The Bravest Man Audiobook By William Tuohy cover art

The Bravest Man

The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Bravest Man

By: William Tuohy
Narrated by: E.H. Jones
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

“There’s no margin for mistakes in submarines. You’re either alive or dead.” (Richard O’Kane)

Hailed as the ace of aces, captain Richard O’Kane, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his consummate skill and heroism as a submarine skipper, sank more enemy ships and saved more downed fliers than anyone else.

Now Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Tuohy captures all the danger, the terror, and the pulse-pounding action of undersea combat as he chronicles O’Kane’s wartime career - from his valiant service as executive officer under Wahoo skipper Dudley “Mush” Morton to his electrifying patrols as commander of the USS Tang and his incredible escape, with eight other survivors, after Tang was sunk by its own defective torpedo.

Above all, The Bravest Man is the dramatic story of mavericks who broke the rules and set the pace to become a new breed of hunter/killer submariners who waged a unique brand of warfare. These undersea warriors would blaze their own path to victory - and transform the “Silent Service” into the deadliest fighting force in the Pacific.

©2001 William Tuohy (P)2002 Books on Tape, Inc.
Historical Naval Forces World War II Military Submarine War Historical Nonfiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Bravest Man

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    362
  • 4 Stars
    106
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    232
  • 4 Stars
    58
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    244
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Good story about what goes on in submarines.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I would have liked to have served under CDR O'Kane

Absolutely intriguing account of the war patrols and subsequent loss of the submarine from a defective torpedo guidance system and CDR O'Kane's leadership.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Informative

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

Yes. Informative without being too detailed

What did you like best about this story?

History brought to life.

What does E.H. Jones bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narration is excellent. Easy to listen to, good pace. Perfect diction. Subtle accents bring characters to life.

Any additional comments?

Very balanced dealing with some very controversial aspects of the conflict

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

From start to finish, I couldn’t put the book down. It gives you enough information on every man to keep you glued to it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

For WW II students, this is an realistic account of a WW II vet. I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very well written and detailed, and it's true

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bravest Man to be better than the print version?

Cannot say, as I have not read the print version.

What other book might you compare The Bravest Man to and why?

Thunder Below by Adm. Eugene B. Fluckey or October Fury by Peter A. Huchthausen.

What does E.H. Jones bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Not a lot. Would have been better by someone with a little deeper voice for such a long book. Got tired of Jones' voice after a while, but it was okay.

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

Not really. It is a lengthy, detailed history, but still full of action and drama. Nonetheless, it would have required a long sitting and the whole point of audio books for me is that I enjoy them without having to be "seated" or otherwise stuck in one place.

Any additional comments?

If you read this book, it will pretty much ruin any future books, especially fiction, about WWII submarine warfare except perhaps Fluckey's or Ned Beach's, because you will realize that they all come from these same patrol reports and experiences with little new added.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent history

I found this to be a most entertaining and inspiring story of the US submarine service. fighting the Japanese was ony only part of the challenge. As is too often the case in US military history, the sailors of the submarine service were ill served by the pig headed stupidity and self serving actions of their own superiors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning

I had no idea of the heroism and sacrifices the crews of these some 288 submarines made. I know now, am humbled, and feel a deep, profound debt to them. I tell nearly everyone I meet about Tuohy's excellent book and the stories of the real men within its pages.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is Enjoyment all the way!!!

GREAT BOOK Learned much out the Submarine War against Japan plus These Special Warriors SUPER

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Bravest Man- fine example of leadership.

What this story showed me was the values and skills that we often inherit or develop in others. Often the people that have seen a remarkable leader try to emulate good leadership skills - very much a trickle effect.

Certainly this story is in a dangerous environment. How would you like to expose your career, life, and other peoples lives on an unproven theory or weapon? There are so many sides to this story you find yourself listening to this story again and again.

Well written and read extremely well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful