No Easy Day

The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden

By: Mark Owen, Kevin Maurer

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

For the first time anywhere, the first-person account of the planning and execution of the Bin Laden raid from a Navy Seal who confronted the terrorist mastermind and witnessed his final moments....

From the streets of Iraq to the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean, and from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama Bin Laden's compound, operator Mark Owen of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group - commonly known as SEAL Team Six - has been a part of some of the most memorable special operations in history, as well as countless missions that never made headlines.

No Easy Day puts listeners alongside Owen and the other handpicked members of the 24-man team as they train for the biggest mission of their lives. The blow-by-blow narrative of the assault, beginning with the helicopter crash that could have ended Owen's life straight through to the radio call confirming Bin Laden's death, is an essential piece of modern history. In No Easy Day, Owen also takes listeners onto the field of battle in America's ongoing War on Terror and details the selection and training process for one of the most elite units in the military.

Owen's story draws on his youth in Alaska and describes the SEALs' quest to challenge themselves at the highest levels of physical and mental endurance. With boots-on-the-ground detail, Owen describes numerous previously unreported missions that illustrate the life and work of a SEAL and the evolution of the team after the events of September 11.

In telling the true story of the SEALs whose talents, skills, experiences, and exceptional sacrifices led to one of the greatest victories in the War on Terror, Mark Owen honors the men who risk everything for our country, and he leaves listenres with a deep understanding of the warriors who keep America safe.

©2012 Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"This harrowing, minute-by-minute account by one of the highly trained members of Navy SEAL Team Six is narrative nonfiction at its most gripping.... No Easy Deal puts you right there for every tense moment." (Entertainment Weekly)

"Gripping.... There is no better illustration in No Easy Day that SEALs are ruthless pragmatists. They think fast. They adapt to whatever faces them. They do what they have to do." (The New York Times)

"[Mark Owen] has given us a brave retelling of one of the most important events in U.S. military history." (People)

Excellent Narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've recommended this book to all of my friends

What was one of the most memorable moments of No Easy Day?

Mark Owen's life story

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

He has an excellent voice for narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

The author should be commended for presenting this book to the public.

One of the best books ever

This was one of those books you hated to end,written extremely well, not drawn out just right

Wow

Where does No Easy Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is with out a doubt in my top 5!! What an unbelievable story!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am so thankful for the sacrifice all of our service men and women, and their families, have made for us to live in this great country and be free!!

First hand account of an elite navy seal

I looked up this book after the various 'controversy' about it came out. I decided to listen to it regardless of whether Mark Owen acted correctly or not with regards to "secrets." I enjoyed the story a lot, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the military or just in the raid itself. I wasn't crazy about the narration - the narrator sounded a bit 'young' and didn't fit the 'grizzled hard core military' type guy but he did an admirable job keeping it entertaining. If you're interested in the Osama bin Laden mission, this is an excellent account. If you're interested in elite military forces, I would recommend "Inside Delta Force" as that book goes into more detail about training and day-to-day operations.

Mission Accomplished

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book to a friend.

What did you like best about this story?

It ws a true story about true heroes.

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The book was read perfectly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

True American Heroes

Any additional comments?

Living in the DC area on 9/11/2001, and knowing someone in the Pentagon that was killed, I found this book fascinating. Regardless of what the actual details are of how the mission took place, it needed to be done. It made me proud to be an American to think about those Navy Seals training and executing the mission to perfection.

read the book

If you could sum up No Easy Day in three words, what would they be?

Very good

What other book might you compare No Easy Day to and why?

Usually read fiction. One book about detailed mission killing is enough.

Which scene was your favorite?

The honest ending.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO. Lots of abbreviations. Talked about guns and weapons that I did not know exactly what they were talking about. But you get the idea.

Any additional comments?

The reader was perfect. Finally an accent that I could understand. I get tired of these English readers. One Irish guy I could not understand at all and had to return the book. My favorite part was the ending where the author stated that a majority of the proceeds will go to Navy Seal charities. It was very moving how he talked about how the ordinary citizen can make a difference in this world.

awesome story told about America's most elite

I never knew which story to believe when looking into Bin Laden's end, but this one set it straight and put me at ease knowing that American's have the best special operations forces in the world protecting us at all times even if we have no clue. I'm proud to have people like Mark to tell there story and give us a small look into there very very special lives. Thank you

Great listen

The author was great to keep the anonymity of the stories of these Navy Seals. Would recommend this to anyone that has a desire to know a little bit more about the military.

good account

Where does No Easy Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

high

What was one of the most memorable moments of No Easy Day?

the sacrifice made by the seals

Which character – as performed by Holter Graham – was your favorite?

the main character

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

their preparedness to sacrifice their lives

Any additional comments?

worth the read

Good

Good book and a great listen and has a good story with the info on the book