training methods, exercises, and missions, and wonderful sketches of the people he meets who also choose to pursue this scary, stressful life.
I wanted to meet everyone he wrote about. Mr. Cohen writes about his fellow soldiers and superiors in a compassionate and affectionate way, making these warriors both understandable and human.
July 15, 2018
I recall watching the horror of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 unfolding on live TV. The bloodbath lasted for several hours and while I along with the entire nation was shocked at what had occurred, I recall a news clip of an Israeli defence member saying that had India contacted Israel, they could have flushed out the terrorists in a matter of a couple of hours.
Regardless of one's political viewpoints, it just makes for brilliant reading- what guts some people have. I have always seen myself as a phenomenally risk averse person. Reading about persons and personalities so different from mine is fascinating, but reading about elite warriors such as this, cannot be fathomed. They are just very different from 'normal' civilians. It is a rigorous training of the mind and body.
The book is about an American boy who decides to cut it into the elite counter terrorism units of Israel. The book is his journey of his transformation into an elite warrior. A riveting account of a brave man.
Regardless of one's political viewpoints, it just makes for brilliant reading- what guts some people have. I have always seen myself as a phenomenally risk averse person. Reading about persons and personalities so different from mine is fascinating, but reading about elite warriors such as this, cannot be fathomed. They are just very different from 'normal' civilians. It is a rigorous training of the mind and body.
The book is about an American boy who decides to cut it into the elite counter terrorism units of Israel. The book is his journey of his transformation into an elite warrior. A riveting account of a brave man.
September 23, 2025
"The seventy-year-old man sipping his strong black coffee at a sidewalk table; the university-age religious student coming out of the mosque; the mentally retarded teenager--there's a high degree of mental retardation in certain Palestinian communities---all disguises that wouldn't attract too much attention from a passerby."
FATALITY
FATALITY
December 16, 2015
Brotherhood of Warriors - Aaron Cohen - Book Review - Jack Paul
This book is amazing. It gives you the insight of what being in an Israeli counter-terrorism unit is like. This book shows you the physical and mental stress this job can cause you. The book is written by someone who was in one of the counter-terrorism units. Israel has one of the most elite counter-terrorism units in the world and this book shows you what it is like to be in one of this units.
The book talks about Aaron Cohen's life when he was a kid he had divorced parents and his mom married a rich film producer. He lived with his mom, but one year he went to live with his dad because his dad would give him a Bar Mitzvah and his mom would not (And every Jewish boy needs a Bar Mitzvah). He never got attention at home when he was with his mom and was always bad and acting out, so his mom sent him to military school. At military School he learned about the Israeli military and their special force units and he decided that is what he will do. When he turned 18 he moved to Israel and every person in Israel when they turn 18 has to join the military. When he got there he worked hard and then he did not make the special force team he wanted to because he was not born in Israel, but he gets an offer from a counter-terrorism units and accepts. he works hard for over a year and then makes it on the team and goes on really cool missions to make Israel a safer place.
This book is AWESOME! The book is a true story this book is an autobiography. This book really shows how hard it is to be in a counter-terrorism unit in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). It shows how hard you have to train your body and mind for this book. I recommend reading this book as soon as you can. This book is for people who want to learn more about Israeli Special force units or the military in general. I loved this book!
This book is amazing. It gives you the insight of what being in an Israeli counter-terrorism unit is like. This book shows you the physical and mental stress this job can cause you. The book is written by someone who was in one of the counter-terrorism units. Israel has one of the most elite counter-terrorism units in the world and this book shows you what it is like to be in one of this units.
The book talks about Aaron Cohen's life when he was a kid he had divorced parents and his mom married a rich film producer. He lived with his mom, but one year he went to live with his dad because his dad would give him a Bar Mitzvah and his mom would not (And every Jewish boy needs a Bar Mitzvah). He never got attention at home when he was with his mom and was always bad and acting out, so his mom sent him to military school. At military School he learned about the Israeli military and their special force units and he decided that is what he will do. When he turned 18 he moved to Israel and every person in Israel when they turn 18 has to join the military. When he got there he worked hard and then he did not make the special force team he wanted to because he was not born in Israel, but he gets an offer from a counter-terrorism units and accepts. he works hard for over a year and then makes it on the team and goes on really cool missions to make Israel a safer place.
This book is AWESOME! The book is a true story this book is an autobiography. This book really shows how hard it is to be in a counter-terrorism unit in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). It shows how hard you have to train your body and mind for this book. I recommend reading this book as soon as you can. This book is for people who want to learn more about Israeli Special force units or the military in general. I loved this book!
June 18, 2025
To be honest, it was a good read. Not the most riveting Special Forces book out there but it’s definitely worth reading. Due to the nature and ongoing missions that this kind of Special Forces team carries out there are many questions a person could consider that are left unanswered, but again think Operational Security. A real person doing real world missions without considering one’s own life before the lives they are saving by “Doing bad things to bad people.” Or finding that needle in a haystack like a soldier snatched up by Hamas terror units and hiding that soldier in a labyrinth of a city full of potential enemies. Takes a special kind of mentality to look these kinds of personal struggles that can lead to death of not just the individual but a Team and the person they were sent to save in the eyes and then try and live a normal life there after. After reading one should watch Fauda on Netflix. The show follows an elite unit modeled after Israel’s real-life undercover unit, Duvdevan, in their ongoing battle against terrorism. It currently has 4 seasons and might touch up on what it’s like for an individual assigned to a snatch and grab team.
September 13, 2011
Aaron Cohen's "A Brotherhood of Warriors" is a memoir of Cohen's service in the Israeli Special Forces. in the 1990's Cohen served in the Israeli Army's Syaret Duvdevan unit.
The Syaret Duvdevan is a counter-insurgency unit which operates in the occupied territories and targets Palestinian insurgents/terrorists. Unlike most United States Special forces, who are generalists, it is a unit with a very specialized area of expertise. The unit carries out operations, but is not responsible for gathering or analyzing information, nor for determining which operations to carry out. Consistent with targeting paramilitaries in a civilian environment, it generally attempts to capture rather than kill it's targets and to minimize collateral damage and injuries. In this respect, it occupies an operational space bordering on that of swat teams.
Due to Israeli military restrictions, Cohen was clearly limited in regard to what he could write. Despite this, he manages to give the reader a good understanding of the process of personnel selection, training, and operations associated with the unit. Much of his experience is similar to what happens across most special forces. However the amount of physical fighting against members of his own team that was portrayed in the book seemed a very Russian trait rather than American.
"A Brotherhood of Warriors" is a well written and easy read. I would recommend it for anyone interested in Special Forces, the Israeli Military, or Counter-Insurgency and Counter Terrorism.
The Syaret Duvdevan is a counter-insurgency unit which operates in the occupied territories and targets Palestinian insurgents/terrorists. Unlike most United States Special forces, who are generalists, it is a unit with a very specialized area of expertise. The unit carries out operations, but is not responsible for gathering or analyzing information, nor for determining which operations to carry out. Consistent with targeting paramilitaries in a civilian environment, it generally attempts to capture rather than kill it's targets and to minimize collateral damage and injuries. In this respect, it occupies an operational space bordering on that of swat teams.
Due to Israeli military restrictions, Cohen was clearly limited in regard to what he could write. Despite this, he manages to give the reader a good understanding of the process of personnel selection, training, and operations associated with the unit. Much of his experience is similar to what happens across most special forces. However the amount of physical fighting against members of his own team that was portrayed in the book seemed a very Russian trait rather than American.
"A Brotherhood of Warriors" is a well written and easy read. I would recommend it for anyone interested in Special Forces, the Israeli Military, or Counter-Insurgency and Counter Terrorism.
April 18, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “A JEWISH BOY FROM *90210* BECOMES AN ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER!”
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One of Israel’s most highly respected Special Forces Unit is called “SAYERET DUVDEVAN”. The name “DUVDEVAN” is something of an inside joke to Israelis; it literally means “cherry”. As most native-born Israelis know, “there is a species of cherry in the Holy Land that looks no different from the edible variety, but which packs a strong and often lethal poison. As a Special Forces unit operating undercover disguised as Palestinian men and women, “DUVDEVAN” is the “cherry” that may look harmless but often proves deadly.”
The Jewish author Aaron Cohen was born in Canada and when his parents divorced moved with his Mother and sister to southern Florida. When Aaron was eight-years-old, as his mother was dropping him off at elementary school, she casually told him she was moving to Beverly Hills with his sister, but he couldn’t come with them. He would have to stay in south Florida with his Aunt. Aaron felt abandoned, as of course any young child would in the same situation. His mother was pursuing a career in writing in the entertainment industry. She wound up meeting an older writer and producer Abby Mann, who had won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie “JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG”. A year or so later Aaron wound up moving to Beverly Hills where a normal week might include visits to the house by Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. His Little League team was coached by “Sonny Corleone” himself, James Caan. “Caan would show up on his Harley with some gorgeous young woman on the back, and there was always a different girl for every game. He obviously hadn’t slept and was still bombed from the night before. Caan would show up at the ballpark blasted out of his mind, and start yelling and flipping out at the umpires for making a bad call. I was still pretty new to L.A. and seeing such over-the-top movie star antics was a little scary.” The author’s Mother and Step-Father were so caught up in their Hollywood lifestyle that he felt like a piece of furniture. When he was twelve-years-old he wanted to be Bar Mitzvah but his mother was tied up in one of her screen projects, so he asked if he could go back to Montreal to live with his Father, so his Father could fulfill his paternal obligation to help Aaron get Bar Mitzvah. During the year in Canada Aaron got into some trouble and was sent back to Beverly Hills where he got in more trouble and his Mother said: “Pack your bags, you’re going to Canada to Military School!” Aaron kept a poker face, “but for me it was actually a relief. Deep down I knew I needed some structure, some priorities, and most important, some discipline in my life.” It turned out to be “THE” positive turning point of his life.
The Robert Land Academy is located in the Niagara Peninsula south of Toronto. The headmaster of the school was an officer in the Royal Canadian Army, Colonel Scott Bowman. “He was a Canadian intelligence officer who had done a yearlong stint in Israel, working with an international peacekeeping delegation around the time of the Yom Kippur War in the 1970’s. During classes Colonel Bowman would talk about the Israeli Military. He told us that the Israelis were-bar-none-the most elite, cutting-edge military in the world.” Aaron became mesmerized by Colonel Bowman espousing over and over that the Israelis were the toughest, smartest, soldiers, and it was the greatest privilege of his military life to work with them. He admired their capabilities as soldiers, their values, and the totality of the commitment to self-defense that the State Of Israel represented.” Every waking hour Aaron spent in the library reading and studying everything available on the Israeli Military. When he was eighteen-years-old he decided to enlist in the Israeli Army, and when he went to Israel he set even higher goals. He wanted to be in the Israeli Special Forces, and he proceeds to lead the reader through the grueling, mind and body numbing training, that he had to “survive” in order to fulfill his dream. The unit he is selected for is the one that sends operatives disguised as Arabs into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank. The reader is “the-fly-on-the-wall” (up to the point of being limited by classified information) as Aaron and his team take down the number three guy in Hamas, a money guy, a fund raiser, with Aaron undercover as a reporter interviewing the target. On another occasion the reader is taken along as they go after “the father of the Holy War”, the Hamas mastermind behind the Dizengoff Mall bombing that killed innocent Israeli civilians. Aaron was undercover as a Palestinian selling sweet-corn from a push cart, as the Israeli’s infiltrated a wedding, and nabbed their man in sixty seconds. Throughout this fast-paced story Aaron points out the differences between Israel’s counter-terrorism strategies as compared to the United States. One of the great quotes referred to throughout the book is from a defining speech by one of the greatest military hero’s in Israel’s history *MOSHE DAYAN* who said back in 1955:
“WE CANNOT PROTECT EVERY WATER PIPE FROM BEING BLOWN UP, NOR EVERY TREE FROM BEING UPROOTED. NOR CAN WE PREVENT THE MURDER OF THE WORKERS IN THE ORCHARDS, NOR OF FAMILIES IN THEIR BEDS, BUT WE CAN EXACT A HIGH PRICE FOR OUR BLOOD, A PRICE TOO HIGH FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY, THE ARAB ARMY, THE ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO PAY.”
When Aaron comes back to the United States after serving in Israel 1996-1998 he has a rough time gearing down from what he was trained to be for the last three years of his life. As a Viet Nam era Veteran, I can vouch for the absolute validity, of even the most minute detail of his descriptions of his personal battle to return to the everyday role of an American civilian. Aaron now owns his own security business and since 9/11 his company has been besieged by American law enforcement to teach them the Israeli way of security. I wholeheartedly agree with the author’s warnings and suggestions for America in their fight against terrorism. This book may not describe the world the way you want it to be… but it describes it the way IT ACTUALLY IS!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of Israel’s most highly respected Special Forces Unit is called “SAYERET DUVDEVAN”. The name “DUVDEVAN” is something of an inside joke to Israelis; it literally means “cherry”. As most native-born Israelis know, “there is a species of cherry in the Holy Land that looks no different from the edible variety, but which packs a strong and often lethal poison. As a Special Forces unit operating undercover disguised as Palestinian men and women, “DUVDEVAN” is the “cherry” that may look harmless but often proves deadly.”
The Jewish author Aaron Cohen was born in Canada and when his parents divorced moved with his Mother and sister to southern Florida. When Aaron was eight-years-old, as his mother was dropping him off at elementary school, she casually told him she was moving to Beverly Hills with his sister, but he couldn’t come with them. He would have to stay in south Florida with his Aunt. Aaron felt abandoned, as of course any young child would in the same situation. His mother was pursuing a career in writing in the entertainment industry. She wound up meeting an older writer and producer Abby Mann, who had won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie “JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG”. A year or so later Aaron wound up moving to Beverly Hills where a normal week might include visits to the house by Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. His Little League team was coached by “Sonny Corleone” himself, James Caan. “Caan would show up on his Harley with some gorgeous young woman on the back, and there was always a different girl for every game. He obviously hadn’t slept and was still bombed from the night before. Caan would show up at the ballpark blasted out of his mind, and start yelling and flipping out at the umpires for making a bad call. I was still pretty new to L.A. and seeing such over-the-top movie star antics was a little scary.” The author’s Mother and Step-Father were so caught up in their Hollywood lifestyle that he felt like a piece of furniture. When he was twelve-years-old he wanted to be Bar Mitzvah but his mother was tied up in one of her screen projects, so he asked if he could go back to Montreal to live with his Father, so his Father could fulfill his paternal obligation to help Aaron get Bar Mitzvah. During the year in Canada Aaron got into some trouble and was sent back to Beverly Hills where he got in more trouble and his Mother said: “Pack your bags, you’re going to Canada to Military School!” Aaron kept a poker face, “but for me it was actually a relief. Deep down I knew I needed some structure, some priorities, and most important, some discipline in my life.” It turned out to be “THE” positive turning point of his life.
The Robert Land Academy is located in the Niagara Peninsula south of Toronto. The headmaster of the school was an officer in the Royal Canadian Army, Colonel Scott Bowman. “He was a Canadian intelligence officer who had done a yearlong stint in Israel, working with an international peacekeeping delegation around the time of the Yom Kippur War in the 1970’s. During classes Colonel Bowman would talk about the Israeli Military. He told us that the Israelis were-bar-none-the most elite, cutting-edge military in the world.” Aaron became mesmerized by Colonel Bowman espousing over and over that the Israelis were the toughest, smartest, soldiers, and it was the greatest privilege of his military life to work with them. He admired their capabilities as soldiers, their values, and the totality of the commitment to self-defense that the State Of Israel represented.” Every waking hour Aaron spent in the library reading and studying everything available on the Israeli Military. When he was eighteen-years-old he decided to enlist in the Israeli Army, and when he went to Israel he set even higher goals. He wanted to be in the Israeli Special Forces, and he proceeds to lead the reader through the grueling, mind and body numbing training, that he had to “survive” in order to fulfill his dream. The unit he is selected for is the one that sends operatives disguised as Arabs into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank. The reader is “the-fly-on-the-wall” (up to the point of being limited by classified information) as Aaron and his team take down the number three guy in Hamas, a money guy, a fund raiser, with Aaron undercover as a reporter interviewing the target. On another occasion the reader is taken along as they go after “the father of the Holy War”, the Hamas mastermind behind the Dizengoff Mall bombing that killed innocent Israeli civilians. Aaron was undercover as a Palestinian selling sweet-corn from a push cart, as the Israeli’s infiltrated a wedding, and nabbed their man in sixty seconds. Throughout this fast-paced story Aaron points out the differences between Israel’s counter-terrorism strategies as compared to the United States. One of the great quotes referred to throughout the book is from a defining speech by one of the greatest military hero’s in Israel’s history *MOSHE DAYAN* who said back in 1955:
“WE CANNOT PROTECT EVERY WATER PIPE FROM BEING BLOWN UP, NOR EVERY TREE FROM BEING UPROOTED. NOR CAN WE PREVENT THE MURDER OF THE WORKERS IN THE ORCHARDS, NOR OF FAMILIES IN THEIR BEDS, BUT WE CAN EXACT A HIGH PRICE FOR OUR BLOOD, A PRICE TOO HIGH FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY, THE ARAB ARMY, THE ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO PAY.”
When Aaron comes back to the United States after serving in Israel 1996-1998 he has a rough time gearing down from what he was trained to be for the last three years of his life. As a Viet Nam era Veteran, I can vouch for the absolute validity, of even the most minute detail of his descriptions of his personal battle to return to the everyday role of an American civilian. Aaron now owns his own security business and since 9/11 his company has been besieged by American law enforcement to teach them the Israeli way of security. I wholeheartedly agree with the author’s warnings and suggestions for America in their fight against terrorism. This book may not describe the world the way you want it to be… but it describes it the way IT ACTUALLY IS!
Read
August 4, 2011"Israeli-style tactics are the only proven method to successfully deal with terrorists on a tactical level." I couldn't put this book down the minute I started reading. The book is written from a pragmatist's point of view so there's no propaganda here (or I didn't perceive any). The author's life seems exciting and romantic at first, but ultimately he shows how the career of a warrior is de-humanizing and becomes an almost touching anti-war story. You don't have to worry if you don't know the complicated politics of the Middle East because the author just recounts his life in the military and its effect on him and how we all should try to perceive the world.
November 15, 2014
A lot of this book is similar to books I've read by Navy SEALs and their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, following the author's upbringing, the grueling training, the conflict the soldier participates in and the after effects of living this type of life. But this is set in Israel, and has a flavor you will not find among titles written by US soldiers. We may live in fear from 9/11, they live with terrorism as an every day reality that we cannot imagine. This book does a great job in describing what that reality is like, if you're interested in military history and/or current events in the Middle East, this is a great book!
July 31, 2016
A very unique true story about an American Jew, who heads to Israel voluntarily to join the Israeli army. Focuses a lot of the mental side of the training but very interesting
January 10, 2021
I read this book to give me insight into a family member's experience, and it did -- somewhat. Many parts of this memoir saddened me, and it underscored for me how important it is for a soldier to have a crystal clear reason for his service. Only if he places the higher purpose front and center -- and actively works to keep it there -- can he maintain his humanity. "Acharei hapeulos nimshachim halevavos" -- we become what we do. How we define the "doing" makes all the difference.
I didn't 'like' this story, because there was so much that was upsetting. I was disturbed by the narrator, his experiences, the others in his unit. We may have a "State of Israel" but what we have to do to remain there, makes it clear that we are still in galut -- even in Israel.
I didn't 'like' this story, because there was so much that was upsetting. I was disturbed by the narrator, his experiences, the others in his unit. We may have a "State of Israel" but what we have to do to remain there, makes it clear that we are still in galut -- even in Israel.
April 15, 2018
Anyone who is interested of how Israeli counter terrorism groups operate will enjoy this book. Not only does the training of the Navy Seals pale in comparison (Israelis do not have to worry about political correctness and legality as long as it prepares the contestants for the job ahead of them), but it shows how completely inadequate the training of American police and security personal is when it comes to combating terrorists, whether they are jihadists or not. If the rating would allow for 0.5 I would have given it a 3.5 only because of wide spread use of bad language. But then, it is to be expected in this kind of environment.
June 10, 2024
The book overall is disjointed and not the best writing style. It lacks profundity and clarity. The author expects the general reader to know what Hebrew slang words/phrases are without elaborating on many of them. The author comes across as pompous and then leans into it as a cornerstone of his culture. On top of that, the author makes baseless claims regarding military superiority throughout the entire book - claims that cannot be confirmed or backed up by a single nonpartisan historian or military expert. To make matters worse, the book isn't as engaging or interesting as one would expect with the topic at hand.
April 15, 2019
What does it take? What goes into being part of an elite Commando fighting force? Find the answers for yourself in this engaging story. A good read for all, but an education to those who do not, but want to understand the fight against terrorism. I found this book raw and powerful at times as i was pulled into the story. Great Military Read, Highly Recommended!
Review by Author Robert J Saniscalchi
http://robertjbooks.com
January 25, 2024
Drank Too Much Kool-Ade
Interesting to learn about Israeli techniques and training, but the author drank too much Kool-Ade in Israel. I found the ending quite annoying and very naive. Comparing the US and Israel on CT capabilities is comparing apples and oranges. The author’s knowledge of US capabilities and efficacy are narrow and uninformed, all the more so as I read them today, 16 years later.
Interesting to learn about Israeli techniques and training, but the author drank too much Kool-Ade in Israel. I found the ending quite annoying and very naive. Comparing the US and Israel on CT capabilities is comparing apples and oranges. The author’s knowledge of US capabilities and efficacy are narrow and uninformed, all the more so as I read them today, 16 years later.
May 11, 2017
I was disappointed with the writing. The book describes events in a matter-of-fact manner. At no point did I feel like I was immersed in the author's story from his perspective.
That said, the book was worth reading for the interesting inside information on how Israeli special forces are trained and how they run their missions. It also contained some interesting tidbits of Israeli history.
That said, the book was worth reading for the interesting inside information on how Israeli special forces are trained and how they run their missions. It also contained some interesting tidbits of Israeli history.
August 28, 2022
This is one of my favorite recent reads. Military biographies are actually one of my favorites genres. Aaron Cohen is a true Israeli hero and badass. Also he helped bring John Wick to life to that's dope. Also some interesting social commentary from an American/Israeli who's seen a lot of dark stuff and understands both sides of the government intervention for national security debate.
January 12, 2019
Interesting view of Israeli preparation
A moving tale of how Israel defends itself from Arab terrorism. Told by an American Jew with an insight few will ever experience. Well writen.
A moving tale of how Israel defends itself from Arab terrorism. Told by an American Jew with an insight few will ever experience. Well writen.
January 15, 2019
Educational
You may wonder why the Israelis have the reputation as the best, this book defines it. I was impressed by the comparison of US versus Israeli security measures. We US citizens have so much yet to learn. Great book!
You may wonder why the Israelis have the reputation as the best, this book defines it. I was impressed by the comparison of US versus Israeli security measures. We US citizens have so much yet to learn. Great book!
November 8, 2019
One must be a truly bad ass to rise in the ranks of the Israeli counter terrorist hierarchy. Cohen tells his story of doing so very well. It probably does his security business a healthy dose of good to be able to tell this story.
January 27, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed reading and imagining the exploits of the author and what he had to go through. It gave an insight into the lives of these special forces operators and their tactics. I couldn't put the book down.
July 7, 2021
This book was a fascinating look at how elite special forces in Israel operated not too long ago. The implications for what must be done in the US are profound, and I hope more of these practical, no-nonsense tactics and philosophies are being implemented in counterterrorism forces.
March 29, 2024
Fascinating account of an Israeli warrior
Excellent and gripping story of a ‘Fauda-style’ undercover operative in Israel. Gruesome training and dangerous and challenging missions took their toll, eventually.
Excellent and gripping story of a ‘Fauda-style’ undercover operative in Israel. Gruesome training and dangerous and challenging missions took their toll, eventually.
May 21, 2024
My politics do not change the fact that this is a very insightful and honest look at the gruesome training and brutal missions of the Sayeret Duvdevan. If you want to understand how men become monsters, this is a good start.
October 16, 2018
Lebahns@comcast.net
Fairly good story line with a lot of detail about life in the Israel Defense Forces. Example of what true friendship is.
Fairly good story line with a lot of detail about life in the Israel Defense Forces. Example of what true friendship is.
November 20, 2019
An American who joined the unit that the Netflix show Fauda is based upon.
A gripping portrayal of the training it takes and the psychological toll of being a ‘Warrior’.
A gripping portrayal of the training it takes and the psychological toll of being a ‘Warrior’.
December 10, 2023
A great “where there is a will there is a way” true story.
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