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Big Boy Rules
- America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
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Publisher's summary
Washington Post reporter Steve Fainaru traveled with several groups of security contractors to find out what motivates them to put their lives in danger every day. What emerges is a searing, revealing, and sometimes darkly funny look at the men who live and work in the battlefields of Iraq: some are desperate, some are confused, and some are just out for a lark. Some disappear into the void that is Iraq and are never seen again. It's not a pretty picture that Fainaru reveals, but it is brutally real and shockingly honest.
Big Boy Rules is an unforgettable leap into the mayhem of Iraq and into the dark recesses of the minds of American policymakers and the warriors they hire.
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Story
On September 11, 2001, Doug Laux was a freshman in college, on the path to becoming a doctor. But with the fall of the Twin Towers came a turning point in his life. After graduating, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, determined to get himself to Afghanistan and into the center of the action. Through persistence and hard work, he was fast-tracked to a clandestine operations position overseas. Dropped into a remote region of Afghanistan, he received his baptism by fire.
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Too Censerord to be Enjoyable
- By Nathan on 08-26-16
By: Douglas Laux, and others
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Operation Pineapple Express
- By: Scott Mann
- Narrated by: Lt. Col. Scott Mann
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In April 2021, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. The message was clear: Get Nezam out of Afghanistan now. Nezam was part of the Afghan National Army’s first group of American-trained commandos; he passed through Fort Bragg’s legendary Q course and served alongside the US Special Forces for over a decade. But Afghanistan’s government and army were on the edge of collapse, and Nezam was receiving threatening texts from the Taliban.
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amazing, uplifting, heart wrenching
- By Lisa L. Weinley on 09-13-22
By: Scott Mann
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In the President's Secret Service
- Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect
- By: Ronald Kessler
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Secret Service agents, acting as human surveillance cameras, observe everything that goes on behind the scenes in the president's inner circle. Ronald Kessler reveals what they have seen, providing startling, previously untold stories about the presidents, from John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as about their families, Cabinet officers, and White House aides.
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President's are just human.
- By 9S on 04-26-12
By: Ronald Kessler
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The Operators
- The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan
- By: Michael Hastings
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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An explosive, behind-the-scenes look into the workings of the U.S. war in Afghanistan that lifts the curtain of the world stage to reveal the devastating greed, waste, and failure surrounding this unwinnable war.
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VERY INTERESTING STORY
- By Professor on 01-04-13
By: Michael Hastings
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The Cell
- Inside the 9/11 Plot, and Why the FBI and CIA Failed to Stop It
- By: John Miller, Michael Stone, Chris Mitchell
- Narrated by: John Miller
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Abridged
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The Cell provides the first complete treatment to piece together what led to the events of 9/11, ultimately delivering the disturbing answer to the question: why, with all the information the intelligence community had, was no one able to stop the September 11 attacks? It also includes a first-person account of John Miller's face-to-face meeting with Osama bin Laden.
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What led up to 9/11?
- By Richard on 12-31-03
By: John Miller, and others
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Full Battle Rattle
- My Story as the Longest-Serving Special Forces A-Team Soldier in American History
- By: Ralph Pezzullo, Changiz Lahidji
- Narrated by: Eric Pollins
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Master Sergeant Changiz Lahidji served on Special Forces A teams longer than anyone in history, completing over a hundred combat missions in Afghanistan. Changiz is a Special Forces legend. He also happens to be the first Muslim Green Beret. Changiz served this country starting with Operation Eagle Claw in 1980, when he entered Tehran on a one-man mission to spy on Iranian soldiers guarding the US embassy where 52 US diplomats were being held hostage.
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They need to find a narrator who knows military.
- By Kevin M. Staples on 05-03-18
By: Ralph Pezzullo, and others
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Drone Warrior
- An Elite Soldier's Inside Account of the Hunt for America's Most Dangerous Enemies
- By: Brett Velicovich, Christopher S. Stewart
- Narrated by: Brett Velicovich, Roger Wayne
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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For nearly a decade, Brett Velicovich was at the center of America's new warfare: using unmanned aerial vehicles - drones - to take down the world's deadliest terrorists across the globe. One of an elite handful in the entire military with the authority to select targets and issue death orders, he worked in concert with the full human and technological network of American intelligence - assets, analysts, spies, informants - and the military's elite operatives to stalk, capture, and eliminate high-value targets in al-Qaeda and ISIS.
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So Few Protecting the Many!
- By Gerald J. Vogt on 09-11-17
By: Brett Velicovich, and others
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Murphy's Law
- My Journey from Army Ranger and Green Beret to Investigative Journalist
- By: Jack Murphy
- Narrated by: Jack Murphy
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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For fans of the New York Times best sellers The Last Punisher and Lone Survivor, a heart-pounding military memoir from a former Army Ranger sniper and Special Operations weapon sergeant turned journalist about the incredible highs and devastating lows of his career.
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Great book
- By NL_Guy on 04-26-19
By: Jack Murphy
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At the Devil's Table
- The Untold Story of the Insider Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel
- By: William Rempel
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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In this riveting and relentless nonfiction thriller, award-winning investigative reporter William C. Rempel tells the harrowing story of former Cali cartel insider Jorge Salcedo, an ordinary man facing an extraordinary dilemma—a man forced to risk everything to escape the powerful and treacherous Cali crime syndicate.
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Thrilling
- By Lee Chemel on 07-05-11
By: William Rempel
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Drug Lord
- The True Story of Pablo Acosta: The Life and Death of a Mexican Kingpin
- By: Terrence E. Poppa
- Narrated by: Armando Duran
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Drug Lord, a firsthand account of drug dealing, murder, and corruption, tells of drug kingpin Pablo Acosta, who smuggled up to 20 tons of cocaine each year into the United States before treachery brought about his downfall and grisly death.
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Not just another cartel book
- By Consumer 14 on 09-05-20
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Liars & Thieves
- Tommy Carmellini, Book 1
- By: Stephen Coonts
- Narrated by: Guerin Barry
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Tommy Carmellini is sent to post guard duty at a farmhouse in Virginia's remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where top government operatives are debriefing a star defector: the ultimate KGB insider, a man with records on every operation and every dirty trick the shadowy intelligence agency has ever run, from Lenin to Putin.
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Fast Paced - Good Read!
- By Andrew Stone on 01-11-09
By: Stephen Coonts
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Cold Zero
- Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team
- By: Christopher Whitcomb
- Narrated by: Christopher Whitcomb
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Abridged
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With the immediacy and force of a sniper's strike, Cold Zero is a blistering first-person account of life inside the FBI and its elite Hostage Rescue Team.
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Fact check
- By Rob on 12-18-06
What listeners say about Big Boy Rules
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gene
- 04-24-16
Great read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of engaging writing and narration. The subject matter isn't for everybody, but the author conjured up an interesting exploration of different personalities and their lives and motivations, and wove it together with an engrossing look a very much neglected aspect of the current U.S. war in Iraq.
I especially liked Patrick Lawler's performance, which made me feel as if I were actually experiencing the events being described. To borrow another reviewers words about a different book, "Patrick Lawlor could read the tax code and make it sound interesting."
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Overall
- Doug
- 02-02-11
Read it in two days
This is a superior book. Mostly books on the war in Iraq or Afghanistan are hit or miss, often they are watered down with political angles or outright redactions. This book reads like a story. Its scope ranges from vivid life in America to the saunas of urban warfare in Iraq. You will feel this one because it is well written and sincerely conveyed. I instinctively wondered if the book won any awards, and my research revealed that the author won a Pullizter. You'll know it's worthy too. You will be reading a 'real' book packed with real information and real people. You'll know something important about something you KNOW lies just between the lines on war coverage in Iraq. The political slant is NOT here, and we are given a stark look at the places, the people and their decisions behind the private business of warfare. I highly recommend this book.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Joe Arrigoni
- 11-10-09
A must read....
If this book had been pitched more as a look at the events surrounding the kidnapping and murder of five Private Security Contractors in Iraq and the company they worked for it would have been received better by readers here. It was not at all what I was expecting. However, I am very glad I read it. It was well written, and an easy read. Everyone it is very relatable, and by the end you feel that you really knew these men and their families…and grieve for them. It makes no excuses, though it does toss out a few more accusations than I liked. Of all the books on the subject matter, I have found it the most relatable thus far.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Daniel
- 04-21-11
More a journalists notebook than a tactical book.
This is a good book in general, but the author too often crosses the line into his personal commentary. He seems to be no fan of the war, but I enjoyed it completely even though I am a strong proponent of both the Iraq war and the (albeit imperfect) use of private contractors. I would have enjoyed a book with more tactical details and war stories. This is more a notebook.
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1 person found this helpful
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- BrentDC
- 03-02-13
Stunning look at Future War in the Present
Where does Big Boy Rules rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Very well, The author does tend to interject a lot of his personal story and life into the narrative as he covers modern security/civilian contractors but that aspect was actually compelling and well written.
Who was your favorite character and why?
My favorite character was Jon Cote. He was representative of so many of our guys and gals in Iraq.
What does Patrick Lawlor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Good narrative pace and tone.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me MAD! When you use locals as contractors, treat them like garbage and then fire them that SCREAMS to me "security breach!" but many of these guys seemed to be "sleepwalking" their time commitments. The tragedy that occurred was 100% avoidable.
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Overall
- Kevin
- 04-12-10
The world of the private security forces
The author goes into detail about the secretive and deadly world of private security forces in IRAQ. The story revolves around one particular “mercenary” a prior service US ARMY soldier brought back to the fight in IRAQ after serving a tour of duty there. I myself served in IRAQ and understand the persistent call for a return to the front, even with the danger. This was an extremely emotionally difficult book for me to finish, and while it speaks only of the soldiers for higher in IRAQ, anyone who has server over there knows a private security force member and can speak to the losses that they absorbed for a few dollars more. I enjoyed the book. But don’t look for answers in this story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- MercMachine
- 02-02-18
very well researched and entertaining account
excellent true story and a fair account from someone with first hand experience great read
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- Lindsay
- 12-12-15
Amazing
I always heard stories about the war but I guess I never realized what goes on. Half way through the book I found myself so disturbed. I'd look online to see pictures of the faces of the Crescent Security men who were kidnapped. Every time I'd shut my eyes I'd see their faces telling myself, "I'm only reading this, I cannot imagine living it!" I feel horrible for the family members and I have a whole new respect and understanding for the men and women who fight for Our freedom.
Thank you...
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- Clintok
- 07-29-19
Disappointed
The title looked interesting, but it's by a bedwetting Washington post reporter. The Washington post is known for using its position to emphasize their world view instead of just straight up reporting. I sensed this bias in the way the book progressed. They claim to be referees, but their calls favor one of the teams, and they wear that team's jersey out on the field. Save your money or credit and buy something else.
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Overall
- Kevin
- 05-07-09
light on story, heavy on memoir
Just finished this one. It was a decent tale of merc forces evolving job in Iraq. As the author had befriended one of the main characters it tends to drift more into his life. Overall it was entertaining, a little sad and a little random.
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2 people found this helpful