Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior

My husband is a former Navy officer, so we met a few SEALs in our travels. Every one was just as decent, honorable and diligent as you could possibly imagine. Denver's story is typical, in that no SEALs story is the same. Their is not cookie cutter for SEALs. He could be your tattooed, heavy metal loving dive instructor or your kids (often absent) 5.0 Sunday school teacher.
The description of BUDS was the most comprehensive I have ever heard. In real life you are lucky to get more than a "It was tough" out of one of them. I now get itchy every time I hear the phrase "sugar cookie". I do think one way to expand the program is to open another training school. While Coronado is the one good deal the Navy has to offer, I always thought it odd that while they have East and West coast teams, they only have one training program. If you opened another on the east coast (in VA Beach), you would never have to worry about how hard the program is, the natural competitiveness between the two branches would have them pushing the candidates. Particularly if at the end the big races are between teams from the two programs.
The book is mostly apolitical, but does address some of the bigger political tensions facing the program. Success does have its drawbacks, and one is the tendency to overuse the successful programs in too many situations. I do think Obama has had such success using the SEALs because he resists the temptation to overuse them. The missions they have been sent on (that we know about) are exactly in the mission intention scope of the SEAL program and that is partly why they have been so successful.
I saw Act of Valor when it came out and had no idea they were real SEALs! Rats. It was not obvious they were not actors. I had no recollection of the kissing scene he talks about, but the hostage rescue! Yikes! That I remember! I just thought it was true stories, not the true stories by the real people. Cool.
Now, I like when an author reads his own work. (Still annoyed with you Fahreed!) But his performance is read like a non actor reading his own words. Some mixing issues where you can tell something was added in later, but nothing too bad. I do wish you got to download the quote list and reading suggestions with the audiobook. That is the only thing that would make me recommend getting a physical copy over the audiobook version.

When he was in BUD/S & when he dealt with the bullies in elementary school.

He's a pit dead pan and would have liked to have seen more of his personality come through. The story might have been served better by a professional reader like Ray Porter. Loved his narration of Howard Wasdin's & Kevin Mitnick's books.

The BUD/S hallucinations made me laugh.

This was a very different book and Audiobook because the author narrated it. This made the flow of text and narration very natural. As a result I soon became hooked. Denver has a very unique way of prefacing thoughts and topics and then entering into it in depth and making his point. It was very effective and engaging and his authority and genuine passion for his work and service was obvious and came through clearly in the narration.

I liked the fact that Denver is the real deal and laid out what he could in a genuine way which was honest and matter of fact but indicated his incredible professionalism, his passion for his military career, his family, his friends and his genuine desire to write a book and narrate it to tell the truth about what he does and avoid the hype, but to do so with a sensitive touch that in the end only did himself and the Seals and his friends and family proud.

No, but I thoroughly enjoyed his narration of his own book which in itself is outstanding.

This book drew on a gammit of emotions and evoked so much thought. I was not prepared for the diverse emotions it would evoke.

This book is not just another Seal Book. It is an outstanding contribution to the topics of Seals, service, professionalism, sacrifice and the support that a Warrior needs to do such a job. I was thankful and grateful to hear of the role that family and friends have in supporting these extraordinary service personnel to do their job. It is a vocation and calling and one that should not be taken lightly and is not. This is an extraordinary record of Specil Ops Warfare in a very unique time in our world and political history. Special Operators and other Units of the services have all made very unique contributions that can only fully be measured by future eventualities that are still to come to fruition, despite some positive results and some negative ones as well!

this blew me away. lately i've been on a spy-novel book kick, and somehow i saw "damn few". wow. just wow. i guess if i had to guess what the very best US warriors went through to be trained, and what they did in combat, this book spells it out and makes it real.
i cannot relate, but i am thankful.

this author is, dare i say, a true american. he's a gentleman and well read. he's also a killing machine and proud of it. proud to serve, that is.

if this seems a little interesting - get it. you will not be disappointed!

Damn Few is the best of its kind.

American Sniper, Lone Survivor, and Service due to the branch of the US military and the intensity.

I've listened three times already. The anecdotes are awesome, the recounts of operations and the SEAL mindset are inspiring. Rorke's account would give any person thinking of becoming a Navy SEAL some good food for thought.

His recollection of SEAL training tells just enough of what it take to become a SEAL without revealing anything sensitive to national security.

Himself

It's already been done... Act of Valor seems already a good representation as Rorke advised and incorporated some elements of his actual experience into the film in which he performs as a SEAL.

Denver takes the listener into the hearts and minds of the warriors giving an insight few that have never been in combat could ever understand. The tight relationship between men that had been so different in civilian life is stressed.

Several other books look at the acts of war, but this one deals more with the men than their actual battles.

This is my first by Denver, but will not be my last

The ending was particularly moving, when a few visited Arlington. I have been there and understand.

To learn about the bravery of young Americans gives us hope for the future. On the evening news you hear about the youth that commit crimes and are failures. Fortunately the majority of our young men are like the ones in this story. The public needs to know about the ones that are the hope for our future.

Damn few was well written and very well put together. It flowed from one point to another without effort.

The history, honor (to self and country), the respect and how it was not based on immediate gratification but on sacrifice and determination.

This book should be mandatory reading/listening for today's generation. They need to learn about heroes, working for what you want, honor and patriotism. For way to many these items are missing in their lives.

A great, compelling and personal story of dedication, bravery and commitment.

Everything.

Absolutely

The description of the funeral of his colleague killed in action

A highly motivational story.

The fact that the author narrated the book himself is great. This made for a very authentic and personal experience.

Will be interesting to compare with 'Fearless' which I will be listening to next!

I would highly recommend this audio book. It's compelling, and written with real passion and love for the SEAL brotherhood. It pays homage to the bravery of the men who serve, and to the families who support them and hope they come home safely.