Monday, July 15, 2013

"Fearless", by Eric Blehm

About This Book

Fearless takes you deep into SEAL Team SIX, straight to the heart of one of its most legendary operators.

“As a rule, we don’t endorse books or movies or anything regarding the command where I work—and Adam Brown worked—but as the author writes in Fearless, ‘you have to know the rules, so you know when to bend or break them.’ This is one of those times.  Read this book. Period. It succeeds where all the others have failed.”  --Anonymous SEAL Team SIX Operator

When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn’t know he would die that night in the Hind Kush Mountains of Afghanistan—but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, he wrote, “I’m not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.”

Fearless is the story of a man of extremes, whose courage and determination were fueled by faith, family, and the love of a woman. It’s about a man who waged a war against his own worst impulses, including drug addiction, and persevered to reach the top tier of the U.S. military. In a deeply personal and absorbing chronicle, Fearless reveals a glimpse inside the SEAL Team SIX brotherhood, and presents an indelible portrait of a highly trained warrior whose final act of bravery led to the ultimate sacrifice.

Adam Brown was a devoted man who was an unlikely hero but a true warrior, described by all who knew him as…fearless.

My Thoughts
My first reaction after reading this book (without putting it down for a minute!) was to wish this book was required reading for all secondary education students.  To understand what someone has done to keep each of us free and safe is to read the story of Adam Brown.  His name is added to the list of many other brave people when defining the word "warrior".

It's difficult to read a book when you know the ending.  Yet, it's very important to read the beginning and learn about Adam's life.  He will inspire our young people to not give up, even if their life is messed up.  Adam's parents never gave up on him.  His wife, Kelley, never gave up on him.  She deserves her own medal for the faith and courage and hope she had for her husband.

I will give Fearless as a gift to many, as this is a story that deserves to be told again and again. My humble words of praise are so insignificant in comparison to the impact of this book and the story told within it's pages.  I realize how blessed I am to live in a country in which so many people have done much to give us freedom.

Without a doubt, this book is a keeper and will stay on my favorites shelf, always.

The writing skills and thorough research of author, Eric Blehm, deserve an enormous degree of gratitude and the title of "best-selling author".   Thank you, Eric.  Please keep writing stories of unsung heros.

 "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"