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The Easy Day was Yesterday - The extreme life of an SAS soldier
From his cage in a putrid, overcrowded Indian gaol, Paul Jordan reflects on a life lived on the edge and curses the miscalculation that robbed him of his freedom. His childhood, marred by the loss of his father and brother, produce a young man hell bent on being the best of the best - an ambition he achieves by being selected to join the elite SAS. He survives the gut-wrenching training regime, deployment to the jungles of Asia and the horrors of genocide in Rwanda before leaving the army to embark on a career as a security adviser. His new life sees him pursuing criminals and gun-toting bandits in Papua New Guinea and the Solomons, protecting CNN newsmen as the US 7th Cavalry storms into Baghdad with the outbreak of the Iraq War, and facing death on a massive scale as he accompanies reporters into the devastated Indonesian town of Banda Aceh, flattened by the Boxing Day tsunami. During his 24 days in an Indian gaol, Paul Jordan discovers that friendship and human dignity somehow survive the filth and deprivation. This is a personal account of a tough, hardened fighter who suddenly finds himself totally dependent on others for his every need. The Easy Day was Yesterday is fast paced, brutally honest and raw, but laced with dark humour. The core of Paul Jordan's eventful life, however, is the strength of his bonds with family and friends and the ability of the human spirit to survive even the direst adversity.
324 pages, ebook
First published June 6, 2012
33 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 17, 2012
A typical, over adrenalized, woo-is-me sobfest that barely really touched on the extreme life of the SAS at all. A poor recommendation from Amaon.
April 18, 2020
3.5. It wasn't really about him being in the SAS at all. It focuses almost entirely on him being in an Indian jail for crossing the border when he shouldn't have.
Saying that, it was still an interesting read but lacked editing at the same time. With an editor and a bit more about his SAS exploits as this is the sub title of the book, it would've had a better rating.
Saying that, it was still an interesting read but lacked editing at the same time. With an editor and a bit more about his SAS exploits as this is the sub title of the book, it would've had a better rating.
March 15, 2020
An Australian. SAS soldier deals a crisis period of his life, as he is mistakenly thrown into an Indian gaol and waits for prosecution. He utilises his mental toughness built over his years in the army and as a PMC to adapt to the crisis and his new life inside the rotten stinking prison.
Thanks to the media, special force soldiers are shown to be someone from Mars with a mind and body of steel. The writer of this book presents himself to be a down to earth regular chap, scared of rats and diseases in a humid, filthy tropical gaol. He shows every aspect of emotion and signs of exhaustion both physically and mentally.
In spite of showing weakness, he reflects to his days in the army, and tries to recall what he learnt through years of training and combat experience. The book goes back and forth to his flashbacks and memories, and to this present crisis in the gaol. Wonderfully written, this can be a source of motivation for someone going through a life crisis and is looking for redemption.
The author shares his experience during the Rwandan genocide, the brink of Iraq war, the tsunami of 2003, and life in an Indian prison. A very interesting read indeed.
Thanks to the media, special force soldiers are shown to be someone from Mars with a mind and body of steel. The writer of this book presents himself to be a down to earth regular chap, scared of rats and diseases in a humid, filthy tropical gaol. He shows every aspect of emotion and signs of exhaustion both physically and mentally.
In spite of showing weakness, he reflects to his days in the army, and tries to recall what he learnt through years of training and combat experience. The book goes back and forth to his flashbacks and memories, and to this present crisis in the gaol. Wonderfully written, this can be a source of motivation for someone going through a life crisis and is looking for redemption.
The author shares his experience during the Rwandan genocide, the brink of Iraq war, the tsunami of 2003, and life in an Indian prison. A very interesting read indeed.
March 9, 2013
I read this book from cover to cover and found myself thinking Paul had done quite a good job at writing this book.
Paul jumped about quite a bit in his reflections, which could be a little confusing at times. There was a considerable amount of grammar/spelling mistakes and sentence structures needed to be improved.
I would recommend this book if you are after a quick read on global issues such as the Rwandan genocide, Boxing Day Tsunami and hear a first hand account from those that are sent to mop up the carnage. Paul is from QLD and has had an outstanding career in the SAS and representing Australia in supporting International issues. As a fellow Aussie, I feel a certain amount of pride and respect for Paul Jordan.
Paul jumped about quite a bit in his reflections, which could be a little confusing at times. There was a considerable amount of grammar/spelling mistakes and sentence structures needed to be improved.
I would recommend this book if you are after a quick read on global issues such as the Rwandan genocide, Boxing Day Tsunami and hear a first hand account from those that are sent to mop up the carnage. Paul is from QLD and has had an outstanding career in the SAS and representing Australia in supporting International issues. As a fellow Aussie, I feel a certain amount of pride and respect for Paul Jordan.
January 6, 2019
I wish that the focus of this book wasn't so much about Paul being in that Indian jail (Don't get me wrong it was interesting, I just expected more SAS stuff. Otherwise it was pretty good, ambulance duty in Rwanda, jungle training, selection process, interrogation phase, all great stuff.
March 15, 2020
An Australian. SAS soldier deals a crisis period of his life, as he is mistakenly thrown into an Indian gaol and waits for prosecution. He utilises his mental toughness built over his years in the army and as a PMC to adapt to the crisis and his new life inside the rotten stinking prison.
Thanks to the media, special force soldiers are shown to be someone from Mars with a mind and body of steel. The writer of this book presents himself to be a down to earth regular chap, scared of rats and diseases in a humid, filthy tropical gaol. He shows every aspect of emotion and signs of exhaustion both physically and mentally.
In spite of showing weakness, he reflects to his days in the army, and tries to recall what he learnt through years of training and combat experience. The book goes back and forth to his flashbacks and memories, and to this present crisis in the gaol. Wonderfully written, this can be a source of motivation for someone going through a life crisis and is looking for redemption.
The author shares his experience during the Rwandan genocide, the brink of Iraq war, the tsunami of 2003, and life in an Indian prison. A very interesting read indeed.
Thanks to the media, special force soldiers are shown to be someone from Mars with a mind and body of steel. The writer of this book presents himself to be a down to earth regular chap, scared of rats and diseases in a humid, filthy tropical gaol. He shows every aspect of emotion and signs of exhaustion both physically and mentally.
In spite of showing weakness, he reflects to his days in the army, and tries to recall what he learnt through years of training and combat experience. The book goes back and forth to his flashbacks and memories, and to this present crisis in the gaol. Wonderfully written, this can be a source of motivation for someone going through a life crisis and is looking for redemption.
The author shares his experience during the Rwandan genocide, the brink of Iraq war, the tsunami of 2003, and life in an Indian prison. A very interesting read indeed.
July 14, 2025
I mistakenly bought this book thinking it was written about the British SAS and it actually focuses on an Australian soldier. The story of this man’s achievements and experiences is certainly impressive. The story is structured using his experience of a short prison term in India as a vehicle for his reflections over his military and post-military career - for me the description of his time in prison - though awful-sounding - was just a bit long and repetitive. His other career reflections come later in the book and are given relatively little page space even though they appear to be even more dramatic events than his jail spell - I would have liked to have read more.
September 4, 2017
More focused on a solitary experience with an accidental border crossing with flashbacks to his SAS days. Some riveting and heartbreaking stories of his missions in SAS and with the UN. The main story completely conveys the hopelessness and frustration of an easily solvable solution that for whatever reason progressively gets worse.
I enjoyed the read thoroughly, it's nice to see the Aussies have a sense of humor and experience the same frustrations as everyone else.
Anyone know if the Author is a sudoku expert yet?
I enjoyed the read thoroughly, it's nice to see the Aussies have a sense of humor and experience the same frustrations as everyone else.
Anyone know if the Author is a sudoku expert yet?
March 16, 2022
At last an SAS memoir with some substance. It’s not about the SAS so if you’re looking for more over dramatised war stories, false humility and thinly veiled backstabbing go and read any of the hundreds of formulaic drivel SAS biographies available these days.
This is the story of a man who happened to be in the SAS, which is probably why he survived all the other things that happened in his life. it’s a great story told really well.
This is the story of a man who happened to be in the SAS, which is probably why he survived all the other things that happened in his life. it’s a great story told really well.
June 22, 2023
An enjoyable read splashed with plenty of aussie humour, it is strange that the story is tied back to something that doesn't seem like the worst event in his life. But I guess it was life changing for him, and If you based it around the worst memory where would you go to from there? The story would end up markedly more negative than it is.
Dave Googins'esk but less depressing.
Dave Googins'esk but less depressing.
October 26, 2020
The interesting parts are short. The dull parts are dragged out.
Most will pick this up for the SAS aspects yet the book skims these sections.
The prison chapters are 90% too long and mostly repetitive.
Good humour and wit throughout.
Most will pick this up for the SAS aspects yet the book skims these sections.
The prison chapters are 90% too long and mostly repetitive.
Good humour and wit throughout.
December 20, 2017
Not quite what I was expecting. Focused mostly on being put in an unpleasant civilian prison in a foreign country for a "minor" infraction of national boundaries.
February 15, 2018
Compelling read
Compelling read, a really well put together story that flows easily and transports the reader through a fascinating time .
Compelling read, a really well put together story that flows easily and transports the reader through a fascinating time .
April 18, 2020
Excellent
Fast paced action packed describing a number of international incidents with a raw an down to earth style while still maintaining his sense of humour
Fast paced action packed describing a number of international incidents with a raw an down to earth style while still maintaining his sense of humour
March 24, 2025
Thrilling!
February 10, 2014
The Easy Day was Yesterday is written by former SAS soldier, Paul Jordan. The basis of the story is centred on his imprisonment in India (for accidentally crossing the border between Nepal and India without correct paperwork).
Paul writes a very interesting tale, using humour and dogged determination to drag himself through a very dark place. Whilst the book is centred mainly around his time in prison, he does recount his experiences in both the Regiment on operations around the world (including Afghanistan) and his time as a security consultant (one of his main jobs was to protect media embedded with the initial invasion force pushing North into Iraq during Gul War II).
Great book, well written, heart-warming in places, sad in others, but throughout horrendous conditions in one of the poorest jails in India, Paul still makes the reader chuckle.
Highly recommended!
Paul writes a very interesting tale, using humour and dogged determination to drag himself through a very dark place. Whilst the book is centred mainly around his time in prison, he does recount his experiences in both the Regiment on operations around the world (including Afghanistan) and his time as a security consultant (one of his main jobs was to protect media embedded with the initial invasion force pushing North into Iraq during Gul War II).
Great book, well written, heart-warming in places, sad in others, but throughout horrendous conditions in one of the poorest jails in India, Paul still makes the reader chuckle.
Highly recommended!
December 5, 2013
Paul tells a series of compelling stories about his time as an SAS soldier turned security adviser.
Each story of Paul in the thick of things in war zones and disaster areas is interwoven with the more detailed story of his 24 harrowing days as a prisoner in India after accidentally straying over the border from Nepal.
Each snippet of beaurocracy gone mad and the third world prison he was held in leads to tales of making is through SAS's ruthless selection procedures, the futility and frustration of a peacekeeping soldier during Rwandan genocide, escorting CNN journalists into Iraq and much more.
Despite seeing so much Paul's love of his family shines through brighter than any of the horrors he has seen.
An incredibly eye opening read.
Each story of Paul in the thick of things in war zones and disaster areas is interwoven with the more detailed story of his 24 harrowing days as a prisoner in India after accidentally straying over the border from Nepal.
Each snippet of beaurocracy gone mad and the third world prison he was held in leads to tales of making is through SAS's ruthless selection procedures, the futility and frustration of a peacekeeping soldier during Rwandan genocide, escorting CNN journalists into Iraq and much more.
Despite seeing so much Paul's love of his family shines through brighter than any of the horrors he has seen.
An incredibly eye opening read.
September 2, 2020
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I grabbed this book expecting it to be mostly about the author's experience in the SAS, but it wasn't, and not in a bad way! Although there are a few short tales about time in the SAS, the main story is his time spent in an Indian prison with flashbacks to his time in Rwanda, Iraq and a few other spots. An interesting read, funny in parts, sad in parts. Worth the read.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
I grabbed this book expecting it to be mostly about the author's experience in the SAS, but it wasn't, and not in a bad way! Although there are a few short tales about time in the SAS, the main story is his time spent in an Indian prison with flashbacks to his time in Rwanda, Iraq and a few other spots. An interesting read, funny in parts, sad in parts. Worth the read.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
November 20, 2012
This book needed more editing it kept jumping around the place and mentioned things that were never explained to the average non sas trained reader. It stated that media personalities helped try to get him released back in oz. Such as???? I appreciate the way the story was told with past and present recollections but toward the end of the book there was no link between them and it seemed kind of pointless.
October 22, 2015
A good recount of a former SAS soldier caught in a position he was trained to survive in.
Follows the life of a tough Aussie who has always had to overcome struggles to get what he wanted.
However, I would have preferred a little more insight into his career within the SAS and the burdens/benefits it brought him.
Follows the life of a tough Aussie who has always had to overcome struggles to get what he wanted.
However, I would have preferred a little more insight into his career within the SAS and the burdens/benefits it brought him.
June 25, 2012
I don't know why i couldn't finish this book. It was well written and interesting in parts. Maybe it was the cultural differences. I just couldn't get into it.
January 27, 2019
Enjoyable reading,humour,reality with an underlying story of experience in an Indian border prison camp.
Enjoyable reading,humour,reality with an underlying story of experience in an Indian border prison camp.Very easy to read and follow,made you feel as though you were there.
Enjoyable reading,humour,reality with an underlying story of experience in an Indian border prison camp.Very easy to read and follow,made you feel as though you were there.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews