Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

War stories with a motivational twist. O’Neill, the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden, an event he describes in stomach-churningly graphic detail (“I could smell the inside of his skull, like the funky odor of an animal’s entrails”) and former Marine and Medal of Honor winner Meyer team up to describe some of the rules that will help one “avoid being killed,” literally or figuratively. Some are common-sensical: Keep it simple, follow orders, don’t be sloppy. Applied to a military setting, sometimes those rules can be maddening. Meyer writes about returning from battle, his hands covered with blood, some of it “probably…from a Taliban fighter I had killed,” only to be ordered by an officer to wash up before entering the base. He did, because it’s a matter of military culture, drilled in at every waking moment, that one follows orders—which doesn’t bar the authors from noting that the culture tends to foster generalizable rules that don’t always apply to every situation but that the brass regards as sacrosanct. The authors open with an exhortation to remember how a Claymore mine operates. Printed on every one are the words “Front toward enemy”—to point it otherwise is to invite suicide. Meyer doesn’t have much use for the medal he received—it’s stored in his daughter’s toy box—but still writes with high regard of the ideals of military service even as he allows that the object of Marine training is to create killers and “not to help people.” O’Neill is a touch more political, exploding in anger when Trump “retweeted a batshit-crazy tweet from an account connected to QAnon” to the effect that bin Laden was still alive and that Barack Obama, as president, had murdered soldiers to cover it up. Both authors suggest, knowingly, that the best plans don’t often survive reality, but it’s important to plan anyway, for “you’re never out of the fight.” Better aimed at future soldiers than future CEOs, but with many valuable lessons. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

War stories with a motivational twist.ONeill, the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden, an event he describes in stomach-churningly graphic detail (I could smell the inside of his skull, like the funky odor of an animals entrails) and former Marine and Medal of Honor winner Meyer team up to describe some of the rules that will help one avoid being killed, literally or figuratively. Some are common-sensical: Keep it simple, follow orders, dont be sloppy. Applied to a military setting, sometimes those rules can be maddening. Meyer writes about returning from battle, his hands covered with blood, some of it probablyfrom a Taliban fighter I had killed, only to be ordered by an officer to wash up before entering the base. He did, because its a matter of military culture, drilled in at every waking moment, that one follows orderswhich doesnt bar the authors from noting that the culture tends to foster generalizable rules that dont always apply to every situation but that the brass regards as sacrosanct. The authors open with an exhortation to remember how a Claymore mine operates. Printed on every one are the words Front toward enemyto point it otherwise is to invite suicide. Meyer doesnt have much use for the medal he receivedits stored in his daughters toy boxbut still writes with high regard of the ideals of military service even as he allows that the object of Marine training is to create killers and not to help people. ONeill is a touch more political, exploding in anger when Trump retweeted a batshit-crazy tweet from an account connected to QAnon to the effect that bin Laden was still alive and that Barack Obama, as president, had murdered soldiers to cover it up. Both authors suggest, knowingly, that the best plans dont often survive reality, but its important to plan anyway, for youre never out of the fight.Better aimed at future soldiers than future CEOs, but with many valuable lessons. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Library Journal
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In this dual biography, veterans O'Neill (Navy SEAL; author of the best-selling The Operator) and Meyer (U.S. Marine; author of the best-selling Into the Fire) come together to tell stories of their early lives, military experiences, and the effects of fame after Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in Afghanistan and O'Neill became known as a member of the SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden. Their narratives describe episodes that were important to their lives—family support, training, deployment and execution and, later, handling the aftermath of war and needing help to readjust to civilian life. Both struggled with PTSD and addiction. O'Neill also describes having trouble reconnecting with family, especially after his public remarks about the Abbottabad raid (there are differing accounts of who fired the shot that killed bin Laden) and his decision to speak to the press. Both O'Neill and Meyer are skilled storytellers; O'Neill is also an inspirational speaker on overcoming challenges. They tell their stories in alternating chapters, lending a conversational style to the narrative. VERDICT This memoir is likely to be popular among readers of military books. While speaking to their own challenges, O'Neill and Meyer offer plenty of advice for veterans navigating reentry to civilian life.—Edwin Burgess