Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 in Exceptional Books

Jan 06, 2012 Muris rated it did not like it

What a silly piece of narration!? The authors thoughts confirm all stereotypes and biases about Americans. It seems that the purpose of the book is only to rectify all American atrocities done throughout Middle East during the so called "war on terror". We (American superheros) against them (wild barbarian beasts who are raised to hate our American way of life and who don't understand that we are killing them for their better future). The book is to be recommended only for the purpose of underst What a silly piece of narration!? The authors thoughts confirm all stereotypes and biases about Americans. It seems that the purpose of the book is only to rectify all American atrocities done throughout Middle East during the so called "war on terror". We (American superheros) against them (wild barbarian beasts who are raised to hate our American way of life and who don't understand that we are killing them for their better future). The book is to be recommended only for the purpose of understanding of the American unconsciousness.

Aside of the book purpose- it is a fairy tale filled almost exclusively with lies that can be swallowed only by small children: brave American heroes who stubbornly fight and kill all that is moving (the very way the brave cowboys were killing the Indians in movies), while at the same time blood was pumping out of their chests and stomachs or their heads being half-blown away; a Taliban fighter who was screaming after he was shot dead between his eyes - for an alleged unit medic quite ignorant assertions; and so on.

And on the end, just an example of the exaggerations in the book: 150-200 Taliban warriors in the battle, as reported in the book, turned out to be maybe only 20. Of which SEAL team has killed at least 80 :) so far so honest

From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operatio...

"There exists some conflict over the exact numbers of Taliban forces involved in the engagement, among other mistakes by some sources. In Luttrell's own official after-action report filed with his superiors after his rescue, he estimated the size of the Taliban force to be around 20–35. Initial intel estimates estimated approximately 10 to 20[3]. Official media reports from the military estimated the size of the Taliban force to be around 20 as well, while in the Medal of Honor citation for LT Michael P. Murphy, the Navy cited 30–40 enemies.[43] In the Summary of Action related to the same MOH, the Navy cites an "enemy force of more than 50 anti-coalition militia".[44] In his book, Victory Point: Operations Red Wings and Whalers – the Marine Corps' Battle for Freedom in Afghanistan, military journalist Ed Darack cites a military intelligence report stating the strength of the Taliban force to be 8–10, compared to the more than 200 claimed by Patrick Robinson in Lone Survivor." ...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Anne rated it it was amazing

I read this a few years ago and I still think of this book. I've seen some reviews that felt Marcus was a bit arrogant as he went on to tell all about how grueling the Navy Seal training was. And I admit, when I first started, I was a bit put off by the arrogance. But I am glad he spent a good deal of time detailing his training. What he went through just to become a Seal earns him a certain amount of arrogance. Not anybody can become a Seal. It was an amazing inside peak into a world that most ...more

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