• The Bravest Man

  • The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War
  • By: William Tuohy
  • Narrated by: E.H. Jones
  • Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (491 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Bravest Man  By  cover art

The Bravest Man

By: William Tuohy
Narrated by: E.H. Jones
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

“There’s no margin for mistakes in submarines. You’re either alive or dead.” (Richard O’Kane)

Hailed as the ace of aces, captain Richard O’Kane, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his consummate skill and heroism as a submarine skipper, sank more enemy ships and saved more downed fliers than anyone else.

Now Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Tuohy captures all the danger, the terror, and the pulse-pounding action of undersea combat as he chronicles O’Kane’s wartime career - from his valiant service as executive officer under Wahoo skipper Dudley “Mush” Morton to his electrifying patrols as commander of the USS Tang and his incredible escape, with eight other survivors, after Tang was sunk by its own defective torpedo.

Above all, The Bravest Man is the dramatic story of mavericks who broke the rules and set the pace to become a new breed of hunter/killer submariners who waged a unique brand of warfare. These undersea warriors would blaze their own path to victory - and transform the “Silent Service” into the deadliest fighting force in the Pacific.

©2001 William Tuohy (P)2002 Books on Tape, Inc.

What listeners say about The Bravest Man

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    361
  • 4 Stars
    106
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    232
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    244
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Detailed portrayal of submarine service in WWII

This audiobook was an in-depth and fast-paced telling of the role of US submarines in the Pacific during WWII. The aggressiveness and bravery of the men on these vessels was captured well, and Dick O'Kane's exemplary behavior is amazing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen for a Navy Dad

My son joined the Navy last year with the goal of joining the sub force. He won't ever really be able to say much about what he does, so he suggested this as a history.

I enjoyed the stories of Subs in the Pacific and the way they were assembled around a cast of real life heroes.

I did not expect to be so starkly reminded of what true heroism looks like. It was inspiring.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Riveting Presentation

A riveting presentation of information that has been covered many times, but never, as far as I have seen, with such elan. Appropriate for WWII’s corsairs.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story of the men who served on submarines

Fantastic work by the author and well read by the presenter. Makes you appreciate the freedom we have provided by these fine men

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Rehash

If you have read the Navy Dept.s history of US Subs in WWII, and perhaps George Griders book you will find there is little new info here. Well told just the same. Lots of attention to detail about the Academy lives of the subjects in the book. It was worth the time to listen to it, but the roar of the depth charges comes out more like a "pop".

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

Would you listen to The Bravest Man again? Why?

Yes I would, hard to fine a better story about our nations greatest submariner and the sub wars of WWII

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

I'm a submariner, what do you think?

Any additional comments?

The narrator was decent, definitely a lot worse out there. But too many acronyms, islands, and military words spoken incorrectly. Irritating when such a fantastic book is ruined by such lazy research by a narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great submarine story!

Great submarine story. Much enjoyed by a submariner, his wife, and his kids! We liked the history and presentation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written history!

A great saga, well researched & delivered in a interesting saga of teams of great folks overcoming adversity.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

an unbelievable human being.

Richard O'Kane. An honorable, compassionate, kind human being. A simple man. we need more like him. Especially today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Certified Hero & Badass

This was the most profound and in depth book I have ever experienced about WWII. so many stories that have never been told.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!