I'm fairly new to this site, and I was glad to find a book review forum.
I just finished a rather amazing novel that takes place at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) in California. I have read many accounts of military training, but I haven't ever read anything quite like "Suffer in Silence" by David Reid. The plot is simple, but the descriptions of the excruciating training that these future commandos go through are outstanding. I have known quite a few SEALs, and they have all been a bit "different." Reid's book makes it perfectly clear why this is the case. No ordinary man could survive such torture.
Staying up for five days straight sounds bad enough to me, but mix in "surf torture" and endless running, paddling, pushups and situps, and you have an unbearable week. And the instructors are a combination of good solid professionals and absolute sadists. Anyone who is a fan of the special forces must read this book. It's a fast, extremely intense read.
I just finished a rather amazing novel that takes place at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) in California. I have read many accounts of military training, but I haven't ever read anything quite like "Suffer in Silence" by David Reid. The plot is simple, but the descriptions of the excruciating training that these future commandos go through are outstanding. I have known quite a few SEALs, and they have all been a bit "different." Reid's book makes it perfectly clear why this is the case. No ordinary man could survive such torture.
Staying up for five days straight sounds bad enough to me, but mix in "surf torture" and endless running, paddling, pushups and situps, and you have an unbearable week. And the instructors are a combination of good solid professionals and absolute sadists. Anyone who is a fan of the special forces must read this book. It's a fast, extremely intense read.