Knight's Modern Seamanship, 18th Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Knight's is indeed the professional standard omnibus for seamanship. It is an excellent comprehensive text for any mariner. That said, it is desperately in need of updating. The electronic navigation section lists systems no longer in use (Omega, LORAN), and treats GPS as a "future" system (although the editors do prophetically write that GPS receivers will drop in price until they are affordable by the average mariner).
Additionally,there are a disconcerting number of typographical errors present. I can only hope the editors are progressing on a 19th Edition.

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Revised by John V. Noel, Jr., Captain, U.S. Navy [Ret.] Associate Editors: Commander Frank E. Bassett, U.S. Navy [Ret.] Dr. Carvel Blair and Prof. Dee Fitch Steer by this venerable guide to shiphandling and safety and you'll easily see why, since publication of the first edition 83 years ago, it has been the single-most trusted "beacon" for millions of pleasure boaters and professional seamen alike. Now in its eighteenth edition, Knight's Modern Seamanship continues the salty tradition of its predecessors. It supplies all the navigation techniques, safety laws and procedures, and maintenance practices you need to make each ocean-going trip safe and enjoyable. Typhoon up ahead? Knight's explains the effects of weather on ocean travel and spells out exactly what you have to do to avoid dangerous weather systems. What kind of communication equipment should you have on board? A new section on ship communications tells you how to select and operate modern communication devices. This eighteenth edition also provides you with new sections on channel marking, towing and salvage, and the maritime buoyage system. Updated guidance is given on:* the rules of the road--you get clear explanations of right of way, the use of radar to avoid collisions, and the law in fog; included is the complete text of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980. Every vessel over 12 meters in length is required by law to have a copy of these rules on board.* shiphandling--you'll find expert discussions on docking, mooring, and anchoring; helicopter operations; and ice seamanship* ship and boat operation--you get concise explanations of ship structure and stability, propulsion and steering, ground tackle, and cargo handling and underway replenishmentYou'll even learn the art of knotting and splicing. Without a doubt, Knight's Modern Seamanship, Eighteenth Edition, is your foremost guide to mastering the lore of the sea. It is an indispensable reference source for pleasure boaters, merchant marine personnel, and anyone who needs expert seagoing advice.

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Theodore Ro0Sevelt and the Great White Fleet: American Sea Power Comes of Age Review

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(More customer reviews)Wimmel has put together an impressive account of the rebirth of the US Navy under the guidance of Teddy Roosevelt. No other US president before or since has had such an impact on the Navy and its role in US foreign policy. Wimmel charts the course from the depths of naval ruin in 1880 (when Peru had a bigger Naval presence then the US) until the capstone adventure of the world tour of the 16 battleships composing the Great White Fleet in 1907.While I do find that Wimmel story line occasionally wanders, he has a habit of bring you right back on track. It is a story full of TR and the men who helped him shape the Navy (Sims, Mahan, Long et all). An amazing story about an amazing future and then serving US President. This is also a very readable work that saves the scholarly details for the appendix, a good source of further study in its own right peppered with comments by the author on those sources. A must for TR buffs and Navy fans alike.

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On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War over Vietnam Review

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(More customer reviews)This book on the naval air war over Vietnam should be required reading not only for all military pilots, but for every military and civilian official who is involved in planning strategy, tactics, or military weapon procurement.
But don't get the idea it's a boring book; besides giving the reader a clear view of what happened in the air over Vietnam, the author makes his points in a very readable fashion, not by preaching but by simply pointing out what we did, and why we could have done so much better -- in the conduct of the war, in providing better (often SIMPLER) equipment, and in better training.
It's definitely worth obtaining from an out-of-print dealer or from your library. Even if you have no connection with the military, this will expand your understanding of that period in US history.

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Foreword by Stephen Coonts. Combining vivid personal narrative with historical and operational analyses, this book takes a candid look at U.S. naval airpower in the Vietnam War. Coauthors John Nichols, a fighter pilot in the war, and Barrett Tillman, an award-winning aviation historian, make full use of their extensive knowledge of the subject to detail the ways in which airpower was employed in the years prior to the fall of Saigon. Confronting the conventional belief that airpower failed in Vietnam, they show that when applied correctly, airpower was effective, but because it was often misunderstood and misapplied, the end results were catastrophic. Their book offers a compelling view of what it was like to fly from Yankee Station between 1964 and 1973 and important lessons for future conflicts. At the same time, it adds important facts to the permanent war record.Following an analysis of the state of carrier aviation in 1964 and a definition of the rules of engagement, it describes the tactics used in strike warfare, the airborne and surface threats, electronic countermeasures, and search and rescue. It also examines the influence of political decisions on the conduct of the war and the changing nature of the Communist opposition. Appendixes provide useful statistical data on carrier deployments, combat sorties, and aircraft losses. This paperback edition of a book first published in 1987 includes a new foreword by Stephen Coonts.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Sweepers: A Novel of Suspense Review

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(More customer reviews)The novel begins with what appears to be a routine police investigation into what may or not be an accidental death. A beautiful woman is dead and her former boyfriend, a frocked Rear Admiral (lower half)assigned to the navy staff at the Pentagon may or may not be a suspect.
The young admiral, who had served in Vietnam years before as the skipper of a Swift boat plying the tributaries of the Mekong River has something of a past. His marriage ended in divorce like so many other military marriages. His only son, a real dirtbag and loser hates him and wants revenge. So does the ex-Navy SEAL who feels that young Lieutenant Sherman left him for dead so many years before.
As the case gets murkier, an old friend and mentor of RADM Sherman dies of a heart attack. Is it really a heart attack or a well disguised murder which hints at further retribution?
The Navy and local police get involved and the Judge Advocate General of the Navy (the JAG) also gets involved by assigning a female lawyer on the verge of retirement and an NIS (Naval Investigative Service) agent to the case. Things become very complicated very quickly and more than just Admiral Sherman begin to find themselves in jeopardy and facing real risks.
Since his first novel, SCORPION IN THE SEA, Peter Deutermann has only improved as a writer and storyteller. His former career as a Surface Warfare Officer, Arms Negotiator and Senior Staff Officer provided him with both an excellent background and volumes of material from which to draw his stories. He writes very well and provides his readers with all of the information necessary to understand the arcane ways in which the operational and staff sides of the Navy work on a day-to-day basis. He also fully develops his characters. While he doesn't do so too quickly, he provides just enough information on each of them to keep the reader wondering just what else he has in store for them. He also lets the reader hang just long enough until he drops the next vital piece of info. It is my opinion that Peter Deutermann has become a master of pacing and tension building and he has done much to create his own sub-genre in the larger arena of military and techno-thrillers. Call it the naval mystery if you will but understand that this specialized type of fiction belongs to Deutermann and Deutermann alone.
I heartily recommend this book and all of the others by this fine writer. His other books are NOT part of a series so it does not matter what order you read them in. If you like(ed) SWEEPERS then try OFFICIAL PRIVILEGE; it's where Captain Deutermann segued off and started writing naval mysteries.
His other books are all excellent, too and will provide many hours of suspenseful but enjoyable reading. I hope he continues to write for years to come. BZ Captain Deutermann! Thank you for many hours of reading enjoyment.

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Hot Pursuit Review

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(More customer reviews)I have loved Christina Skye's contemporary thrillers/romances, but this one is a bit of a let down. I won't go into a description of the plot as that has been done very well by other reviewers. But I would like to say something about the character development. While she has established the characters, their backgrounds and the plot, the female character's personality is stagnant throughout the story. The woman becomes extremely annoying because her reaction to every situation is the same, basically she feels that she knows best and she will do what she wants to do. This results in her bodyguards themselves being exposed to unnecessary risk, but after an initial burst of repentence, she does it again and again. The character is supposed to be kind and compassionate and loyal to her friends, but her actual behaviour paints her as selfish, stubborn and careless of other people's lives, not to mention just a little bit stupid. It just doesn't make sense. Wouldn't a supposedly bright person learn from repetitive mistakes (especially those involving gunfire!) and grow up a little? Frankly, I cannot see what the male lead is supposed to see in her.

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Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story Of American Submarine Espionage Review

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(More customer reviews)Imagine if you will that you are onboard a US Navy submarine that has just snuck into Soviet territorial waters to spy on what the other side's navy is doing. From the sonar members of the crew can listen to the screw noise and learn turn counts that identify different Soviet Naval ships and submarines that are plying the seas around you. Your submarine-in this case the USS-Tautog (SSN-639) is here to gather intelligence on Soviet cruise missile submarines that could pose a threat to US carriers. Your captain, in this case Commander Buele G. Balderston drove his sub deeper into Petropavlovsk whereupon they collided with a Soviet Echo-II class attack boat. This was 1970, the half way point in the Cold War, one of three accidents that year, and all of them chronicled in Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew and Annette Lawrence-Drew's `Blind Man's Bluff-The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage'.
While the title may sound like some cheesy hack banged the book out and filled it with questionable information, `Blind Man's Bluff' takes the moderate approach, the authors admitting that sometimes the information is sketchy at times, and speculate on what probably happened, corroborating information from those directly involved aids in fleshing out the true stories told within the book. It details the disastrous first attempt to spy on the Soviets in 1949 when disaster struck the ill-fated USS-Cochino when one of it's batteries exploded, leaving the submarine to flounder in sixteen foot swells before eventually sinking off the coast of Norway. It's crew was rescued by her sister ship, the USS-Tusk, but not before six crewmen were killed-drowned in the stormy seas.
The book also talks at some length about Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the man who singlehandedly created a nuclear navy for the United States. It details Rickover as being a power hungry, arrogant and petty man who made or broke careers as he saw fit, and someone who demanded to know about any projects `his' boats were involved with. Evidence, whether it be technical or personal, is often presented in anecdotal form, often amusing and always enlightening. It praises the Navy as often as it chastises it and allows the reader to develop their own opinions on whether an action was right or wrong.
However, with regards to the 1968 sinking of the USS-Scorpion, it attacks the establishment-the Navy and her departments for a cover-up that has gone on for thirty-two years. When the Scorpion went down, she was in such a sorry state of repair, that one crewmen had been removed over fears expressed in letters written to his superiors. However, it wasn't the fact that Scorpion seemed to be falling apart that caused her to sink, rather a defective torpedo battery leaking within a torpedo and cooked off the 350 lb HBX warhead contained within the weapon that caused her to go down. Memos written from the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Center told of the defective batteries, but were ignored. At first the Navy announced she may have been sunk by the Soviets, then recounted that in order to deny the torpedo theory-stating steadfastly that there was no way a weapon could `cook off' while inside a submarine.
As well the authors attack, and rightfully so, the CIA for their $500 million boondoggle of the American public for the Glomar Explorer fiasco-code named Project: Jennifer, the Glomar Explorer was the CIA's massive ship that was used to hoist an antiquated Soviet Golf-class diesel electric missile submarine out of sixteen-thousand feet of water 1,700 miles north-west of Hawaii. The submarine had sunk, probably due to the same problem that sank the Cochino-an exploding battery. Suffice it to say that Glomar Explorer utterly failed to raise the sub more than 3000 feet, at which point the grapples failed and the Golf fell almost a mile where it shattered to bits on the ocean floor. This didn't stop the CIA from trying again a year later in 1975, and succeeded in raising only 20% of the sub-minus the three nuclear missiles it carried, minus any code books and minus any usable technology. It was this singular event that led to the CIA being scrutinized and stripped of much of its vaunted power.
From submarine delivered wire tapping pods being delivered into Soviet waters to listen in on undersea telephone cables to Snorkel Patty and her collection of hundreds of dolphin pins, `Blind Man's Bluff' delivers humor, excitement, and an easily readable glimpse into the shadowy and very often murky depths of Navy Intelligence, its operations and its people. The book is personable and detailed, fulfilling its criteria of being both informative and entertaining making it a fine addition to anyone's library who is interested in submarines, the US Navy or espionage in general.

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Walking Point: The Experiences of a Founding Member of the Elite Navy Seals Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm not a military man but enjoy reading about special forces, SEALs, etc.. What I liked about this book was Watson's down to earth style of writing. It was not written like a book. Rather, it feels like you're listening to a story around a campfire or at the bar. While it chronicled his Vietnam and other experiences in detail, I was particularly impressed with the different chapters devoted to such things as family life, gear, weapons, etc.. Actually, I think my favorite chapter was the one on "sharks and other critters" that the SEALs encounter. Now that's interesting! I enjoyed the book so much I went out and got his first one, Pointman, which I'm getting ready to read after I finish up "The Teams." Possibly the only boring part of this book to me was the great detail given to describing the weapons used in Vietnam. I'm just not that interested in the differences between a 20 and 30 round magazine, but for those who are into this, it's a great read.

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Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold And Daring (Library of Naval Biography) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I am tempted to lower my rating to four stars for the author's penchant for repeating himself unnecessarily, his coverage of the scanty documentary record on Decatur is the most scholarly and complete that I have read. Other works are available for the general audience (such as emphasizing his famous saying, "Our country ... may she always be right, but our country, right or wrong." There was much more to Decatur than that, and author Tucker brings it out. His service against the Barbary priates at the beginning of the 19th century caused him to become the youngest captain in American naval history. And his promotion was well-deserved.
This is a story that can make every American proud. The hero was fearless almost beyond belief, but his sense of honor proved his undoing and caused his early death. He was also lucky to be in the right place at the right time to have the chance for fame and glory, but he did not fail to take advantage of those lucky opportunities. At all times he was ready to sacrifice himself for his country and his honor, and the reader will be struck by the comparison of Decatur's code and that used by so many venal and unsavory politicians in the US today. Decatur was never too important to risk his life, yet there are members of Congress today who have used that reasoning to avoid military service. Nor did Decatur lie -- in fact there is no known instance of his even dissembling on any issue or in any situation.
Even his death as a result of dueling with Captain Barron had a salutary effect in that it caused a national outcry against dueling and led to dueling being outlawed.
Although I believe this is the best book on Decatur today, it is by no means a deep discussion of Decatur or thorough presentation of his life. Such a book is probably impossible to write today due to Decatur's leaving behind no personal papers, and his wife did not add significantly to the literature about him following his death. This is a great shame as the American public should be able come to know Decatur as something more than an incredibly brave man of action. Nevertheless, this is the story about a naval hero who almost uniquely in the annals of American naval history has an almost unblemished record of aggressive action and unqualified success.
I highly recommend this book to all readers -- particularly to those with an interest in the American military and naval history.


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The story of one of America's great naval heroes which provides insights into life aboard ship in the war of 1812.

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Hostage (Navy Justice, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)'Hostage' is an intense book from start to finish. It contains action, drama, and classic courtroom confrontations.
It begins with terrorists seeking revenge against Lt. Zach Brewer and Lt. Diane Colcernian for the prosecution of some of their cohorts. The terror group also has more moles in the U.S. Navy plotting additional mayhem.
It is a sequel to 'Treason'. A lot of the events and characters are tied into happenings from the first book. I would definitely recommend reading 'Treason' first. Without doing so, I think readers would be missing quite a bit.
I think that this one is even better than the first book. It is extremely well written and keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat.

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Zack Brewer faces a choice. It can prevent the next war. But it will cost the life of the person he loves the most.JAG Officer Zack Brewer's prosecution of three terrorists posing as Navy chaplains was called the 'court martial of the century' by the press. Now, with the limelight behind him, all Zack wants to do is forget. But the radical Islamic organization behind the chaplains has a long memory---and a thirst for revenge.Now the Navy has a need for Zack that eclipses all else. When an unthinkable act of aggression brings Israel and its Arab neighbors to the brink of war, Zack and co-counsel Diane Colcernian are called to the case of a lifetime. As leading nations focus their gaze upon these two, other eyes are watching as well.Zack and Diane are in harm's way.A kidnapping, an ultimatum...and suddenly, Zack faces an impossible choice. If he loses this case, the world could explode into war. If he wins, his partner---the woman he loves---will die.And Zack himself may not survive to make the decision.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Our Country, Right or Wrong: The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's Most Illustrious Commander Review

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(More customer reviews)Mr Guttridge has written a fine addition to the library of naval history. Stephen Decatur's life is a veritable "Who's Who" of early American Naval History: Preble, Bainbridge, Barry, Perry, Porter, Hull etc. He was there in America's first war with Islamic extremists (Barbary Wars) and was an early proponent of steam propulsion with Robert Fulton. He was friends with Presidents. Many cities, as well as ships, have been rightfully named after him. Guttridge makes it clear in the book that Decatur's life was overshadowed by his apparently irreversible journey to a tragic end in a duel. The magnitude of the tragedy reminds one of the epic battle of Achilles and Hector in Homer's Iliad; Why didn't someone stop the madness? The book reads easily and quickly. I couldn't give it five stars for a couple of reasons. First, the editing grows shaky at points. In the very first sentence of the book, Decatur's famous burning of the frigate Philadelphia is placed in 1807 rather than 1804. It is clear that the author knows the correct year from the rest of the book, making this a typo of some magnitude. We are also told repeatedly that Decatur hates to write. Once or twice is enough, thank you. Second, as is too often the case in military histories, the book suffers from want of any geographical maps or diagrams of sea battles. These gripes aside, the book is a good read.

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Defiance (Navy Justice, Book 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)Don Brown is quickly moving up in the ranks of the great novelists. 'Defiance' is a story that is hard to put down. This is the third installment in 'The Navy Justice Series'. Although the others have been very good, this is the best of the lot so far.
Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian are back as central characters in this novel of courtroom drama, suspense, action, and even romance. Besides the assorted terrorist villains, there is a U.S. senator and presidential candidate, Eleanor Claxton, who is Machavellian to the core. Her machinations add an element of the worst in American politics. It also includes a dramatic rescue attempt by U.S. Navy Seals that has the potential of igniting a major war. In addition to all of the action, there is a spiritual component present for several of the characters facing major crises.
This book will appeal those of varying interests. I recommend it highly.

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From a murder in Paris to a courtroom in California to a terrorist camp in the Gobi Desert, Don Brown's follow-up to Treason and Hostage plunges into a suspense-filled journey of danger, duty, and hope. The Commander's Bodyguard is Shannon McGilverry, a crack NCIS agent assigned to protect Navy JAG Officer Zack Brewer. Zack is being hunted by terrorists, stalked by a psychopath, and is working his way through a perilous, politically-charged trial. When another Navy JAG officer is murdered, it's clear that Zack is in harm's way. As his bodyguard, Shannon must do more than protect Zack. She also must set aside her growing feelings for the brilliant attorney and investigate rumors that the love of his life, Diane Colcerninan, may still be alive. Zack finds himself in need of his faith more than ever as Navy SEALS launch a daring rescue attempt that has the potential to trigger World War III.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL Review

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(More customer reviews)Chuck can take simple words and twist them into a visual image that needs no further input. Going from the mundane hurry up and wait mentality of typical military ops, he takes you from humorous bar scenes to the horrors of terrorism and the mayhem resulting from underestimating the enemy and complacency. Political correctness takes its toll in attitudes, men, and the morale of entire countries. This can be read between the lines. Chuck pulls no punches and lays it out for anybody to see. The men who do the fighting and the ones who create the need for these men to fight are not generally on the same sheet of music. Politics and appeasement are the enemies. WARRIOR SOUL is not just another 'SEAL' book in typical fashion. I DO NOT compare it to the other books by former SEALs. This one is in a class by itself. Thanks for a great book and thanks for your service to our nation. Grab a copy of WARRIOR SOUL and devour it.

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Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy Review

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(More customer reviews)Few eras of American history are more misunderstood than the naval history of early America after the Revolutionary War. Former financial analyst and political aide Ian Toll sheds new light on this era in his richly detailed and comprehensive first book, Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy. The saga of the original six frigates, the Constitution, Constellation, Congress, President, United States, and the Chesapeake, is one of naval necessity, partisan politics, and the ungainly steps of a young country attempting to defend and assert itself in a dangerous world.
A common misconception in American history is that the original six frigates were begun during the Revolution. As Toll describes in excellent detail, it was in fact under the presidencies of George Washington and John Adams that the decision to form a standing navy was made. With America's merchant fleet under predation from North African pirates, French privateers, and British warships, ships to protect and fly the flag were necessary. An already contentious and partisan Congress argued endlessly over the formation of a American navy to deal with the problem, and finally the Naval Act of 1794 approved funding for the construction of six ships: four 44-gun and two 36-gun frigates. Designed by Joshua Humphreys, the ships were to be the strongest and most effective frigates afloat, a tough job in a world where the Royal Navy dominated. The frigates would play key roles in the quasi-war with France, the Barbary wars, and the War of 1812, and Toll chronicles the personalities, the politics, and the world situation that shaped both the ships and the campaigns in which they took part.
What these ships are best known for, and what is most familiar with the laymen are the battles. Toll describes every major ship-to-ship engagement fought by the original six with a vividness rarely seen in naval histories, rich enough to hear the thunder of the guns and smell the cordite from the gunpowder. The major actions described are: Constellation v. L'Insurgente, Constellation v. La Vengeance, United States v. Macedonian, Constitution v. Guerriere, Constitution v. Java, Shannon v. Chesapeake, and President v. Endymion. Also well addressed are the actions against the Barbary states, including a well-written chapter on the loss of the subscription frigate Philadelphia, and the daring exploits of Stephen Decatur to destroy the captured frigate. The major naval figures of the era like Truxton, Bainbridge, Hull, Decatur, Rodgers, and Barron are all examined by Toll with an observer's eye that fleshes out the caricatures as most histories portray them into real life men.
The end of the War of 1812 saw the launch of the first American ships-of-the-line, but it was the frigate navy that paved the way. Toll's book is an important addition that clears the mythology away from the early US Navy and incorporates all the naval, economic, political, and social elements that contributed to its founding and formation. Toll occasionally strays out of his lane, and the postscript loses a bit of focus delving into the post Civil War navy, but as a whole, this is an excellent book that will satisfy naval buffs and students of history alike. Toll's elegant and rich writing and exhaustive research marks him as an author to watch, and I eagerly await his next work. The original six frigates played a large part in the prestige of early America. Their successes, and their failures, demonstrated that the young United States was a blossoming world power worthy of respect and regard. Highly Recommended. A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO

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Anytime, Baby Hail and Farewell to the U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat Review

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(More customer reviews)I must be getting old. I remember when the F-14 Tomcat was just being designed and adopted by the Navy. Now we are telling them 'Good Bye.'
The F-14 entered service with the Navy in 1972. It was retired from the U.S. Navy fleet on 22 September 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. As of 2007, only the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force still flies the aircraft. Where did those 34 years go?
This book is a memorial to the Tomcat. It's a photographic essay of the last seven squadrons (down from over thirty) to fly the big bird. The photography is beautiful, mostly in the air, but quite a few on the deck of the big ships, and a couple very sadly showing the old birds sitting out in the field, stripped of unit ID, stripped of their soul.
It's a beautiful book, and an excellent tribute to the men and their very beautiful, very high performance machines.

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For the past two years, while the sun was setting on the iconic F-14 Tomcat, aviation photographer and author Erik Hildebrandt has been capturing the final defining moments of the few remaining F-14 squadrons in the US Navy Fighter community. Anytime, Baby! is an unforgettable collection of final-phase Tomcat milestones captured and preserved forever in some of the most detailed and dynamic photographic compositions Hildebrandt has ever attempted. From riding along with VF-211, the last squadron to ever fly the F-14A, to flying with VF-32 on the last deployment of the F-14B in the Arabian Gulf in 2005, Hildebrandt has been witness to the end of an era. Anytime, Baby! is an important historic record as much as it is an artistic and beautiful tribute to the most popular American fighter in history. A true "must-have" addition for the aviation enthusiasts as well as former and current Navy and Marine Corp service personnel.

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Never Fight Fair: Navy Seal's Stories of Combat and Adventure Review

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(More customer reviews)This book consists almost exclusively of interviews, printed verbatim, with former (and a few still active) Navy SEALS. As such it is quite different from almost all other books with a similar subject matter.
The interviewed SEALS come across as fairly average guys except that they liked adventure, didn't require a secure home life and were willing to take risks. The degree to which these SEALS displayed being rather average surprised me. In particular I had assumed that members of elite military forces would be fairly intelligent, but the impression I got from reading these interviews was that high intelligence was definitely not a requirement.
In a way the honesty displayed by this book is refreshing. The SEALS aren't made to look like supermen or even heroes. They were men who had elected to do a particular job, received training for that job and then went out and did it. Often they were successful, but often things went wrong, sometimes with fatal results.
One third of the book covers the Vietnam War during which the SEALS were involved in a lot of real combat. But the Vietnam War has two problems relative to a modern book about the SEALS: it happened 30 years ago and the USA lost that war.
The last half of the book covers developments and experiences since the Vietnam War. This includes up-to-date information about the newest diving and parachuting and water-borne landing techniques, all of which I found quite interesting. But this part of the book includes no real combat experiences except for a few pages about Grenada (including a disastrous mission where four SEALS died parachuting from a plane that was flying too low) and the Gulf War (a 4-page story about a group of four SEALS who saw the Iraqi army advancing on them and wisely retreated without firing a shot).
In conclusion, if you're looking for a book about how utterly fantastic the Navy SEALS are then you should steer clear of this one. If you're curious as to what kind of men enjoy jumping out of airplanes at 37000 feet and getting their eyeballs frozen, and prefer honest accounts that include disastrous missions where men died and objectives were not met, then this is a good source.
Rennie Petersen

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Team Secrets Of The Navy Seals Review

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(More customer reviews)I did not read anything in this book that I would consider a secret. But I do think this is a very good book on leadership and team-building. I have read many leadership/team-building books and all have a few nuggets that make the book a worthwhile read. This book had all of those and more.
I have spent time in the military and have seen awesome levels of dedication to team. Sometimes this attitude can be transferred or built up in a civilian organization. But it takes a lot more work.
The problem as I see it is that the Seals are all volunteers and they really want to be the baddest mothers on the planet. They like to be cold, wet, and tired, and actually ask for more to prove they can handle anything. While in the civilian world, that kind of dedication is almost non-existent. While there are many people that don't mind, or even like, to work hard, they all know that when the whistle blows, its Miller time and they can go to their comfortable homes.
As far as the civilian world goes, you can try to build a great team, but you will never come close to the dedication of an elite military unit, not just Seals, but all branches have their elite teams. It just seems that you cannot build this culture because corporate America does not like it when you push your people past their known limits. Yes, you will make them better people, but companies are worried about lawsuits, not having the best team in the corporate world.
This book, if read and followed, will make you and your team better and more productive. The book goes into many subjects, like "know what you've got", "have an open door policy", "the menace of micromanagement", "have teammates, not lackeys", and a few others. While most of this may seem to be commonsense, I felt it was good to be reminded of these and to also have the author present a topic I am familiar with in a different light. Sometimes hearing something from a new angle makes it stick better.
This is an easy read and if you lead a team or want to be a better teammate, then this book is definitely worth the small cost. I recommend it and will read it again in the near future to make sure that the lessons taught here stick.


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Team Secrets of the Navy SEALs is written especially for business professionals who want to make it in today's extremely aggressive business environment. No force or unit has ever had more success than the SEALs. Author Robert Needham uses the lessons he's learned as a Navy SEAL to guide the reader through the role of being or becoming a leader. "To some, leadership is exemplified by the blind obedience to orders. It is a misconception that to coerce another person to do your bidding makes you a 'leader.'"Navy SEALs are recognized around the world as being the best. From their start as Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDU) in WWII to the founding of the SEALs in 1962, only 8,000 men have been allowed to join this top-notch unit. Needham is still on active duty as a SEAL and knows how to achieve results. "The ruthless effectiveness and efficiency of the SEAL Teams stems from the fact that we always start from, perfect, and practice the basics. The Team is a dynamic that works toward success, not hindered by pride, preservation, and self-interest."Needham's principles define and illustrate the word "team," and they will motivate business people working toward that common goal.

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A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea Review

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(More customer reviews)There are very few books that I've "had" to have the first day out - this was one - and it didn't disappoint! This book is a good window into the life of a merchant seaman in general and specifically into life on a ship running along the East coast of Africa. It was very interesting to understand the thought process of Capt Phillips while under attack and during his time as a hostage. Best wishes to Captain Phillips and his family! Rich Madden
Chief Mate, Maersk Alabama
Anchored off Djibouti
07 April 2010

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