Lone Survivor

Marcus Luttrell

Lone Survivor is about four men, Navy Seals, on a mission in the Hindu Kush, the lonely mountains of Afghanistan, that turns out to be a disaster, leaving only one survivor, Marcus Luttrell, to recount this amazing story.

There is nothing politically correct about the author. Luttrell is a patriot, a Texan, and a Navy Seal. He has a very clear point of view and is highly opinionated. I found this to be part of the charm and integrity of the book. No matter whether one is a liberal or conservative or anything in between, it appears to me that the exciting and astonishing events recounted here will hold one’s rapt attention and provide hours of enjoyment.

Luttrell and Robinson do a great job of describing the almost beyond human capacity training that potential Seals must endure. It is no wonder that only a very small minority of those who apply make it through the training which culminates in “Hell Week”. It is a real eye-opener to get the inside view of this training process. It is most remarkable that even a few survive it. It is a wonderful testimony to the mental and physical resiliency of those who make it through to the end.

There is a lot to learn from this book, especially for those of us who have never been in the armed services or experienced the horrors of war. Things that I have never considered, like the Rules of Engagement, play an enormous role in this real life drama. There is no question that war is hell, and that the death and destruction claim many innocent victims. A story like this makes these abstract concepts personal and compelling.

Perhaps the most fascinating chapters dealt with Luttrell’s rescue and recovery in a Pushtan village. The experiences related and insights into the Afghani villagers and how they relate and interact with the Taliban was engrossing and informative.

This is a book that deserves to be read by everyone, men and women, people of all ages and political beliefs, and anyone who wants to be informed and entertained. This is a remarkable narration, proving once again that truth is stranger and more powerful than fiction.

I read many books and have reviewed many books on this website. I must say that this is one of the best non-fiction books I have read in years.

Review by Len Oppenheim

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