SEAL Target Geronimo

The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama bin Laden

By: Chuck Pfarrer

Narrated by: Erik Bergmann

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

The controversial New York Times bestseller that tells the "engrossing account of the military operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden." —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

On May 2, 2011, at 1:03 a.m. a satellite uplink was sent from Pakistan crackling into the situation room of the White House: "Geronimo, Echo, KIA." These words, spoken by a Navy SEAL, ended Osama bin Laden's reign of terror. SEAL Target Geronimo is the story of Neptune's Spear from the men who were there. After talking to members of the SEAL team involved in the raid, Pfarrer shares never-before-revealed details in an exclusive account of what happened as he takes listeners inside the walls of Bin Laden's compound penetrating deep into the terrorist's lair to reach the exact spot where the Al Qaeda leader was cowering when the bullet entered his head. SEAL Target Geronimo is an explosive story of unparalleled valor and clockwork military precision carried out by the most elite fighting force in the world—the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team Six.

©2011 Chuck Pfarrer (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Erik Bergman provides solid narration, reading in a voice that is deep, determined, and slightly raspy – all of which captures the tone of the author's prose and spirit.” —Publishers Weekly

“A marvelously engrossing account of the military operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden...Richly told in broad, cinematic strokes, this is catnip for readers who enjoy special-ops tales.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Pfarrer certainly had access. A SEAL Team Six assault-element commander in the 1980s, he is known inside the intelligence community for his well-regarded first book, Warrior Soul...He clearly had detailed conversations with senior officers in the SEALs' chain of command (especially Adm. William McRaven and then–SEAL Team Six commander Scott Kerr) and understands the vocabulary and the culture very well...SEAL Target Geronimo explodes a number of media myths about the raid to kill bin Laden...There was no "45-minute" running gun battle. The SEAL team fired only 12 bullets, and the whole operation lasted only 38 minutes...The most provocative part of the book is pure speculation: by killing bin Laden, did the SEALs accidentally do Zawahiri's dirty work?... As the British Foreign Office used to famously say: 'Interesting, if true.'” —Richard Miniter, The Daily Beast

A force to be reconed with

Would you consider the audio edition of SEAL Target Geronimo to be better than the print version?

yes, I think the author must help with emotions.

What was one of the most memorable moments of SEAL Target Geronimo?

Learning about seal training, those that first fall behind seme to become the best of the best.

What does Erik Bergmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

not sure

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

yes the part about the goverment lies same old,same old.

Any additional comments?

can't waite for sept 11 reliese.

Great Story Providing a new Angle

Chuck provides some new angles to the story and provides a good background, some is contested but adds great value to the story.

What a great story !!

Not only was this a great story but a history lesson to boot!! Chuck Pfarrer tells a story and gives credit were it is due.

Best on topic...

On this topic i would say this is the best. If you compare all the other books with the time that has passed since the raid you get a better picture of what was what and who got the story as close as possible. Another helping hand is the author was frogman himself.

All Americans should read this!

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

“SEAL Target Geronimo” is much more than a story of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. This book is about how men’s lives are molded into the warriors that eventually carried out the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. This book is an autobiography of Navy Seals including their training, historical missions, life experiences, and their surprising relationships with the American Government. In fact, every representative in our Federal Government should be required to read this book! I can understand why some of them wanted to silence the hero author, Chuck Pfarrer.

Impossible to Put Away. Stayed with Me for Days

Would you consider the audio edition of SEAL Target Geronimo to be better than the print version?

I found this after reading an excerpt of a book in a news magazine about the OBL hunt. I was looking at the audio version of that and tried the sample then I tried the sample of this one as it was on the same subject matter. I preferred this narrator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This book was Non-Fiction. I do not have a favorite character. I guess the historical background of the Middle East ranks high in my esteem but that is not a character.

What does Erik Bergmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He pronounced all the names and foreign entities and words so I did not struggle trying to sound out the phonics of names and organizations. Did a brilliant job of setting the scene and providing the prose with just the right amount of tension and believability.

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

The Lebanon story is just horrifying. The ending was very satisfying..

Any additional comments?

This book mirrors my own judgements of the powers that were. I got more than I bargained for in a totally good way. I served in the Army and did not cringe when the Radio was used. I will look for more books by this author.

Thank You US Navy Seals

Would you consider the audio edition of SEAL Target Geronimo to be better than the print version?

Only listen to audio books

What other book might you compare SEAL Target Geronimo to and why?

Service

Which character – as performed by Erik Bergmann – was your favorite?

There were no fictional "characters

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

When Osama took two in the head.

Any additional comments?

As much as I like hearing of their missions, Seal Team 6 should have remained "Need To Know"!

Rating reduced due to narrator's pronation.

The word "helo" is pronounced like "he low" not the greeting "hello"...every time it was pronounced wrong it sent me up the wall...otherwise the book is a great and informative book.

AWESOME

If you are interested in SEAL teams, or the raid in Abbottabad, this is the first book you should read, and maybe the only one you'll need to read.

The first half is about other SEAL operations focusing on the rescue of the Captain taken hostage by Somali pirates.

The second half is all about bin Laden in Abbottabad and this version, in my opinion, rings truest. The narrator is terrific and that helps too.

Great overall read

I love how the author touches on the many things that led to the killing of Bin Laden. Great information in the book was well read. Would suggest this to any level reader