Lone Survivor

By: Marcus Luttrell, Patrick Robinson

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to have a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience for which two of his squadmates were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war.

©2007 Marcus Luttrell (P)2012 Hachette

Enthralling and authentic story of valor in combat

Any additional comments?

Don't pay too much attention to the complaints about either the narrator or the author's conservative politics. The reader may bother some, but I listened to this book straight through over the course of several flights out west, and loved it -- the only time I took it out was literally at TSA. As for his political views - he is a Navy SEAL, from Texas, right? Seriously - the narration is fine, and the authors occasional politics asides are amusing and endearing even to a liberal like as me, Well worth the credit.

True Tale of Courage and Honor

Where does Lone Survivor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've read quite a few histoy/military history books so far, and this ranks right up there as one of the best tales to date. Dick Couch's 'Warrior Elite' edges this one out as the best so far, and I mention it becuae there is a relation betwen the two books. In this story, Marcus Latrell, USN SEAL, talks about his training with BUD/S class 228, the same class that Mr. Couch expertly documented in his book.

The novel begins a bit slow, and the readers attempt at a 'texas good ole boy' accent is distracting, but once the story shifts to Operation Red Wing, the pace picks up. If you want to be inspired, truely inspired, then read this AND 'Warrior Elite'. Navy SEALS are not just the toughest, best trained fighting division in the world, they are also an ultra rare breed of men. Their stories are simply amazing.

Don't Bother With The Movie, This Is The Real Deal

What did you love best about Lone Survivor?

I loved the way that Marcus' family was supported so completely by his community and his shipmates. The SEAL training portion of the book was fascinating but there are better books dealing specifically with his training (The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 by Dick Couch). And, of course, the missions themselves were hair raising listens!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marcus - his story, his ethics, and his personal views on the media and politics came through loud and clear. I didn't agree with them all, but they were heartfelt and sincere.

Which character – as performed by Kevin Collins – was your favorite?

Marcus voice was well represented. Some reviewers have criticized Kevin Collins' "fake Texas accent". I am from Oklahoma and I thought he did a great job! You probably wouldn't want an authentic Texas accent; Boomhauer is from Texas but I wouldn't want him narrating this story, I tell ya hwat!

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

"In Afghanistan Everyone Can Hear You Fall"

or

"We Need Taller Actors In Hollywood"

Any additional comments?

If you must see the movie, read or listen to the book first. The endings are completely different. The book has a much more satisfying climax.

Hooyah Marcus,... right?

Would you consider the audio edition of Lone Survivor to be better than the print version?

Didn't read the print version. I can say that the narrator really gave it some personality. It wasn't always convincing but overall he added to my experience.

What other book might you compare Lone Survivor to and why?

American Sniper, obviously. Same state, same operating force, similar jobs and similar attitudes all though Kyle was MUCH more of a cowboy. Totally different situations and stories though.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Collins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No i have not.

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

No. Alot of it dragged for me. While it was needed and important, all the mourning was dull for me. I've never lost anyone close to me, i've never been in the military nor has anyone close to me. I respect it and i totally get it but there was nothing for me to tether to because I've never been there.

Any additional comments?

I really appreciate him humanizing the villagers. He obviously had every reason to, but it just makes it feel more real when a book that includes war isn't black and white. It's so elementary to hate and kill plain and simple. It's like a game. Red vs Blue. He did a good job, for the most part, of exploring the grey areas. It was good that patriotism and hatred didnt take the place of his conscious. Also i would like to note that the book was VERY inspiring. It really teaches perseverance.

narrated by Larry the Cable Guy breathing helium and imitating William Shatner on coke

Loved the book and movie. It's a great story. I got the audio version so I can listen to it again in the car. After about 15 minutes of listening to this 3rd year theater major who has clearly never been south of New Jersey do his best Texas accent, I was starting to think about swerving into oncoming traffic.
I think instead of finishing the audio book, I'll give my 6 year old son a dollar to just read it to me.

Good Book. Kevin Collins needs to take lessons.

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

Yes, because it tells a great story of what happened during Operation Red Wings. However, there is a LOT of Navy recruiting going on during the book. I understand Marcus is proud, and rightfully so. But I can not help but wonder if during the editing by the Navy if it was recommended to amp up the bravado.

How could the performance have been better?

The fake Texas accent put on by Kevin Collins was horrible. I got use to it about a 1/3 of the way into the book. There were times when he was talking about his fellow Seals screaming out that Collins cocked it up pretty good. The dramatic flare in points was less than desirable.

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

I listened to the book in 2 days. Once you got past the Seals training, which was necessary to understand the relationships, the actual story of Operation Red Wings was captivating.

Any additional comments?

On a personal note. What Marcus Lattrel and the rest of his Seal brothers endured and went through was saddening. There are highs and lows in the story and it makes you understand A. What it takes to be a Seal. B. What those heroes went through on the top on that mountain.

Great, but better with fewer political rants

First, I think the narrator does an incredible job. I don't think it is important that his "fake Texas accent" isn't perfect, but he is clearly a professional and inserts great emotion into the story telling. Sometimes a bit over the top, but that's OK, he's an actor and that's his job. He does a fair job trying to mimic other American dialects based on the characters speaking, too.

The story itself is also remarkable. I won't spoil it, but what Marcus went through and how he describes it is a work of art.

What I disliked most was the author's incoherent and regular bashing of his political enemies. He sounds less like a professional warfighter and more like a partisan spokesmouth when he does. I'm perfectly fine with an occasional jab that highlights how Government policies made his job harder. A bit of name calling is OK too, as I understand how passionate Marcus is about these things. I get all that. However, I'm not interested in recurring 10-20 minute rants about it. I don't want to take a break in the action of a gunfight to hear about the evils of American media, the rules of engagement, or other laws in which Marcus feels should not apply to him. This book could have been trimmed by at least an hour just removing the political rants.

My advice: Unless you enjoy political talk shows and tabloid opinion pieces, fast forward through the rants and enjoy the rest of the book, because it's excellent. I too am a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and I understand the hardship, though I've never suffered to this extent.

Epitomizes everything that's bad about America

I've read many accounts of troops in our current wars, and would recommend "Red Platoon," "The Outpost," and "Dead Men Risen."

This book is an extended right wing rant, and the author never stops patting himself on the back via the always-annoying technique of "humble bragging." This guy is the perfect example if why we get into stupid no-win situations, and he never stops talking about all the bullies he loves and looks up to. I can see why the tiny-brained folk would love this: It's a cartoon.

I'm two hours into this and it's still just rants and boasting. Bleah. I'm done. Save yourself some time and money and try one of the many excellent war accounts out there.

Written in "Skillet Head"

Flatly written, cliche-filled, naive, machismo, self-absorbed, rambling account by a blindly "patriotic" author who seems to have swallowed everything his "superiors" and Commander in Chief "W" Bush told him about the reasons for war in Iraq. Stupidly lumps all Afghanis as "blood brothers" of the perpetrators of 9-11 (and condemns them for it). We don't need to glorify war OR demonize an entire nation because of the brutal, misguided, Un-Muslim beliefs and actions of a select group of ruthless individuals. Thanks, but no thanks. A chore to listen to - even for a brief time.

This book should be a prerequisite for graduating

What did you love best about Lone Survivor?

The unholy bond between these men is beyond a normal mans comprehension, but did learn that Dick Marcinko left a mindset, that the SEAL of today has taken to another plane.

What did you like best about this story?

I served in the US Navy, and for the first time cried while reading a book. It taught me that the Afghan people are not all terrorists, and that was a huge lesson learned.

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

When the Afghan village took on the Taliban devils really moved me, but the downing of the Chinook made me ill, and the movie did this book justice, for the first time, that I know of.

Any additional comments?

The Spartons could not approach a USN SEAL, making them the greatest combat soldiers in the history of man kind. Loved the book, even though it was very emotional for me at times, as all us sailors are very proud of these special men.
On a footnote though, their was a huge mistake in deciding to go ahead with the mission, but this showed the humanity coming to the surface with a US soldier, and that is the difference that make the SEALs, that more special, as they knew this mission was doomed when they let the Taliban goat herders go on their way.