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Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior
From leadership expert, former Navy SEAL, "American Grit" feature player, and author of Worth Dying For: A Navy SEAL's Call to a Nation, Rorke Denver, the bestselling account of how he helped create the U.S. Navy SEALS of today. Rorke Denver trains the men who become Navy SEALs--the most creative problem solvers on the modern battlefield, ideal warriors for the kinds of wars America is fighting now. With his years of action-packed mission experience and a top training role, Lieutenant Commander Denver understands exactly how tomorrow's soldiers are recruited, sculpted, motivated, and deployed.
Now, Denver takes you inside his personal story and the fascinating, demanding SEAL training program he now oversees. He recounts his experience evolving from a young SEAL hopeful pushing his way through Hell Week, into a warrior engaging in dangerous stealth missions across the globe, and finally into a lieutenant commander directing the indoctrination, requalification programs, and the "Hero or Zero" missions his SEALs undertake.
From his own SEAL training and missions overseas, Denver details how the SEALs' creative operations became front and center in America's War on Terror-and how they are altering warfare everywhere. In fourteen years as a SEAL officer, Rorke Denver tangled with drug lords in Latin America, stood up to violent mobs in Liberia, and battled terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. Leading 200 commando missions, he earned the Bronze Star with V for valor. He has also served as flag aide to the admiral in charge and spent the past four years as executive officer of the Navy Special Warfare Center's Advanced Training Command in Coronado, California, directing all phases of the basic and advanced training that prepare men for war in SEAL teams. He recently starred in the film Act of Valor. He is married and has two daughters.
Ellis Henican is a columnist at Newsday and an on-air commentator at the Fox News Channel. He has written two recent New York Times bestsellers, Home Team with New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and In the Blink of an Eye with NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.
With all the SEALs' recent successes, we have been getting a level of acclaim we're not used to. But something important has been missing in this warm burst of publicity . Correcting that is my mission here.
My own SEAL dream was launched by a book. My hope is that this one teaches lessons that go far beyond the battlefield, inspiring a fresh generation of warriors to carry on that dream.
-Lieutenant Commander Rorke Denver
Now, Denver takes you inside his personal story and the fascinating, demanding SEAL training program he now oversees. He recounts his experience evolving from a young SEAL hopeful pushing his way through Hell Week, into a warrior engaging in dangerous stealth missions across the globe, and finally into a lieutenant commander directing the indoctrination, requalification programs, and the "Hero or Zero" missions his SEALs undertake.
From his own SEAL training and missions overseas, Denver details how the SEALs' creative operations became front and center in America's War on Terror-and how they are altering warfare everywhere. In fourteen years as a SEAL officer, Rorke Denver tangled with drug lords in Latin America, stood up to violent mobs in Liberia, and battled terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. Leading 200 commando missions, he earned the Bronze Star with V for valor. He has also served as flag aide to the admiral in charge and spent the past four years as executive officer of the Navy Special Warfare Center's Advanced Training Command in Coronado, California, directing all phases of the basic and advanced training that prepare men for war in SEAL teams. He recently starred in the film Act of Valor. He is married and has two daughters.
Ellis Henican is a columnist at Newsday and an on-air commentator at the Fox News Channel. He has written two recent New York Times bestsellers, Home Team with New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and In the Blink of an Eye with NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.
With all the SEALs' recent successes, we have been getting a level of acclaim we're not used to. But something important has been missing in this warm burst of publicity . Correcting that is my mission here.
My own SEAL dream was launched by a book. My hope is that this one teaches lessons that go far beyond the battlefield, inspiring a fresh generation of warriors to carry on that dream.
-Lieutenant Commander Rorke Denver
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
196 people are currently reading
2950 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
March 1, 2013
I read this book because I wanted to know how manhood can be defined for men who choose this field and how that may differ from the population at large. This book is more than a book about seals but a calling to all men to be the best they can possibly be. I still go over a few chapters in the book.
February 24, 2013
Damn Good
(Hyperion's Marketing Department sent me an advance reading copy of this book. If you want to read my full review, check out my blog SlingWords.)
Some may wonder why I, a romance novelist, am reviewing Damn Few, a book about training America's elite warriors, the Navy SEALs. That's easy to answer. It's because I am a romance novelist. I write books wherein the male lead is always a hero: a man who does the right thing for the right reasons.
Actually, My Cup of Tea
I've read and reviewed quite a few military memoirs. I admire men who put themselves in harm's way for the greater good of their fellow soldiers and their country. Rorke Denver, former head of Basic and Advanced SEAL Training is one of these men. In his book, he shares his own experience as a SEAL and later as the man who directed SEAL Training, as well as his philosophical insights into the mental and emotional makeup of a candidate who successfully completes SEAL training and wins the Trident, the gold pin that is the visible symbol of being a SEAL.
Different Perspective
Of all the books I've read about Navy SEALs, this is the first that offers the perspective of an officer who was an active duty SEAL and who was the officer in charge of a SEAL team. Denver shows the hard decisions an officer must make to consider the risk and reward of every operation, to deploy his team effectively, and to know that every decision he makes will affect not only a SEAL in his command but also the wife, children, parents, and siblings waiting stateside for that SEAL to return.
Although not characterized by "war stories" of firefight after firefight, Denver's story has power that comes from the emotion and philosophy he infuses. To be perfectly honest, he had me from the first line of the dedication: "For my wife, my heartbeat." There is not a woman on this earth who would not be affected by such a declaration of love. The fact that it comes from a man's man, a warrior, just makes the sentiment more profound.
Damn Few is a testament to heroic men who are not saints, but who are selfless in their patriotism. Perhaps more than any other group of people, SEALs recognize, as Denver says in his book: "You can do everything right, and things can still go catastrophically wrong." How tragically true.
At the beginning of Damn Few, Denver quotes an early Scottish toast that seems ironically appropriate given the murder of SEAL Sniper Chris Kyle, killed by a former soldier he was trying to help. "Here's tae us / Wha's like us? / Damn few, / And they're a' dead."
Damn Few will inspire, educate, and instill in you a deep appreciation for these men who are the ultimate warriors and for their willingness to make hard decisions and do the right thing.
(Hyperion's Marketing Department sent me an advance reading copy of this book. If you want to read my full review, check out my blog SlingWords.)
Some may wonder why I, a romance novelist, am reviewing Damn Few, a book about training America's elite warriors, the Navy SEALs. That's easy to answer. It's because I am a romance novelist. I write books wherein the male lead is always a hero: a man who does the right thing for the right reasons.
Actually, My Cup of Tea
I've read and reviewed quite a few military memoirs. I admire men who put themselves in harm's way for the greater good of their fellow soldiers and their country. Rorke Denver, former head of Basic and Advanced SEAL Training is one of these men. In his book, he shares his own experience as a SEAL and later as the man who directed SEAL Training, as well as his philosophical insights into the mental and emotional makeup of a candidate who successfully completes SEAL training and wins the Trident, the gold pin that is the visible symbol of being a SEAL.
Different Perspective
Of all the books I've read about Navy SEALs, this is the first that offers the perspective of an officer who was an active duty SEAL and who was the officer in charge of a SEAL team. Denver shows the hard decisions an officer must make to consider the risk and reward of every operation, to deploy his team effectively, and to know that every decision he makes will affect not only a SEAL in his command but also the wife, children, parents, and siblings waiting stateside for that SEAL to return.
Although not characterized by "war stories" of firefight after firefight, Denver's story has power that comes from the emotion and philosophy he infuses. To be perfectly honest, he had me from the first line of the dedication: "For my wife, my heartbeat." There is not a woman on this earth who would not be affected by such a declaration of love. The fact that it comes from a man's man, a warrior, just makes the sentiment more profound.
Damn Few is a testament to heroic men who are not saints, but who are selfless in their patriotism. Perhaps more than any other group of people, SEALs recognize, as Denver says in his book: "You can do everything right, and things can still go catastrophically wrong." How tragically true.
At the beginning of Damn Few, Denver quotes an early Scottish toast that seems ironically appropriate given the murder of SEAL Sniper Chris Kyle, killed by a former soldier he was trying to help. "Here's tae us / Wha's like us? / Damn few, / And they're a' dead."
Damn Few will inspire, educate, and instill in you a deep appreciation for these men who are the ultimate warriors and for their willingness to make hard decisions and do the right thing.
February 12, 2013
I have been reading everything I can find on SEALS. Most of the books are about their experiences on the battlefield. I wanted more. I want to understand what kind of man can even get to be a SEAL. This is the book I have been waiting for; this is a personal accounting of one amazing man's journey to and through this process and back. This man then takes on the recruiting and training of other SEALs, excels at that and then through his extraordinary character, charismatic personality and talent, becomes the face of the SEALs in the film "Act of Valor" and beyond. This man has become the go-to spokesperson for the SEALs and an eloquent and personable conduit to their secret world. He rides the fine line of secrets and disclosure with finesse. An extraordinary person to begin with; from a close knit family, a stellar athlete, an intellect, a spiritual and introspective deep beautiful soul, a wry and humorous, handsome charmer, Mr. Denver, inspired by Winston Churchill, starts out with the noble desire to serve his country. He is a person who always pushes himself. He wants to see what he is made of and looks to join the best of the best . He does and then excels beyond his own expectations. In Damn Few, he takes you through it all. You are with him through all the physical and mental tests and then through the legendary horrible and aptly named Hell Week .You feel the physical and emotional pain. You can barely believe what these men endure. He then takes you into the educational portion and into the strategies and tactics that show you what these men learn and how these skills become visceral nerve and muscle body knowledge through constant drills and realistic training. You see and feel via Mr. Denver's beautifully written prose, how these men are literally forged and created from the uber humans they naturally are. The process combined with their own natural talent, gifts, superior physicality and brilliance make men who can get the toughest and seemingly impossible tasks done. These are the men of science fiction, the true superheroes of our (or any) time. You learn the psychology/culture behind this astounding Brotherhood and why it is such a close knit world and you learn it through the eyes of one of their own. Mr. Denver is such a fantastically skilled writer so with his economic select words: you feel it. He is the real deal.
Mr. Denver does an extraordinary job of describing the intense process of becoming a SEAL. He describes in an intelligent, emotional and sometimes spiritual sense the discipline and abilities required for this calling. He makes the experience visceral and moving. You come away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to find candidates who just might have the best odds to be able to withstand the process which could destroy a lesser person and why this is needed. You understand that this is truly an elite bunch and no matter how much our government and we need more men like this, they are born and trained and not just easily found. They cannot compromise their standards or they will not be as successful. That is not fair to anyone, especially not the ones already in place. He then takes you through a behind the scenes and personal account of just what the training entails and the most profound challenges and fears any human would need to look at, face and conquer to be able to move through and survive.
This could easily have been an arrogant account of a cocky Shoot-'em up tale. It isn't. This is a profound look into the real heroes of our time. A behind the curtain look at the ultimate secret weapons of today's and the future’s terror ridden war. Mr. Denver then takes these lessons learned and missions accomplished successfully and some not successfully and turns them into leadership lessons that can (and should) be applied to business and really, to life. This is a book to refer to time and again. It is a page turner and a great read and you will not be disappointed.
Mr. Denver does an extraordinary job of describing the intense process of becoming a SEAL. He describes in an intelligent, emotional and sometimes spiritual sense the discipline and abilities required for this calling. He makes the experience visceral and moving. You come away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to find candidates who just might have the best odds to be able to withstand the process which could destroy a lesser person and why this is needed. You understand that this is truly an elite bunch and no matter how much our government and we need more men like this, they are born and trained and not just easily found. They cannot compromise their standards or they will not be as successful. That is not fair to anyone, especially not the ones already in place. He then takes you through a behind the scenes and personal account of just what the training entails and the most profound challenges and fears any human would need to look at, face and conquer to be able to move through and survive.
This could easily have been an arrogant account of a cocky Shoot-'em up tale. It isn't. This is a profound look into the real heroes of our time. A behind the curtain look at the ultimate secret weapons of today's and the future’s terror ridden war. Mr. Denver then takes these lessons learned and missions accomplished successfully and some not successfully and turns them into leadership lessons that can (and should) be applied to business and really, to life. This is a book to refer to time and again. It is a page turner and a great read and you will not be disappointed.
March 30, 2017
Setting this book in the context of other recent books by/about Navy SEALS, it is distinctive in several ways.
First, it lacks the "rah rah," unreflective, world in black-and-white viewpoint of books such as "American Sniper" (by the late Chris Kyle), which was appreciated.
Second, it covers *a lot* of territory, perhaps too much. Everything is included, from Denver's childhood, to his SEAL training, his experiences at war, his work as a SEAL trainer, discussions of recent SEAL missions (such as the sniping of Somali pirates and the assassination of Bin Laden, neither of which he participated directly in), to his viewpoint on the future of the SEALS. Because of that, some sections are definitely covered in a cursory fashion, and there are certain omissions, such as how/why his decisions to become a SEAL trainer and then to leave the brotherhood came about.
Third, his chapters on SEAL training and the philosophy behind it are fascinating and easily the best part of this book. He describes how training is meant to identify the best candidates, teach them about loyalty to each other and always seeking to win, and even how some of the capricious punishments of the trainers are meant to inculcate the lesson that sometimes life just isn't fair, and yet you still have to act decisively and move forward. There's a life lesson in there, for sure.
This is an easy read and Denver is a likable narrator, so this is recommended if you're interested in the subject.
First, it lacks the "rah rah," unreflective, world in black-and-white viewpoint of books such as "American Sniper" (by the late Chris Kyle), which was appreciated.
Second, it covers *a lot* of territory, perhaps too much. Everything is included, from Denver's childhood, to his SEAL training, his experiences at war, his work as a SEAL trainer, discussions of recent SEAL missions (such as the sniping of Somali pirates and the assassination of Bin Laden, neither of which he participated directly in), to his viewpoint on the future of the SEALS. Because of that, some sections are definitely covered in a cursory fashion, and there are certain omissions, such as how/why his decisions to become a SEAL trainer and then to leave the brotherhood came about.
Third, his chapters on SEAL training and the philosophy behind it are fascinating and easily the best part of this book. He describes how training is meant to identify the best candidates, teach them about loyalty to each other and always seeking to win, and even how some of the capricious punishments of the trainers are meant to inculcate the lesson that sometimes life just isn't fair, and yet you still have to act decisively and move forward. There's a life lesson in there, for sure.
This is an easy read and Denver is a likable narrator, so this is recommended if you're interested in the subject.
August 15, 2015
This is one of my favorite military books! Rorke is a military historian, and the book is full of classic military themes. He re-tells several "work" stories that are entertaining and amazing. It really gets to the mindset of becoming an elite warrior, and all the responsibilities that entails. I like reading these type of books, because it relates to my jab as well.
My favorite part of the book has to be when Rorke and the community are struggling with whether or not to allow Hollywood access in order to make a "true" SEAL movie. I'm glad they were a part of it; the movie is amazing! ("Act of Valor").
This is one of the few books that I've re-read several times. It's also one of the few that I've taken the time to highlight some of the sections for quick reference.
My favorite part of the book has to be when Rorke and the community are struggling with whether or not to allow Hollywood access in order to make a "true" SEAL movie. I'm glad they were a part of it; the movie is amazing! ("Act of Valor").
This is one of the few books that I've re-read several times. It's also one of the few that I've taken the time to highlight some of the sections for quick reference.
March 31, 2017
Great book. Very inspiring and I love the quotes within the book.
February 27, 2013
Not written as well as 'No Easy Day' but still entertaining none the less. Gives one more of an appreciation of how well trained the SEALs are and how difficult it is to graduate the BUD/S training. Denver, who obviously went through the training himself and has been an instructor for several years, gives a detailed account of the strenuous physical training tests prospective SEALs have to undergo. But that pretty much sums up the book; Denver talks a little bit about his deployment in Iraq but doesn't go into a whole lot of detail. Most of the second half of the book comprises Denver's opinion on the Government's intervention in the Navy's affairs, specifically the demand for more SEALs. Denver obviously thinks that the Government (and people who haven't experienced war or military training) should have nothing to do with the SEAL selection process which actually makes perfect sense to me. The SEALs are truly a brotherhood; those that complete BUD/S are a group of guys that really have no physical boundaries, that would put their brothers' lives before theirs, and who would never doubt the readiness and loyalty of the guy next to them. If the government wants more Special Operations Forces, they shouldn't lessen their standards to graduate more candidates, that defeats the purpose of the SEALs who are trained to be elite, fearless, and the most mentally and physically hardened warriors. Denver's point is that not everyone is made to be a SEAL; hardly any of his peers were 'recruited', they showed up at BUD/S because it was what they wanted to do.
The last part of the book deals with how Denver feels the American Government should have fought the Afghanistan and Iraq war. He feels they should have gotten in, taken out terrorist cells, and gotten out. He makes the point that all of the tribal factions hate each other (and the Americans have no hope to change that) but what they hate even more is having their country/territory occupied by foreign troops. I think Denver feels that there is no hope for a victory in either Afghanistan or Iraq which is why he goes on to describe his ideal form of peace keeping for the future: gather intel, find the 'bad guys', inform whichever country the 'bad guys' are located in that they are harboring an enemy of the US and give them four options: one, let the US SOF into their country to eliminate their target; two, take out the target themselves; three, take out the target in a joint operation; and four, don't let the US in. Obviously the last choice has consequences: that country, because they are harboring an enemy of the US, no longer will receive aid or support from the US. Denver's theory of peacekeeping is very American: he assumes that all countries need and/or want aid and support from the US. He does have a point though: obviously SEAL operations are more covert and therefore there is less collateral damage and less money spent on a large scale invasion. In the future (according to Denver), warfare is probably going to include many more SEAL-type operations in which a small team of elite warriors in inserted into a country, takes out their target, and gets out. Minimal collateral, maximum success. One thing's for sure, these guys are trained for one thing: to fight and to kill and their biographies are pretty damn exhilarating to read.
The last part of the book deals with how Denver feels the American Government should have fought the Afghanistan and Iraq war. He feels they should have gotten in, taken out terrorist cells, and gotten out. He makes the point that all of the tribal factions hate each other (and the Americans have no hope to change that) but what they hate even more is having their country/territory occupied by foreign troops. I think Denver feels that there is no hope for a victory in either Afghanistan or Iraq which is why he goes on to describe his ideal form of peace keeping for the future: gather intel, find the 'bad guys', inform whichever country the 'bad guys' are located in that they are harboring an enemy of the US and give them four options: one, let the US SOF into their country to eliminate their target; two, take out the target themselves; three, take out the target in a joint operation; and four, don't let the US in. Obviously the last choice has consequences: that country, because they are harboring an enemy of the US, no longer will receive aid or support from the US. Denver's theory of peacekeeping is very American: he assumes that all countries need and/or want aid and support from the US. He does have a point though: obviously SEAL operations are more covert and therefore there is less collateral damage and less money spent on a large scale invasion. In the future (according to Denver), warfare is probably going to include many more SEAL-type operations in which a small team of elite warriors in inserted into a country, takes out their target, and gets out. Minimal collateral, maximum success. One thing's for sure, these guys are trained for one thing: to fight and to kill and their biographies are pretty damn exhilarating to read.
September 25, 2017
I gave it 3 stars so that Jordan would get mad. I'm sure it worked.
September 5, 2025
I read this book in an effort to better understand leadership, and it was harder to draw parallels between this book and everyday management, but the end tied things up nicely. It was interesting to hear about a world I have no ties to and I recommend this book as long as you understand who the target audience is meant to be.
April 21, 2013
(3.5) The early sections on BUD/S training was great, wish it occupied more of the book
I wish he'd spent more on the training. The ops sections likely had to be cleaned of anything classified and thus felt a little light on details, rushed, less powerful. He could've also woven the training and the ops a little closer together: show how specific training prepared him and his SEAL brothers for specific ops.
I really appreciated the candid discussion of tension between bigwigs' desire for expansion of special forces and the active SEALs' and instructors' desire to maintain quality and character of those forces. Wished he could've gone into more detail, but probably didn't want to ruffle any more feathers. ;)
I wish he'd spent more on the training. The ops sections likely had to be cleaned of anything classified and thus felt a little light on details, rushed, less powerful. He could've also woven the training and the ops a little closer together: show how specific training prepared him and his SEAL brothers for specific ops.
I really appreciated the candid discussion of tension between bigwigs' desire for expansion of special forces and the active SEALs' and instructors' desire to maintain quality and character of those forces. Wished he could've gone into more detail, but probably didn't want to ruffle any more feathers. ;)
April 10, 2013
POWERFUL & RELEVANT
(audible audio book)
this story blew me away. rorke is an elite modern american warrior in all the best ways.
he is well read, he is a gentleman. he is a freaking killing machine... but only to serve
our best interests. truly.
while i cannot personally relate to being elated to being in combat in Iraq, i appreciate
who he is and what he is doing for our country and frankly for the planet.
highly recommended... if you have just a touch of interest - GET IT!! you won't be let down.
(audible audio book)
this story blew me away. rorke is an elite modern american warrior in all the best ways.
he is well read, he is a gentleman. he is a freaking killing machine... but only to serve
our best interests. truly.
while i cannot personally relate to being elated to being in combat in Iraq, i appreciate
who he is and what he is doing for our country and frankly for the planet.
highly recommended... if you have just a touch of interest - GET IT!! you won't be let down.
February 18, 2013
This is about preparing for battle as a citizen, combat soldier, or SEAL team member. The theme is not just for spec ops, but for everyone interested in living a valiant life. Excellence is the goal. I enjoyed this, but not everyone will. War is awful.
September 30, 2014
Great book. Really makes you appreciate the things we take for granted. Rorke is a good writer and this is a quick read. Would recommend to anyone who is interested in military and military history.
January 14, 2019
“Damn Few” is about a man named Rorke Denver and the things he was faced with and dealt with while becoming a SEAL and after. He goes into great detail about the men that were around him and the thing they were put through during training. He dives deep into the lessons he learned and the stuff he noticed. For example, the mental and physically trauma the men are put through, like hell week, where the men could not sleep for 5 days straight while rowing a boat in challenges and races plus many more. In the midst of all this he does not break, and he shares with us how quick some men broke and how hard it was for others giving us a new understanding of the word SEAL. It is the process that they go through to find out what is inside of them He also shares real accounts of war and his thoughts plus the things he saw.
A few things that I liked about the book was one; the way the author went into detail about the training and the whole process. The author really went into detail on how bad everything felt to him and the rest of the SEAL team Like the first day they were there. They were doing hundreds of reps of sit ups and push ups and then running into the freezing cold sea and back to do it all over again. It made you feel like you are really in the book experiencing these things with them. My favorite part about the book was the hell week part because I've heard a lot about that from people who have interest in become a SEAL, but the deciding factor that I have heard from most of them is that hell week would be or was too grueling for them to beat and to hear from someone who not only experienced, but to see him beat hell week was really cool to me. Surprisingly, the book actually made me laugh. Even though it was on a semi serious topic, the author somehow was able to crack a few jokes. Like whenever Rorke was describing the officers there and their personalities. It tended to lighten the mood a little bit while still carrying the book on. Last, I really enjoyed how enforced teamwork was and carrying about the men to your right And to your left as much as caring about yourself. Like when it was hell week and the men were in a boat race. One of Rorke’s partners fell asleep leaving the load on him and another person. When he woke up they easily forgave him because they understood the condition he was in. They easily could have cussed him out and go off on him, but they are a family and they treat each other like it.
The only thing that I can say I didn't like about the book was I just don't really have an interest in the army and war. Even though the book itself was interesting, I just didn't really like the topic of the book because it revolves around war and that isn't in my field of interest. I wish the book was a little bit longer to. I know that sounds weird, but there would have been more room for even more detail in the story. For example, the whole training process because I would have really liked to hear more about what they went through and endured.
I give this book a 5.0 rating because the book as a whole was very good. It’s very enjoyable and it kept me wanting to read more because I wanted to how it played out and how every single day the men were mentally and physically challenged. It was as if you were on the emotional roller coaster with them and on the battlefield with them to. Ultimately, as stated many times before, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anybody even of the topic doesn't interest you because you gain and better respect for the members of the SEAL’S. Also you can even use this book as a source of real information because of how detailed it was. I think everybody whether you like the topic or not should take the time to read “Damn Few”.
A few things that I liked about the book was one; the way the author went into detail about the training and the whole process. The author really went into detail on how bad everything felt to him and the rest of the SEAL team Like the first day they were there. They were doing hundreds of reps of sit ups and push ups and then running into the freezing cold sea and back to do it all over again. It made you feel like you are really in the book experiencing these things with them. My favorite part about the book was the hell week part because I've heard a lot about that from people who have interest in become a SEAL, but the deciding factor that I have heard from most of them is that hell week would be or was too grueling for them to beat and to hear from someone who not only experienced, but to see him beat hell week was really cool to me. Surprisingly, the book actually made me laugh. Even though it was on a semi serious topic, the author somehow was able to crack a few jokes. Like whenever Rorke was describing the officers there and their personalities. It tended to lighten the mood a little bit while still carrying the book on. Last, I really enjoyed how enforced teamwork was and carrying about the men to your right And to your left as much as caring about yourself. Like when it was hell week and the men were in a boat race. One of Rorke’s partners fell asleep leaving the load on him and another person. When he woke up they easily forgave him because they understood the condition he was in. They easily could have cussed him out and go off on him, but they are a family and they treat each other like it.
The only thing that I can say I didn't like about the book was I just don't really have an interest in the army and war. Even though the book itself was interesting, I just didn't really like the topic of the book because it revolves around war and that isn't in my field of interest. I wish the book was a little bit longer to. I know that sounds weird, but there would have been more room for even more detail in the story. For example, the whole training process because I would have really liked to hear more about what they went through and endured.
I give this book a 5.0 rating because the book as a whole was very good. It’s very enjoyable and it kept me wanting to read more because I wanted to how it played out and how every single day the men were mentally and physically challenged. It was as if you were on the emotional roller coaster with them and on the battlefield with them to. Ultimately, as stated many times before, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anybody even of the topic doesn't interest you because you gain and better respect for the members of the SEAL’S. Also you can even use this book as a source of real information because of how detailed it was. I think everybody whether you like the topic or not should take the time to read “Damn Few”.
January 16, 2018
Damn Few is a novel about Rorke Denver and his experiences throughout his epic journey in becoming a SEALs officer. Denver trains SEALs to become some of the most powerful battlefield problem solvers, including being able to think quickly despite the situation. In order to become a SEALs officer, Denver had to go through some of the toughest training in the country. Additionally, their training consists of an experience known as Hell Week that involves little to no sleep and harsh conditions of training. In Damn Few, Denver tells a story of all the missions he has been apart of and the SEALs he got to meet along with being taught in a close brotherhood. Through losses and recognition, Roark Denver tells a story on what makes the SEALs so special and damn few.
As I was reading this novel, I felt as if I was part of all the action. This book feels authentic as if you could visually see what was happening. I admire how the novel has a lot of action and intense scenes, which give distinct examples of what happens in a war which the general public is not correctly informed about. Damn Few is a book that once you start, you can’t put the book down because as a reader you want to find out what happens next after each chapter. My favorite part of the book is when the SEALs go into a mission because Roark Denver tells us in details exactly what happened in each operation. Additionally, I love how Denver was inspired to join not by a recruiting officer, but by a Winston Churchill's book he read while attending college. This novel is well-written along with it following chronological order from BUD/S training to taking a part in a SEALs movie.
I found it difficult to get attached to a character because you never know if they will die in a couple of chapters. This is due to the fact that as apart of being a SEAL in an operation, you never know the circumstances that you are getting into in battle. Although, I did love all of the action scenes I would've liked to have seen more scenes regarding the family relationship and dynamics. Also, in the beginning, I thought I was reading another SEALs novel because it included some of the same information presented in the other books. For example, the BUD/S training presented in this novel is the same as that of other SEALs book except with presenting an alternative point of view on the familiar training.
I would give this book a 5.0-star rating because it is a great and well-written novel. I believe it deserves a 5.0 because it's difficult for me to read books that do not capture my attention first-hand, and the fact that Damn Few was able to change that means something. I would recommend this book especially to the audience that reads military books. This book features a lot of suspense and action that will leave you turning each page. This non-fiction novel describes the journey a navy seal filled with action, emotion, suspense, and thrill which is a perfect book for you.
As I was reading this novel, I felt as if I was part of all the action. This book feels authentic as if you could visually see what was happening. I admire how the novel has a lot of action and intense scenes, which give distinct examples of what happens in a war which the general public is not correctly informed about. Damn Few is a book that once you start, you can’t put the book down because as a reader you want to find out what happens next after each chapter. My favorite part of the book is when the SEALs go into a mission because Roark Denver tells us in details exactly what happened in each operation. Additionally, I love how Denver was inspired to join not by a recruiting officer, but by a Winston Churchill's book he read while attending college. This novel is well-written along with it following chronological order from BUD/S training to taking a part in a SEALs movie.
I found it difficult to get attached to a character because you never know if they will die in a couple of chapters. This is due to the fact that as apart of being a SEAL in an operation, you never know the circumstances that you are getting into in battle. Although, I did love all of the action scenes I would've liked to have seen more scenes regarding the family relationship and dynamics. Also, in the beginning, I thought I was reading another SEALs novel because it included some of the same information presented in the other books. For example, the BUD/S training presented in this novel is the same as that of other SEALs book except with presenting an alternative point of view on the familiar training.
I would give this book a 5.0-star rating because it is a great and well-written novel. I believe it deserves a 5.0 because it's difficult for me to read books that do not capture my attention first-hand, and the fact that Damn Few was able to change that means something. I would recommend this book especially to the audience that reads military books. This book features a lot of suspense and action that will leave you turning each page. This non-fiction novel describes the journey a navy seal filled with action, emotion, suspense, and thrill which is a perfect book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2018
Book Review:
Damn Few - Rorke Denver
Damn Few by Rorke Denver is a firsthand account of Denver’s journey through the Navy SEALs training program and beyond. As you follow him on this journey throughout the book, you begin to understand the strenuous and extremely challenging requirements of becoming a member of this elite group of individuals. Rorke begins the book by describing his experience in the BUD/S training program, recounting every mental and physical challenge that was posed to him and the other trainees that eventually shaped them into unstoppable warriors. After he graduates from the program, he tells the reader of his position as a Lieutenant Commander, training the newcomers to the BUD/S program after making through it himself. Later on in his career, he is deployed in Iraq where he uses what he has learned in the classroom to defeat the enemy and protect the lives of the innocent.
Of the many aspects of this book that I enjoyed, one of the main parts I liked about this book is how it kept me engaged in the reading. Every event or scene in this book felt very real to me, which kept me fascinated in what was going to come next. Additionally, another part that I liked about this book is the scary scene where the boys are awaiting hell week, the single most stressful week of their entire Navy SEALs training. They are ordered to get to sleep on the beach and then wake up to the noise of gunfire, bombs, and overall havoc to only begin their hardest week of training. Lastly, another thing I enjoyed about this book is how the imagery allows me to visualize every challenging moment for Denver throughout the book.
Contrarily, there were a few things about this book that I did not like in particular. One of them being that the book feels like it starts off at a very slow pace. This can be a good thing, but it makes the initial progression of the book feel sluggish and unexciting. Also, another thing that I did not favor about this book is that there are not many other characters to care about other than Denver himself. I feel as if the book is centered around him, and he often does not include much information of some of the other characters.
All things considered, I give this book four stars out of five. I loved most parts of this book, however the few flaws that I mentioned above ultimately knocked it down a star for me. This book has been truly an interesting piece to read and has allowed me to better understand the Navy SEALs and what they do on a day-to-day basis. It also has taught me about Rorke Denver himself and all that he has been through to serve this country. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it to you if you are interested in the U.S. armed forces.
Damn Few - Rorke Denver
Damn Few by Rorke Denver is a firsthand account of Denver’s journey through the Navy SEALs training program and beyond. As you follow him on this journey throughout the book, you begin to understand the strenuous and extremely challenging requirements of becoming a member of this elite group of individuals. Rorke begins the book by describing his experience in the BUD/S training program, recounting every mental and physical challenge that was posed to him and the other trainees that eventually shaped them into unstoppable warriors. After he graduates from the program, he tells the reader of his position as a Lieutenant Commander, training the newcomers to the BUD/S program after making through it himself. Later on in his career, he is deployed in Iraq where he uses what he has learned in the classroom to defeat the enemy and protect the lives of the innocent.
Of the many aspects of this book that I enjoyed, one of the main parts I liked about this book is how it kept me engaged in the reading. Every event or scene in this book felt very real to me, which kept me fascinated in what was going to come next. Additionally, another part that I liked about this book is the scary scene where the boys are awaiting hell week, the single most stressful week of their entire Navy SEALs training. They are ordered to get to sleep on the beach and then wake up to the noise of gunfire, bombs, and overall havoc to only begin their hardest week of training. Lastly, another thing I enjoyed about this book is how the imagery allows me to visualize every challenging moment for Denver throughout the book.
Contrarily, there were a few things about this book that I did not like in particular. One of them being that the book feels like it starts off at a very slow pace. This can be a good thing, but it makes the initial progression of the book feel sluggish and unexciting. Also, another thing that I did not favor about this book is that there are not many other characters to care about other than Denver himself. I feel as if the book is centered around him, and he often does not include much information of some of the other characters.
All things considered, I give this book four stars out of five. I loved most parts of this book, however the few flaws that I mentioned above ultimately knocked it down a star for me. This book has been truly an interesting piece to read and has allowed me to better understand the Navy SEALs and what they do on a day-to-day basis. It also has taught me about Rorke Denver himself and all that he has been through to serve this country. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it to you if you are interested in the U.S. armed forces.
January 15, 2018
Rorke Denver, a lacrosse star from Syracuse, has wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was a teen. When Denver was in his early twenties, he showed up to SEAL camp to try to become part of an elite military branch. Six months later, Denver received his trident and officially became a Navy SEAL. Denver participates in crazy missions throughout his career and becomes a great leader in the process. Damn Few reveals the trials and tribulations of Denver’s Navy SEAL career through chronological order from him showing up to Seal training camp to his retirement.
My favorite character in Damn Few is Rorke Denver. I love his work ethic and his ability to never give up no matter how hard the task is. My favorite part of the book was hell week. I was fascinated to see how hard hell week actually is, and how the instructors push everyone to their absolute breaking point. This book made me laugh at times when the SEALs’ would do something I can’t even comprehend. Chronological storytelling helps the reader to get invested in the book, which makes the reader not want to put the book down.
One thing I did not like about Damn Few is how tough the drill instructors were. Denver says that everything that is done in training camp is beneficial to what they do in the actual battlefield, but at what cost? The drill instructors practically torture the recruits for no real reason. I feel like I would get PTSD from just going to SEAL training camp with the way it is run. I just do not like the fact that people are dying before they even get to the real action through training camp.
I give Damn Few three stars. I liked the book, but I did not love it. I am not very interested in the military but this topic was very interesting. I would not read this book again, it is the type of book in my eyes that one time is enough. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been in or is interested in the military. If you are interested in action movies I would recommend this book, it has a lot of action packed scenes. Overall, I thought it was a good book, but definitely not the best I have ever read.
My favorite character in Damn Few is Rorke Denver. I love his work ethic and his ability to never give up no matter how hard the task is. My favorite part of the book was hell week. I was fascinated to see how hard hell week actually is, and how the instructors push everyone to their absolute breaking point. This book made me laugh at times when the SEALs’ would do something I can’t even comprehend. Chronological storytelling helps the reader to get invested in the book, which makes the reader not want to put the book down.
One thing I did not like about Damn Few is how tough the drill instructors were. Denver says that everything that is done in training camp is beneficial to what they do in the actual battlefield, but at what cost? The drill instructors practically torture the recruits for no real reason. I feel like I would get PTSD from just going to SEAL training camp with the way it is run. I just do not like the fact that people are dying before they even get to the real action through training camp.
I give Damn Few three stars. I liked the book, but I did not love it. I am not very interested in the military but this topic was very interesting. I would not read this book again, it is the type of book in my eyes that one time is enough. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been in or is interested in the military. If you are interested in action movies I would recommend this book, it has a lot of action packed scenes. Overall, I thought it was a good book, but definitely not the best I have ever read.
January 17, 2018
In a Damn Few: The Making of a Modern Seal by Rork Denver, the author embellishes on his journey of adventures of becoming a navy seal. He recalls on how every academic class, extracurriculars, and life's challenges have mentally prepared him for the rigorous training program needed to take the step to becoming a seal. A series of inspiring and heartbreaking stories and experiences give us the true essence of what makes the modern American deal. Denver unravels the myths of how and who a deal should be. With a personal look within his own experiences, we see a new side to the mysterious seals.
When reading this book, I was flabbergasted of how real the author is. He does not present himself as ignorant and stuck up man that deserves recognition for his achievements. Instead he is blunt and factorial about what he has been done and been through. Also, he drenches his sarcastic but formal personality through every written word. As a result, this makes him seem more relatable. More human. All of this is why I took a liking to this book.
As with every good thing, there is a flip side. Even though you can relate to his true words,there is an intense desire to know more of how there elite brotherhood functions, how they benefit our country, and their pro's and con's of their dedication. If these were more prominent within the book, it would sincerely bring more light to all of these American warriors and promote a greater sense of honor within the reader's. Ultimately the focus of his point is a bit foggy but nonetheless a good book.
Taking all of what I have concluded about this book, I would give it a 4 star rating because it was relatable to anyone who reads it and No matter who you are. Also, the words and experiences are genuine. There is no fantasy scenario. You are enlightened to a new perspective of seals. The downside though to why I do not give it a five star rating is because it will drag on at times. It will fizzle your interest at some parts and Even be a bit repetitive. However, i truly enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to everyone and anyone.
When reading this book, I was flabbergasted of how real the author is. He does not present himself as ignorant and stuck up man that deserves recognition for his achievements. Instead he is blunt and factorial about what he has been done and been through. Also, he drenches his sarcastic but formal personality through every written word. As a result, this makes him seem more relatable. More human. All of this is why I took a liking to this book.
As with every good thing, there is a flip side. Even though you can relate to his true words,there is an intense desire to know more of how there elite brotherhood functions, how they benefit our country, and their pro's and con's of their dedication. If these were more prominent within the book, it would sincerely bring more light to all of these American warriors and promote a greater sense of honor within the reader's. Ultimately the focus of his point is a bit foggy but nonetheless a good book.
Taking all of what I have concluded about this book, I would give it a 4 star rating because it was relatable to anyone who reads it and No matter who you are. Also, the words and experiences are genuine. There is no fantasy scenario. You are enlightened to a new perspective of seals. The downside though to why I do not give it a five star rating is because it will drag on at times. It will fizzle your interest at some parts and Even be a bit repetitive. However, i truly enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to everyone and anyone.
August 26, 2019
This was a particularly good military memoir of a SEAL officer who also ran the training (BUD/S and Advanced Individual) for the SEALs. I was expecting the standard somewhat-mindless rah rah about how elite the SEALs are, but this actually went into the methodology of their training, some of the internal debates about it being too hard vs. not selective enough, and some of their other internal thinking. The officer (who was also involved in the Act of Valor movie, playing himself) is much more introspective and thoughtful than one would naively expect of a SEAL, and it's probably appropriate that a book about Churchill is what got him interested in military service in the first place. There's a really interesting debate to be had about selectivity and single hard upfront tests to gatekeep organizations (because then everyone involved knows their colleagues have passed that test as well), vs. more gradual or diverse application methods. It's also interesting to contrast with other aspects of SOF, where you end up with multiple pipelines into the organization, different forms of stress as selection (i.e. SEALs eat unlimited food during training and then are pushed to the limits of exertion of straightforward but difficult tasks for an extended period of weeks; the Rangers limit food and other resources and push to high but not as extreme limits, but with more coordination and skills-based testing, and various other forms of SOF have much more advanced technical specialty training and maybe more diverse teams with different specialties on the team itself). I'd be really interested in the author's take on using these training methods in contexts outside SOF.
November 25, 2017
I saw Rorke Denver first on a YouTube vid, being interviewed by Piers Morgan about gun control. It's one of those iconic "Piers Morgan Owned" vids that cheer you up when you can't find any funny cat ones. Denver came over as such a rational, intelligent person (mind you, not much competition in that debate) that I sought out this book to find out more about him.
This was one of the most engaging, interesting reads I've had for ages. Denver writes in a totally honest way about Seal training and its provenance--the need to have ultra capable warriors in the modern battlespace. He uses the word warriors a lot. It's a little jarring for a Brit to start with. If there was a continuum of self promotion (and I don't mean that in a negative way), then the British SAS would be on one end and US Navy Seals on the other. In every way the personalities of these two sets of elite soldiers are diametrically opposite. And so is the training. So, that only made this book compelling and fascinating. I would very much like to ask Denver if he feels his service and sacrifice was ultimately worthwhile, or whether he (like most of my army buddies) feels he's been utterly betrayed by his politicians--England, after all, has just been handed over now without even a fight.
If you are interested in the making of the modern soldier I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
This was one of the most engaging, interesting reads I've had for ages. Denver writes in a totally honest way about Seal training and its provenance--the need to have ultra capable warriors in the modern battlespace. He uses the word warriors a lot. It's a little jarring for a Brit to start with. If there was a continuum of self promotion (and I don't mean that in a negative way), then the British SAS would be on one end and US Navy Seals on the other. In every way the personalities of these two sets of elite soldiers are diametrically opposite. And so is the training. So, that only made this book compelling and fascinating. I would very much like to ask Denver if he feels his service and sacrifice was ultimately worthwhile, or whether he (like most of my army buddies) feels he's been utterly betrayed by his politicians--England, after all, has just been handed over now without even a fight.
If you are interested in the making of the modern soldier I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
May 6, 2018
Good explanation of the life of a Navy Seal. I especially enjoyed the chapter where he talks about the impact on the family.
November 27, 2017
Wow. I read between 60 and 70 books a year and this is one of the best I’ve read in years.
But let me back up.
I have no idea what possessed me to buy this book because I’m repulsed by war, think that the US is invasive and selfish (stay with me, I’m about to tell you how this book changed me), remain flabbergasted that we invaded Iraq when it was the Saudis (supported by their government) who were responsible for 911, and am disgusted by how we depose leaders and pull back while far worse leaders take control of other countries.
Yet I came away more educated, open minded, and far less negative after reading this book. Granted, I still feel deposing Hussein and making way for the ayatollah was insane, but there are issues concerning our national security that I simply never understood before reading this book. I better understand our invasion of Afghanistan, for example. Whereas I was once convinced that education was the answer to eliminating terrorism, I now get it that this just isn’t going to happen in my lifetime, and until then, you are right, Denver - sometimes we have to call a terrorist by the right name - a savage - and deal in violence, regardless of how much I wish we didn’t have to.
I came away from this book with a new respect not just for these elite forces, whom I knew nothing about, but our military, also, and everyone involved in our national security.
I’m no longer repulsed by what we may have to do to obtain information, and I’m proud of our general lack of brutality and our civility. I feel a pride in my country that I haven’t felt for a couple of decades.
When I finished the book, I watched my first war movie - Act of Valor - and then a second one on the capture and assassination of bin Laden. I stand in awe and feel an immense sense of gratitude.
Denver is a brilliant, honest, educated, and informed person. This book was beautifully written, and I’m not sure how anyone could walk away without respecting everything about this author. In a concluding chapter, Denver is individual enough to admit where our government and military has failed, and he assesses his hopes for the future of our elite forces.
I hope his wishes come true. And I hope we hear more from this outstanding author. I would especially be interested in how he thinks about foreign governments like the Saudis - and if he might be interested in assassinating THEM!
But let me back up.
I have no idea what possessed me to buy this book because I’m repulsed by war, think that the US is invasive and selfish (stay with me, I’m about to tell you how this book changed me), remain flabbergasted that we invaded Iraq when it was the Saudis (supported by their government) who were responsible for 911, and am disgusted by how we depose leaders and pull back while far worse leaders take control of other countries.
Yet I came away more educated, open minded, and far less negative after reading this book. Granted, I still feel deposing Hussein and making way for the ayatollah was insane, but there are issues concerning our national security that I simply never understood before reading this book. I better understand our invasion of Afghanistan, for example. Whereas I was once convinced that education was the answer to eliminating terrorism, I now get it that this just isn’t going to happen in my lifetime, and until then, you are right, Denver - sometimes we have to call a terrorist by the right name - a savage - and deal in violence, regardless of how much I wish we didn’t have to.
I came away from this book with a new respect not just for these elite forces, whom I knew nothing about, but our military, also, and everyone involved in our national security.
I’m no longer repulsed by what we may have to do to obtain information, and I’m proud of our general lack of brutality and our civility. I feel a pride in my country that I haven’t felt for a couple of decades.
When I finished the book, I watched my first war movie - Act of Valor - and then a second one on the capture and assassination of bin Laden. I stand in awe and feel an immense sense of gratitude.
Denver is a brilliant, honest, educated, and informed person. This book was beautifully written, and I’m not sure how anyone could walk away without respecting everything about this author. In a concluding chapter, Denver is individual enough to admit where our government and military has failed, and he assesses his hopes for the future of our elite forces.
I hope his wishes come true. And I hope we hear more from this outstanding author. I would especially be interested in how he thinks about foreign governments like the Saudis - and if he might be interested in assassinating THEM!
January 12, 2016
Damn Few by Rorke Denver is a book about his adventure from a childhood to adulthood, and his desire to be a Navy SEAL. Like everyone, Denver knew the SEALs were the best of the best no questions about it. His first real interaction with the SEALs was through his uncle, trying to dissuade him but Denver persisted through the battle to be accepted, and then through his rigorous training to earn his Trident. After defeating these battles the book goes on to describe some of his missions and other training exercises. Throughout these stories Denver describes on a deep emotional level his friends along the way that he knew would be forever.
To me this book is wonderful, there were not many things that I disliked. My favorite character is Rorke himself. He is such a deep and emotionally devout character that I feel a significant emotional connection with him. Denver's devotion to his SEAL brothers and to his training reminds me of myself and how I dedicate myself to my friends. Rorke has an undying will to succeed and to help others, these attributes transfer over into all pieces of a person's life and they also did here; making him such a skilled leader and trustworthy friend. This story is very engaging and didn't necessarily keep me guessing, but it did keep me on my toes and a definite page turner.
For me, I enjoy the background information the most; how the main character grew up or how the operations work. I wish this book would have had more information about his childhood before discovering his interest in the SEALs. I also dislike that there was not a lot of information about how he became interested in the SEALs. Overall, this book was quite interesting and very well written.
I gave Damn Few by Rorke Denver a 5 star rating because I believe that it was amazing. This book keeps the reader engaged all throughout with stories of love interest to training exercises and war stories. It continuously provides in depth evidence of all of Rorke's adventures and personally enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially with those interested in the armed forces or those interested in military history. I do this because I know that, just like me, they will find this death defying adventure quite the page turner.
To me this book is wonderful, there were not many things that I disliked. My favorite character is Rorke himself. He is such a deep and emotionally devout character that I feel a significant emotional connection with him. Denver's devotion to his SEAL brothers and to his training reminds me of myself and how I dedicate myself to my friends. Rorke has an undying will to succeed and to help others, these attributes transfer over into all pieces of a person's life and they also did here; making him such a skilled leader and trustworthy friend. This story is very engaging and didn't necessarily keep me guessing, but it did keep me on my toes and a definite page turner.
For me, I enjoy the background information the most; how the main character grew up or how the operations work. I wish this book would have had more information about his childhood before discovering his interest in the SEALs. I also dislike that there was not a lot of information about how he became interested in the SEALs. Overall, this book was quite interesting and very well written.
I gave Damn Few by Rorke Denver a 5 star rating because I believe that it was amazing. This book keeps the reader engaged all throughout with stories of love interest to training exercises and war stories. It continuously provides in depth evidence of all of Rorke's adventures and personally enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially with those interested in the armed forces or those interested in military history. I do this because I know that, just like me, they will find this death defying adventure quite the page turner.
January 12, 2016
The beginning of Damn Few starts with Rorke Denver’s, the author himself, telling the audience about his time that he was deployed in Habbaniyah, Iraq. He tells us how the Sunni fighters fought against invaders, and how their operations worked. Then explains the SEALs history and what they were made to do; the SEALs are small, highly trained warriors. Rorke also tells us about the rigorous training that he and all SEALs have to go through called BUD/S. Towards the middle of the book and all the way to the end, Rorke tells more about his own missions and talks about how he became a SEAL instructor.
This book not only explains in detail what the SEALs go through, the book is very inspirational and gives great life lessons. Throughout the whole book it talks about the SEAL brotherhood and how every SEAL is connected. Rorke also describe his fellow SEALs; he also gave us a better understanding of who and what they went through. This is an action packed book and has many cliffhangers. The drama in the book, mentally or physically, really makes you want to keep reading.
Throughout the book the author had trouble going in depth with each story. Since most missions were classified he rushed the story and did not give much detail. He would start off with a good beginning with a lot of detail, and then would just rush through the rest. Also he could have gone more over the SEAL training. The SEAL training was very intense and could have improved the book.
I rated this a five star book for multiple reasons. The book had a lot of detail I did not know about SEALs and the stuff they went through. Rorke also had a lot of action to keep me to continue reading. The book was actually inspirational and not only explain the mentality the SEALs had to have but also gave the reader erudition. This is a great book that gives a lot of detail about the characters and the operations Rorke went on. I highly recommend to read this book.
This book not only explains in detail what the SEALs go through, the book is very inspirational and gives great life lessons. Throughout the whole book it talks about the SEAL brotherhood and how every SEAL is connected. Rorke also describe his fellow SEALs; he also gave us a better understanding of who and what they went through. This is an action packed book and has many cliffhangers. The drama in the book, mentally or physically, really makes you want to keep reading.
Throughout the book the author had trouble going in depth with each story. Since most missions were classified he rushed the story and did not give much detail. He would start off with a good beginning with a lot of detail, and then would just rush through the rest. Also he could have gone more over the SEAL training. The SEAL training was very intense and could have improved the book.
I rated this a five star book for multiple reasons. The book had a lot of detail I did not know about SEALs and the stuff they went through. Rorke also had a lot of action to keep me to continue reading. The book was actually inspirational and not only explain the mentality the SEALs had to have but also gave the reader erudition. This is a great book that gives a lot of detail about the characters and the operations Rorke went on. I highly recommend to read this book.
January 12, 2016
Damn Few by Rorke Denver is a truly inspiring book. Lt. Denver takes readers on an adventure through the life of a SEAL. However it is not just the life of a SEAL we learn about, it’s the strong force of the brotherhood that has withstood many trials. Through training at BUD/S to the battlefield their faith in each other, from the beginning, has strengthened the bond of this brotherhood. The book reveals that these men are an inspiration to men around the world to be their very best self.
At every new chapter, Rorke introduces a famous quote and a flashback of his experiences. This show his passion and commitment for writing this book. Rorke dedicated the time and the effort to reveal the characteristics of the men in this special force. This book kept me turning each page to find out more about the men’s determination in their everyday lives. The flashbacks helped the readers grasp the situation and gave a real life example to connect to.
The book did jump around a lot. I felt like the author had so many memories and things that he wanted to say, but did not have enough space to say it all. Most of the ideas were straight forward, but occasionally some of the stories would relate better for others in the military than for the nonmilitary members.
I gave this book 5 stars because I felt like it deserves it. Rorke fully explained the things he wanted to say and in detail so many could relate to it. I would definitely recommend it because of the strong theme of determination to be the best a person could be.
At every new chapter, Rorke introduces a famous quote and a flashback of his experiences. This show his passion and commitment for writing this book. Rorke dedicated the time and the effort to reveal the characteristics of the men in this special force. This book kept me turning each page to find out more about the men’s determination in their everyday lives. The flashbacks helped the readers grasp the situation and gave a real life example to connect to.
The book did jump around a lot. I felt like the author had so many memories and things that he wanted to say, but did not have enough space to say it all. Most of the ideas were straight forward, but occasionally some of the stories would relate better for others in the military than for the nonmilitary members.
I gave this book 5 stars because I felt like it deserves it. Rorke fully explained the things he wanted to say and in detail so many could relate to it. I would definitely recommend it because of the strong theme of determination to be the best a person could be.
October 15, 2013
Lt. Commander Denver's book is an outstanding insight to the leadership of some of the worlds most driven and elite warriors. This book will take you from the early days of his life, to BUDs as an officer, to war, to his experience of overseeing all three phases BUDs, and eventually his assistance and roll in the movie "Act of Valor" where he played the roll of Lt. Rorke (the one who jumped on the grenade).
Commander Denver provides his personal experiences and mindset which he feels attributes to the fundamentals of building Americas toughest soldiers. His book is a must read for anyone in a leadership roll. His book is not based solely on hard charging self motivated men but also focuses on teamwork and core values.
Damn Few provided several laughs during their experiences at BUDs including sleep deprived hallucinations and crafty innovativeness to survive their struggles. It also provided a front row seat to the sacrifices these men face in family life and in the loss of their closest friends. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, it made me angry, it made me proud, most of all it made me grateful men like Rorke stand ready to enact violence on our behalf expecting nothing in return.
Read it! You won't be disappointed.
Commander Denver provides his personal experiences and mindset which he feels attributes to the fundamentals of building Americas toughest soldiers. His book is a must read for anyone in a leadership roll. His book is not based solely on hard charging self motivated men but also focuses on teamwork and core values.
Damn Few provided several laughs during their experiences at BUDs including sleep deprived hallucinations and crafty innovativeness to survive their struggles. It also provided a front row seat to the sacrifices these men face in family life and in the loss of their closest friends. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, it made me angry, it made me proud, most of all it made me grateful men like Rorke stand ready to enact violence on our behalf expecting nothing in return.
Read it! You won't be disappointed.
March 28, 2013
I read this book because of the author's interview with Hugh Hewitt. But in the interview Mr. Denver was down to earth and reflective and in the book comes across as more jingoistic and adrenaline-pumped. I wonder if the co-writer had something to do with that.
This book suffers from too many anti-climactic moments. The authors build suspense about forays into enemy territory that fizzle with an uneventful capture or the near miss of something that might have happened like steering clear of a trash heap that might have contained an IED.
I appreciated the chapter late in the book called Killing School where Mr. Denver frankly speaks about the reality of his profession. I was uncomfortable with an early description of an enemy's body being jerked around by the SEALs' bullets before he fell dead. I understand the reality of bad guys, as they're usually referred to, wanting to kill Americans and the necessity of meeting them with overwhelming power. But I think I prefer to remain blissfully ignorant of the SEALs' eagerness to kill.
This book suffers from too many anti-climactic moments. The authors build suspense about forays into enemy territory that fizzle with an uneventful capture or the near miss of something that might have happened like steering clear of a trash heap that might have contained an IED.
I appreciated the chapter late in the book called Killing School where Mr. Denver frankly speaks about the reality of his profession. I was uncomfortable with an early description of an enemy's body being jerked around by the SEALs' bullets before he fell dead. I understand the reality of bad guys, as they're usually referred to, wanting to kill Americans and the necessity of meeting them with overwhelming power. But I think I prefer to remain blissfully ignorant of the SEALs' eagerness to kill.
October 12, 2015
Overall I enjoyed it. I needed a quick read between beastly books so I took my chances with this one. It was gripping enough to keep my attention and thus I finished in 2 days. I especially enjoyed the authors commentary on grit and perseverance and how when you look at someone from the outside it is impossible to tell who has it and who does not. I think the book offers some valid advice for those who are interested in achieving anything difficult. When one decides on achieving a challenging objective they have to be relentless in pushing themselves to get there, refusing to entertain defeatist thoughts. This single-mindedness towards self-mastery is what sets true achievers apart from everyone else.
September 5, 2016
The book Damn Few by Rorke Denver is a very good autobiography. This book is about Rorke Denvers life from his college career to his time in the military. Some if the other characters are his parents and his friends through seal school. I enjoyed this because of the way Rorke Denver described the details of his life. I also liked the language that he used he was able to use bigger words when needed. The only complaint that I had with this book I wish that Rorke Denver had included more on his life post military. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the US military or interested in history. I really enjoyed this book.
November 5, 2013
If you are a fan of modern warfare books, as I am, then you will definitely enjoy this book. Rorke Denver's account of what it takes to become a Navy SEAL is incredibly compelling, and makes me marvel at the capacity of each SEAL. Learning about the training at BUDS was my favorite part of the book. The school to become a SEAL is outrageous, and the people that make it through truly are incredible.
"Damn Few" is certainly a great read. It is entertaining, action packed, and a very cool true story. I recommend for sure.
"Damn Few" is certainly a great read. It is entertaining, action packed, and a very cool true story. I recommend for sure.
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