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)

Very good read!

Interesting and informative story! I enjoyed the inside out approach and feel. It is always comforting to know there are valiant and highly-trained people in place to protect our country. I feel grateful to all those who serve our country in this way!

Awesome book

Would you consider the audio edition of No Easy Day to be better than the print version?

yes puts you right in the action.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Walt, Liked his sense of humor

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

He read it with a feeling that he was Mark

Outstanding Book a MUST READ!!!!!!!!!

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

Tells the Truth

What did you like best about this story?

The way the ramp up of his career to the climax at the end. While i was reading it even though i wasn't a SEAL. Being in the Navy during the same time as he was i could relate to the team mentality. THis story made me wish that i wasn't medically retired and i could have retired. I have and always will be proud to be a United States Sailor.

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

I wanted to listen to it all in one sitting but i had to break it up while i was commuting to and from work.

Like you are there experiencing it with him....

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

Exciting, see what these guys are put through by our government....

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mark, just how he tells the story...

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

No, but I will look up his other performances.

This is a must read.

Great narrator.

I recommend this to my best friend. He was reading it while waiting in an airport. Two servicemen saw him reading it and gave him a "thumbs up".

We have all hear the basic story, but this gives the real story.

Highly recommended.

A fascinating story, capably told

Would you listen to No Easy Day again? Why?

No, I got it the first time.

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

The extent of cynicism about political oversight, its processes and timidity.

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

Simple, "grounded" voice that I could pretend was the author's.

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

Yes, in the author's refusal to take personal credit for the raid.

Great truthful book

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

Thrilling story of hard Americans.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Boys from DEVGRU

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

No

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

Yes I could wait for the conclusion of the hunt for Bin Laden

Any additional comments?

Great read. I hope for a safe return to all that are down range.

Great book, easy to listen too!

I watched Zero Dark Thirty and wanted to learn more about the seal team perspective and yes this book gives it! It was so good I was excited to sit in traffic on the way to and from work just so I can listen to more.

Informative & enlightening !

Being anti-military as opposed to a buff of this topic, I approached No Easy Day sceptically. Given how steeped in the way of life the writer undoubtedly was, I felt it was an informative & enlightening read.

Great book.

Would you listen to No Easy Day again? Why?

Yes, it was such an easy listen. And the narrator talks like a normal person, not all hyped up like other books about SEALs. He shows that the SEAL teams are just normal guys not super humans. And of course the plot of the book is gripping.

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

The narration was clear and had no problems listening to him talk.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I don't usually listen to military books, but I'm glad I made an exception.