Rachel Falk
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Conquering Crisis
- Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them
- By: Admiral William H. McRaven
- Narrated by: Admiral William H. McRaven
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Throughout his 40-year career, Admiral McRaven has experienced every manner of calamity imaginable. From managing failed hostage rescues to responding to student unrest, McRaven has learned how to successfully navigate crises—those moments that push the limits of your experience and challenge your confidence, when leadership skills alone may not be enough.
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Bravo Admiral
- By Empress Karen on 04-23-25
- Conquering Crisis
- Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them
- By: Admiral William H. McRaven
- Narrated by: Admiral William H. McRaven
Clear concise narrative of the correct and honorable way to approach crisis management.
Reviewed: 06-16-25
This book is a fine mix, with good balance, between the discussion of general principles of crisis management, set against compelling real-world crises and how they were managed or mismanaged. The listing of key takeaways for each major principle of crisis management was valuable in recapturing the crux of the message; it also served to give the reader/listener the opportunity to recognize how these components fit together to form a unified whole concept of action steps, to establishment of the teams that will be expected to be available to assist or facilitate carrying out these various operations, to the greater picture of how this pre-planning, in-crisis adaptation to accurate information as well as to set aside the unproductive blame game, and actually work the problem, to the after-effects of any such crisis on yourself, your workforce, and your brand. All can, should, indeed must be attended to if one hopes to preserve any semblance of viability.
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Never Quit
- From Alaskan Wilderness Rescues to Afghanistan Firefights as an Elite Special Ops PJ
- By: Jimmy Settle, Don Rearden
- Narrated by: Chris Abell
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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"That Others May Live" is a mantra that defines the fearless men of Alaska's 212th Pararescue Unit, the PJs, one of the most elite military forces on the planet. Whether they are rescuing citizens injured and freezing in the Alaskan wilderness or saving wounded Rangers and SEALs in blazing firefights at war, the PJs are the least known and most highly trained of America's warriors. Never Quit is the true story of how Jimmy Settle, an Alaskan shoe-store clerk, became a Special Forces Operator and war hero.
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Unbelievable Heroism by AF Parajumpers
- By Larry on 11-26-17
- Never Quit
- From Alaskan Wilderness Rescues to Afghanistan Firefights as an Elite Special Ops PJ
- By: Jimmy Settle, Don Rearden
- Narrated by: Chris Abell
THE BEST NONFICTION BOOK I’VE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF READING IN MY 64 YEARS.
Reviewed: 06-14-25
As a lifelong student of warfare, from the macro (political and economic forces that trigger conflict as opposed to diplomacy) to the strategic (the larger picture commanders objectives and intentions) to tactics (how small units actually accomplish the mission), and finally to the individual warrior (who is equipped and trained, then enters battle and their oftentimes compelling narratives), I’ve read well over 250 texts on the topic. Having briefly served as well (USMC), I’ve read the manuals, studied the TTPs, and have some albeit during peacetime, lived experiences in uniform, I truly thought there was no text, no treatment of the the topic that could not only jolt me out of my false belief that I was a well-rounded expert in the topic/field, but also move me emotionally to the point of tears; this book, “Never Quit”, by Air Force PJ Jimmy Settle, has profoundly impacted and inspired me. Inter-service rivalries might have been at there peak in the early 1980’s when I served, with both good natured jabs as well as serious debates and disagreements over funding per branch; with the Air Force being a large target for both jokes and frankly envy over their relatively large budget, nice accommodations, and professional but non-abusive approach to training. I knew there were tier one operators in the Air Force, but had little contact with then (though I was Force Recon), and knew even less about their training pipeline. Needless to say at this point in my narrative, I was ignorant in the extreme when it came to both the intensity and duration of their training cycles and various speciality schools, as well as to the core warrior ethos that drives their training and their abilities in combat action. The GWOT generation’s warriors, from across the branches of the service, are in my opinion a reflection of what made folks call WW II vets “The Greatest Generation”. Comparisons between the two sets of warriors would be unfair, unwise, and ultimately not a fruitful endeavor, for they served under very different circumstances (e.g., draft vs. all-volunteer; in combat until the conflict has concluded or the individual is killed or wounded vs. a set rotation with a known exit date for at least that deployment; a five year war vs. a twenty year war; and on and on). But I believe it is more than reasonable to assert that the current crop of warriors is worthy of being called a 21st Century version of The Greatest Generation. I owe the Air Force and its personnel a huge apology, for both my inter-service ribbing, but more importantly for my willful neglect to dig into their history, traditions, accomplishments, and most striking to me, the heroism that is the equal to any, and I mean any other inspirational historical figure, be it Alvin York (WW I), John Basalone (WW II), or the 3,000 folks who have earned our Nation’s highest military recognition, the MOH - Congressional Medal of Honor. While the author under consideration in this review did not receive the MOH, indeed he was in my opinion under-recognized for the valor he displayed in the toughest of circumstances, well beyond the call of duty. Of course, this can rightly be said for perhaps 80-85% of all who actually participated in combat. The point is not failure to adequately aware metals and citations, but rather how common the truly incredible is among our fine young men and women who volunteer to put service above self. I am in awe of your conviction, courage, and grit. I am inspired by these many selfless acts, and the backstory of training, long separations from loved ones, commitment to professionalism at the highest of levels in whatever chosen MOS, and being willing to step up and step in to slay the dragons in one of the most divisive and turbulent times in modern history. Bravery is insufficient a term. Thank you for penning this important book.
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Beyond the Call of Duty: The Life of Colonel Robert Howard, America's Most Decorated Green Beret
- American War Heroes
- By: Stephen L. Moore
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Robert Howard grew up in poverty in a small town in Alabama, with a strong sense of faith and determination. When he enlisted in the army at age seventeen, his Granny Callie’s words echoed in his head, and he pledged to follow them to the bitter end. In the most dire of combat experiences, Howard ran directly toward his opponents, sacrificing his body to protect others and to complete the mission above all else. Time and time again, he survived battles that should have claimed his life, suffering countless bullets, a spinal injury, and shrapnel and blast wounds.
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If you know the name Alvin York, and Audie Murphy, you’d better know the name Robert “Bob” Howard!
- By Rachel Falk on 06-09-25
- Beyond the Call of Duty: The Life of Colonel Robert Howard, America's Most Decorated Green Beret
- American War Heroes
- By: Stephen L. Moore
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
If you know the name Alvin York, and Audie Murphy, you’d better know the name Robert “Bob” Howard!
Reviewed: 06-09-25
Throughout the Vietnam war there were many top secret programs that made a massive, albeit unrecognized by the public, and under-appreciated positive impact upon the war effort. Perhaps no other collection of elite military men in the history of modern warfare have a story bank as rich, powerful, and valiant as those involved in SOG. Yet, with the exceptional number of warriors whose personal contributions to the war’s effort are almost too outrageous to believe, believe them, believe them all. And above all other SOG warriors stands one apart, Robert Howard. To not know his story is to not know history, to not know what is possible when one has faith in one’s Country, courage to match, and a skillset diverse enough to advance upon any challenge and conquer it decisively. A must read.
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War Stories - Supernatural
- True Accounts of Paranormal Encounters on the Front Lines of History
- By: James Calloway
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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When the fog of war lifts, something else remains. In the trenches, in the jungles, beneath the roar of artillery and the screams of battle, soldiers across history have reported chilling encounters that defy explanation. War Stories: Supernatural explores the strange, the spectral, and the terrifying accounts of paranormal phenomena experienced during 20th-century warfare. From ghostly battalions and haunted bunkers to phantom lights in the skies and cursed artifacts buried beneath battlefields, this book compiles the eerie testimonies of those who faced not only human enemies—but ...
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Unique take on war’s power on the mind.
- By Rachel Falk on 06-05-25
- War Stories - Supernatural
- True Accounts of Paranormal Encounters on the Front Lines of History
- By: James Calloway
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
Unique take on war’s power on the mind.
Reviewed: 06-05-25
An interesting collection of supernatural stories from wars across time that just don’t fit the classic combat narrative. While the book is definitely woo woo, it takes a more nonjudgmental stance on the matters retold, offers up a few rational alternative explanations, but leaves the reader to determine whether the events encountered are the effects if the stressors of war, the consequences of unfamiliar situations and unspeakable carnage, or otherworldly observations. Interesting.
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Across the Fence: Expanded Edition
- The Secret War in Vietnam
- By: John Stryker Meyer
- Narrated by: John Stryker Meyer
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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For eight years, far beyond the battlefields of Vietnam and the glare of media distortions, American Green Berets fought a deadly secret war in Laos and Cambodia under the aegis of the top secret Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group, or SOG. Go deep into the jungle with five SOG warriors surrounded by 10,000 enemy troops as they stack up the dead to build a human buttress for protection. Witness a Green Beret, shot in the back four times and left for dead, who survives to fight savagely against incredible odds to complete his missions.
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Great Great Great
- By Stuta on 02-26-20
- Across the Fence: Expanded Edition
- The Secret War in Vietnam
- By: John Stryker Meyer
- Narrated by: John Stryker Meyer
Unbelievable, but absolutely true combat stories.
Reviewed: 05-19-25
A great series of recon missions “across the fence” during the Vietnam war. The author reads the text, which as it’s upside and downside; upside, first-hand accounts told by the person who lived them, downside, the author is perhaps not the most polished of narrators. On balance, the book, whether read or listened to, is well worth the time. It’s outstanding in its descriptions of the various missions undertook by MAC-V-SOG, from the mid 1960’s through the early 1970’s.
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The Rifle
- Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand
- By: Andrew Biggio
- Narrated by: Shawn Compton
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The Rifle is the inspirational story of a 28-year-old US Marine, Andrew Biggio, who returned home from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, full of questions about the price of war. He found answers from those who survived the costliest war of all - WWII veterans. It began when Biggio bought a 1945 M1 Garand Rifle, the most common rifle used in WWII. When Biggio showed the gun to his neighbor, WWII veteran Corporal Joseph Drago, it unlocked memories Drago had kept unspoken for 50 years.
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A must read
- By david cohen on 06-03-21
- The Rifle
- Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand
- By: Andrew Biggio
- Narrated by: Shawn Compton
Riveting Vignettes from the Greatest Generation.
Reviewed: 05-09-25
The book, “The Rifle” does not disappoint the reader from its opening remarks to its conclusion. The real first-hand accounts of diverse citizen soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines from across the service sectors and throughout the battlefields of WW II provides a vivid account of how our diversity is indeed one of the great traits that makes America such a special place with such special everyday people. The book’s concept is unique, in providing an artifact that’s iconic to that period of our military history to those who would have trained and fought with it, seemingly did exactly what the book’s author intended; namely to trigger those strong yet far too often suppressed memories, feelings, and the context in which they found themselves in the struggle of their lives. A struggle that is intensely personal, yet profoundly important to how our world was shaped for the better, indeed saving us as a people from evil tyrannical rulers with twisted ideologies and horrific practices against both their own citizens and against the citizens of other sovereign nations. This book is outstanding at providing that first-person “I was there” narrative that really cuts to the heart of why we fight.
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Out on Foot
- Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of a US Border Patrol Agent
- By: Rocky Elmore
- Narrated by: Richard L. Palmer
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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When Rocky Elmore joined the United States Border Patrol, he knew it would be a journey fraught with danger. But little did he know that the very real trails he walked night after night would soon lead him into surreal encounters from a different dimension. This was never more evident than when the ghost of a recently fallen fellow agent began to appear on top of the cliff from which he died. It marked the beginning of the end to one of the most bizarre series of events in the history of the US Border Patrol.
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Spine tingling non-fiction, awesome!
- By Jackie on 06-20-16
- Out on Foot
- Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of a US Border Patrol Agent
- By: Rocky Elmore
- Narrated by: Richard L. Palmer
The diversity of requirements and the unique experience that is being a US Border Patrol Agent!
Reviewed: 05-03-25
Wow… crazy series of exceedingly diverse experiences while performing the all-important duty of protecting our Nation’s sovereign borders! This book is NOT politically driven whatsoever, which was outstanding. The only times the author speaks of any sort of politically charged matters is when he makes the clear, concise, legally and ethically correct definition of what constitutes an “illegal alien”; namely, violating our Federal Laws regarding immigration and naturalization. “Undocumented alien” really has no meaning in terms of differentiating those who enter our Country through approved immigration or visitation channels, versus those who seek to enter our Country without permission or vetting. So, if you’re looking for a spirited debate on immigration as seen through politically divisive eyes, look elsewhere. The book “ Out On Foot” gives the reader/listener a rare glimpse into the day-to-day, and more harrowing, the night-to-night patrol activities of our Border Patrol LE members. I had no idea that they oftentimes/usually patrol as individuals, without a partner alongside them. To me, it would be akin to sending a single soldier or Marine into a remote area, alone, with spotty radio coverage, to find, fix, and detain anywhere between 7-25 folks, with unknown and diverse motives or intent for crossing at somewhere other than a designated border location/station. Just those stories would make this book worth the read. Added to this however is the author’s personal experience while on patrol with things that just can’t easily be explained… the paranormal. A great read. Highly recommended.
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Fallujah Memoirs
- A Grunt's Eye View of the Second Battle of Fallujah
- By: Alexander Saxby
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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The Second Battle of Fallujah was a watershed moment in the Iraq War. US Marines recaptured the city in some of the heaviest fighting since Hue City. Put yourself in the midst of the action with the Marines during the most significant and bloodiest battle of the war! This first hand account gives readers a front row seat to modern urban combat with Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. Picking up Fallujah Diary, readers will find out exactly what it takes to fight house to house in the deserts of Iraq. This is not a story written from the perspective of generals, commanders, or ...
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Unbearable Virtual Voice.
- By Anonymous User on 06-20-25
- Fallujah Memoirs
- A Grunt's Eye View of the Second Battle of Fallujah
- By: Alexander Saxby
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
Honest ground-truth account of modern urban warfare.
Reviewed: 05-01-25
The actual storyline of this book is very well laid out, and articulated in a concise yet coherent manner. The key flaw in this book has nothing to do with the text whatsoever, rather, the “virtual voice” narration of it shows the glaring ignorance of military conventions and language usage. Even the non-servicemen will probably be as bothered as I was by the consistent misuse of acronyms and/or letter strings to describe the status of individuals or their weaponry. One example, when the author does, as he should, in listing the Marines or Navy Corpsmen who are injured or killed in combat, the darn virtually interpreted status is not “W “I” “A” - Wounded In Action, or “K” “I” “A” - Killed In Action, but rather it sounds like two girls and or Korean cars are injured or killed… Kia or Mia. That was more than off putting, it was at some level disrespectful of the sacrifice. I’ve come to learn, after having read well over 500 hard-copy texts on military history, strategy, tactics, and combat, and at least another 150 audio treatments of various books, the only true non-starter for me these days in terms of listening to a book is whether the title is read by a human or a machine. I will no longer pay anything for a book that’s “read” (misread) by a computer generated voice. Just not worth the distraction and aggravation. Nevertheless, this book was “free” with my Audible subscription, so it wasn’t as upsetting as if I’d put sown extra money to hear it. In short, if you can suffer through the poor use of military jargon, much of which is actually in common use among the general population, it’s worth a listen. More to the point, unless reconfigured to have been read by a human, I’d suggest actually purchasing the text itself. The story is good, important, and provides a grunt’s eye view of modern street warfare.
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Beyond Band of Brothers
- The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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They were called Easy Company, but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered huge casualties while liberating Europe in an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy, where Easy Company reached its breaking point, and finally into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Outside Munich, they liberated an S.S. death camp and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler's alpine retreat.
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I listen to this over and over
- By David Ewing on 08-10-07
- Beyond Band of Brothers
- The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
Leadership manual applicable to all.
Reviewed: 05-01-25
Band of Brothers, the mini-series from HBO became an instant classic “must watch” series upon its release. While Dick Winter’s character is given a central role in the series, the medium itself, television, is simply not the the venue to delve into the depths of a person as seemingly straightforward as the man truly is complex. His personality, character, thoughts, words and deeds are based on an exceedingly strong code of conduct. This war diary is really the original version of the currently popular “Extreme Ownership” movement, as popularized by Navy SEAL Jacko Willink. Must read/listen.
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No Way Out
- A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan
- By: Mitch Weiss, Kevin Maurer
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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In a remote enemy-held valley in Afghanistan, a Special Forces team planned to scale a steep mountain to surprise and capture a terrorist leader. But before they found the target, the target found them. The team was caught in a deadly ambush that threatened not only their lives but the entire mission. The elite soldiers fought huddled for hours on a small rock ledge as rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-gun fire rained down on them.
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Great book
- By Retired Recruiter on 03-31-17
- No Way Out
- A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan
- By: Mitch Weiss, Kevin Maurer
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
Intense!
Reviewed: 04-29-25
As a student of military history and combat in the 20th and 21st Century to-date, this book provides the reader with the most glaringly apparent parallels to, and divergences from our long and ultimately ineffective attempts to bring peace, stability, and freedom to a foreign land. First and foremost, the SF officer who demanded that both the operation move forward without alteration, after the repeated and vigorous protests of those SF pros who would actually be executing the op, and demanded that it have “an Afghani face on it” should have faced a career ending event. If he was allowed to even remain in the military, much less SF, or worse still, continue to advance in rank would be, in my opinion, truly criminal. The second half of that condemnation also applies to whomever up the chain of command, including, perhaps especially politically driven leaders, should also be subject to career ending consequences. As to the account of the events of that particular op, it was as vivid, accurate, unflinchingly honest retelling of the chaos of battle that I’ve ever heard or read. The description and discussion of the strategy and tactics involved were spot on. Both how the attack should have been executed, as well as the debacle of a plan that was forced upon these SF operators, are easily understood by even the uninitiated in military TTPs. In comparison and contrast to the Viet Nam conflict, the current crop of SF direct action operators stacks up well with the professionalism, daring do, and ability to improvise under extreme conditions seen in the 8 year secret war in South East Asia by SOG recon teams. Ironically, by and large one glaring difference is the performance of the SF indigenous forces that were operating with our American force multipliers. The SOG indigenous forces were highly courageous, and performed in the field with expertise that can only be truly gained by actually living where you have to engage in battle. The Afghans were, contrary to the SOG ingenuous personnel, more akin to the reputation of the South Viet Nam Army’s, who on the whole seemed less invested in the protection and defense of their own country than were the American mainstream military forces. An unwillingness to fight, to misuse or fail to retain their American hardware, and leadership based more upon political or other (corrupt) considerations was also deeply flawed to the point of being reckless to pair them with American lives. The “commandos” indigenous forces that were demanded to be taken to this battle, to “put an Afghan face on it” stinks of political driven propaganda vs tactically sound practices. Again and again, the old and tired truth that we fail to heed our history and correct past mistakes is made completely apparent in this book. Politicians and officers seeking to advance in rank, both do not belong in the trenches making operational decisions. Yet again and again, such stupid and intransigent micromanagement of actual battle plans costs American lives; ultimately costs American victories. The book “No Way Out” is perhaps the best book I’ve ever read/heard in my 64 years. It encapsulates all that is wrong, and all that is right, with the American military and political landscape. Required reading by one wishing to understand how/why we lost our 20 plus year fight in Afghanistan.
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