Bravo Two Zero - 20th Anniversary Edition

By: Andy McNab

Narrated by: Paul Thornley

Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

January 1991: IRAQ. Eight members of the SAS regiment embark upon a top-secret mission to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines. Under the command of Sergeant Andy McNab, they are to sever a vital underground communication link and to seek and destroy mobile Scud launchers. Their call sign: BRAVO TWO ZERO.

Each laden with 15 stones of equipment, they tab 20km across the desert to reach their objective. But within days, their location is compromised. After a fierce fire fight, they are forced into evasive action. Four men are captured. Three die. Only one escapes.

For the survivors, however, the worst ordeal is yet to come. Delivered to Baghdad, they are tortured with a savagery for which not even their intensive SAS training has prepared them.

Twenty years from its first publication, Bravo Two Zero still sets the gold standard for military memoirs. It is a breathtaking account of Special Forces soldiering: an action-packed chronicle of superhuman courage, endurance, and dark humour in the face of overwhelming odds.

©1993 Andy McNab (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks

Give it a go!

Where does Bravo Two Zero - 20th Anniversary Edition rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great book! Incredible story of survival! You won't believe what he endured!

What other book might you compare Bravo Two Zero - 20th Anniversary Edition to and why?

House to house

Which character – as performed by Paul Thornley – was your favorite?

Iraqi colonel

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

Compromised!

Legend Worthy SAS story

Great real life story of a legend worthy SAS operation. First half of the book is especially gripping. The second half while important to the story was a little long for me. This didn’t stop my overall enjoyment but Important to note while not giving the story away. I read the book when it first came out, but the audible version works well and is easy to listen to.

Great read and wonderful performance. Real to life

What made the experience of listening to Bravo Two Zero - 20th Anniversary Edition the most enjoyable?

The fact that I could relate to it having a relative that is in the armed forces

Which character – as performed by Paul Thornley – was your favorite?

The mail Character in the book

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

It kept me interested from start to finish.

Any additional comments?

If you like real to life stories that are military related, you will love this book!

Must read or listen

A truly great interpretation of the actions of brave young men in an extremely hostile environment. The actions taken by different members of B20 is brilliant. This story truly tells the background actions on both sides.

Gripping

Great story! I can’t believe I waited so long to ‘read’ this.
I really enjoyed the narration too. Although I know some have slagged it off a bit.

Reading a list

The narrator made it sound like he was reading a list of notes. I found this very annoying. The story was very interesting.

Revealing and honest

I knew the story outline before I read the book. I remember the story but listening brought out a lot more not just about the preparations and the team but also the honest way the mistakes and challenges were handled.
The most gripping part of this book is the lack of bravado and ego. He lets the reader into the lows and highs and takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions and battles.
Listening on audible the audio also adds to the intensity

Well told and Important Story

There is no special forces unit like the British SAS and Andy tells this story in a raw and truthful and very British way. He really puts you there while doing so in his bonafide tough hearted British street kid way. You don’t putty him or any other man from the regiment, you do, however, gain a sliver of understanding them.

One of the best books I have read in a while.

Well written and well narrated

This is well worth listening to. Great narration with bits of British humor and wisdom.

Great account of service

I enjoyed this book and his afterward and Q&A content. All of this written material brought the scope of Andy’s service to others.

Captivating Story of Human Endurance

So glad to have finally got round to this (audio)book. The narrator was perfect for the characters (although took 5-10 minutes to get used to his voice...persevere). This true story is enthralling and everyone can draw inspiration and learnings for their own life.

Even Better Than The Book

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

All I can say is this is a MUST listen to anyone interested in this type of book. The narration by Paul Thornley is fantastic.

What other book might you compare Bravo Two Zero - 20th Anniversary Edition to, and why?

Seven Troop

What about Paul Thornley’s performance did you like?

Fantastic

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

I listened to this book over a few days on the way to work.

BTZ

I first tried reading this book when I was 10 years old as I was so young I never finished it. After serving in the Royal Navy and taking part in the latest gulf conflict I can appreciate some of the story that was told but not the horrific tales of what these brave souls went through.
The last 40 mins brought it home for me what a fantastic book and a great credit to the guys and girls in our armed forces.

Gripped.

Read the book years ago this expands more on the other details of what happened after etc. brilliantly read compulsive listening thank you.

Can't stop listening again

I've listened to this about 5 times. It's brilliant and gives a grim insight into being captured.

Don't agree politically but very compelling story

As title says, I don't agree politically and only engaged with the book at a 'human' level, as the story of a group of people struggling to survive and persevere in hellish circumstances. Taken as such, the book is excellent. The level of detail the author recalls is quite extraordinary, and the story is thrilling, harrowing, and inspiring.

amazing

so much detail had me gripped from the beginning just shows what these boys have to do hats off to them

Voice

I love the book and read it the day it came as I’d served in the first Gulf War but the readers voice is so annoying it puts you off.

narrator was flat at times

the narrator was flat which may have impacted on the story content. it is what it is bit left me feeling sceptical about how honest the story was as well as wanting to know what was not shared.

Good insight into military operation

Andy seems like a tough cookie. The story gets pretty dark but he stays strong throughout.
The narrator let it down a bit, he reads the entire book like its a list with the same inflection on every sentence.