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)

Not my usual listen,but I liked it

not what I usually listen to but I found it very interesting,- listening to the mission from his point of view. it was different and enjoyable.

Fascinating! Patriotic! Intriguing! Revealing!

This is a fascinating and well-written book gives an insight to how our Navy Seals are protecting our freedoms on a daily basis. It just isn't about the Usama Bin Laden (UBL) mission, but goes much deeper than that. Hats off to the men and women in the Seals who are serving their country. I had no clue what goes into each and every mission they are involved in; it truly is amazing. Mark Owen does an excellent and honest job describing these missions and dispels many of the false media reports that followed the UBL mission.

Incredible story of unbelievable journey

Well done and riveting. Helps civilians like myself understand a small portion of what our military go through. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.

Inspirational story

love it.... this was my second time reading/ listening to this book. it was even better the second time.

Phenomenal book

This book was on a long reading and/or listening list but wasn't on my immediate radar to listen to for a while. For whatever reason I moved it up on this list and glad I did. Incredible story by a true American hero. I can't recommend this book enough.

Intense in informative

This was a very informative telling of the mission to kill UBL. I was captivated every minute and it made my commute much more exciting.

Easy to listen

The book is written as a story which assists with the more tactical/military language that is sprinkled throughout. Great story and captivates the reader even though we know the end, the completion of Bin Laden

Good read

Any additional comments?

gives some enlightenment into what special ops have to go through. The writer talks about everything from the mundane paperwork that bogs down missions, to what it takes to be a navy seal to the anticipation of a good mission to the lost of a friend and commrade. You can take the book for what its worth. Maybe it was spot on, maybe embelished abit. My grandfather fought in WW2 and had lots of stories. Im sure not all were 100% acurate, you tend to believe things slightly different than
the person next you. But all in all this was a fantastic read. Very glad i read it.

meh

I really wasn't that impressed. author erroneously feels he has some moral obligation to set the record straight by writing a book and that's his excuse for the seal novel. I appreciate the seals. I appreciate them less when they try to write books. Sorry bros.

tribute to our soldiers

great actor and story. great account of what happened on that mission and what the training of a seal is like