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)

Unveiling of event was well done

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

Informative; direct; revealing

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

Personal information of his life from toddler to completion of college.

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

No

Any additional comments?

The format of the story of UBL assassination was well presented with the first chapter opening the story of the event with their helo riding to UBL; than jumping back to his childhood and taking us forward to the helo riding.

Gripping. The 'topic' alone makes it a MUST.

First of all, if you are thinking about buying this book in hopes of learning the secrets of US Special Operations, the USN SEALs, or DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6)... stop right now and go look somewhere else. Regardless of the media's or government's assertions, there is NO classified information disclosed in 'No Easy Day'. Everything mentioned and/or described in the book is information that is in the public domain. All names (other than major public figures, ex: ADM McCraven) have been fictionalized. Descriptions of any unit designations, equipment, weapons, tactics, etc... are all publicly accessible. In my opinion, the uproar has only been caused by the administration's embarrassment over their own (multiple) accounts of this operation being shown to be false. That being said, Mark Owen at no time was disrespectful to the administration. There is NO partisan or political statement being made in the book, other than some minor griping about the speed in which decisions are made throughout the chain of command. This book does not deliver an indictment of the military's civilian leadership or command structure at all. In that area, it is remarkably neutral.

There has been SO much curiosity about Operation Neptune Spear and so many 'who and how' questions, that unless the book was completely horrible - it would be recommended by anyone who read it. However, 'No Easy Day' is well written and tells the story of the mission and the operators who carried it out, very well. Owen does a good job in describing his childhood in Alaska, his progression in the Navy from enlistment through BUD-S and 'Green Team', his teammates and their various and varied personalities, the preparations and execution of the mission itself, and its immediate aftermath.

There is a philosophy among the men of the special operations community that they are "silent warriors". Both from necessity and tradition. And, it is an honorable philosophy. No former operator would want to disclose ANYTHING that might endanger those that continue to work in the shadows. There are many among them who, no doubt, will carry on with the tradition of considering a teammate who speaks out as persona non grata... although there are many who have written books on various topics from their time in 'The Teams' without such harsh judgment. If there were something in this book that I could not have learned from a trip through searches of google, dvids, or the blogosphere, I might agree with them in condemning the author. However, in this book I've seen nothing actually new other than the step-by-step timeline of how the operation in Abbottabad happened.

While it's not the most well-written book I've ever read, it IS quite good. Even though the subject matter is interesting to the point of it being ridiculous, this is a true page turner. The narrator can at times be a bit monotone and distracting, however that didn't make me consider stopping at any time. Overall, Holter Graham did an 'average to good' job with a book that will, no doubt, set records. To put it another way... You will NOT regret buying the book OR the audiobook. I've read and listened to them both multiple times and highly recommend them.

SEALS are very scary and facinating.

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

Can't in 3 words. It would have to be "Unromanticized account of the planning that went into getting back America's sovereign pride".

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved the interaction between the men during their SEALS training, during and after BUDS. They were so very matter-of-factly loving being in the machine that moulded such incredibly courageous warriors and disciplined men. It must be daunting being an ordinary American who owes so much to these men and their incredible families.

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

Yes, and then I listened to it again.

Finally some facts about the raid

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

I read/listened to "man hunt" first. I am glad I did even though man hunt got a lot of the raid's facts wrong, it provides a clearer picture since no easy day focuses on the tactical side.

Any additional comments?

I wish he would have kept it completely politically neutral. He did for the most part but you could tell from some of the writing that troops have fox news on their TVs (although not called out by name)

proud to be a American!

This story is mesmerizing. the story is action packed and the author really puts you in the moment. Thanks to ALL the U.S. service men and women all over the world keeping the United States of America safe.

So We Killed Obama and I need money....

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

Seal Needs Money

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

They Killed Obama. I wish I was there. The least? Well, no, it was a great book.

Which scene was your favorite?

The assualt on the compound. Finally. We got the worthless S.O.B.

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

"The most import event of the 21rst century."

Could not stop listening!

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

A riveting account of what the Seals do and the training for getting Bin Laden. What a great story.

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

I loved how it was not just what "I" did-it was we!

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

Graham made it feel like I was on the mission too.

Great story, bad delivery.

I have no doubt that it is because of operators like Mark Owen and his brothers in the all the various special operations units that the world is as safe as it is today. This is a great story of a Navy SEAL and his missions throughout Afghanistan and Iraq as well as training and life in the states. The only problem I have with this book is the narrator. There is no excitement. Almost monotone. When he does the dialogue of the books characters, it sounds like a bunch of children doing voice overs for cartoons. I know it can’t always be practical, but I believe that books like this one need to be narrated by the author. I think it gives character and life to the story. This narrator brings neither.

Very well written account.

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

Humble Accurate Succinct

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

Lone Survivor, Horse Soldiers Both are Navy Seal books and give personal accounts of real missions in Afghanistan.

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

Not sure

Very important historical document

What made the experience of listening to No Easy Day the most enjoyable?

I was very curious about the operation Geronimo that killed UBL. That book answered most of my questions