The Making of a Navy SEAL: My Story of Surviving the Toughest Challenge and Training the Best

by Brandon Webb, Marcus Luttrell (Foreword)

BEFORE HE COULD FORGE A BAND OF ELITE WARRIORS... HE HAD TO BECOME ONE HIMSELF.

Adapted from Webb's Adult Bestseller The Red Circle for a Young Adult Audience

Brandon Webb's experiences in the world's most elite sniper corps are the stuff of legend. From his grueling years of training in Naval Special Operations to his combat tours in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, The Making of a Navy SEAL provides a rare and riveting look at the inner workings of the U.S. military through the eyes of a covert operations specialist.

Yet it is Webb's distinguished second career as a lead instructor for the shadowy "sniper cell" and Course Manager of the Navy SEAL Sniper Program that trained some of America's finest and deadliest warriors-including Marcus Luttrell and Chris Kyle-that makes his story so compelling. Luttrell credits Webb's training with his own survival during the ill-fated 2005 Operation Redwing in Afghanistan. Kyle went on to become the U.S. military's top marksman, with more than 150 confirmed kills.

From a candid chronicle of his student days, going through the sniper course himself, to his hair-raising close calls with Taliban and al Qaeda forces in the northern Afghanistan wilderness, to his vivid account of designing new sniper standards and training some of the most accomplished snipers of the twenty-first century, Webb provides a rare look at the making of the Special Operations warriors who are at the forefront of today's military.

Explosive, revealing, and intelligent, The Making of a Navy SEAL provides a uniquely personal glimpse into one of the most challenging and secretive military training courses in the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Biography, Memoir, War, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2015

Reviews

[Ashtonr · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok the beginning was very good but after he got his navy seal trident it started to get kind of repetitive and made me want to stop reading.

[Dave Klapwyk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't fathom how there are so many glowing reviews.
I found his book quite boring and poorly written. Most of the book consists of his training regimen and technical details about armaments.
Describing how early you have to get up, what type of guns you used and how many push-ups you had to do, doesn't make an interesting read to me.
I'm not sure I can actually finish it. Because of the lack of a "plot destination" I really don't have any interest about what happens next or how it ends.
I love army/war novels, but I think I'll stick to historical fiction.

[Wil Comensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever thought that becoming a Navy SEAL was easy? In Brandon Webb's "The Making of a Navy SEAL," you can kiss your dreams of an easy-street life with the SEALs goodbye. The SEALs are one of the most elite fighting forces in the world, and their training is physically demanding, rigorous, bone-breaking, back-snapping toil that lasts for over 6 months with no end. This wasn't an obstacle for Brandon, of course. He eventually becomes a SEAL after months of hard work and dedication, and proves to his instructors what they took for granted, and later one of the deadliest snipers in the War on Terrorism. In this book, Brandon demonstrates that hard work, dedication, and a mighty challenge can teach you to never give up on yourself.
Brandon was a 16 when he heard about the Navy SEALs. The truth was, he needed "a plan, somewhere to go and something to aim for" (Webb 27). His life was going downhill up to that point mainly because of his relationship with his father, but he also saw this opportunity not as a challenge, but as a means to prove himself to his father and to well, himself. So for him it was decided, he was going to be a Navy SEAL. When he got to his training though, it really began to get tough, and the coaches wanted him to fail. He was known as "that guy," the man who doesn't do anything right and always falls behind the rest of the pack. But Brandon kept on pushing, and finally earned the respect of his coaches. "I did not want you to make it through," he said. "I thought we could make you quit" said his instructor to him (Webb 75). “But you shoved it in our faces. You stepped up. I watched you turn a corner—and I was impressed.” Then he quietly added, “You earned our respect” said his coach (Webb 75). This shows that Brandon made it through his greatest challenge, and passed with flying colors. Brandon's message is this, "This is what I learned about being a Navy SEAL. It is all about excellence, and about never giving up on yourself. And that is the red circle I will continue to hold, no matter what" (Webb 272).
So, through this book, Brandon discusses his greatest achievement in his life, becoming a Navy SEAL. Through it he demonstrates that hard work, dedication, and a challenge can teach you to never give up on yourself. Brandon is a great example of someone who perseveres through the end. In this world, we need more people like him because of his bulldog mentality and "fire in the belly" he was able to accomplish something that only a few ever have.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "The Making Of A Navy Seal” by Brandon Webb is an outstanding book that really intrigues you once you start reading it. The main character is Brandon Webb, he is 17 years old and is attempting to become a SEAL. Brandon was forced to battle through many grueling years of training in order to become a Navy SEAL. The setting is all around the world on a ship.

I think that the book is very good because the author focuses on being very descriptive in his writing. For example on page 47 it says "we headed out west clear across the Pacific, stopping in Hawaii, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Australia." This allows me to easily visualize the path that the ship took and its route to the Persian Gulf. When the author uses descriptive writing you can easily understand where the ship traveled. Another example is on page 150 when it says "The RHIB is a very fast craft, with twin diesel engines delivering 1,000 horsepower." RHIB stands for rigid-hulled inflatable boats. The descriptive writing used by the author allows me to exactly envision what the boat looks like. I can create a picture in my head which helps me understand what is happening in the book.

Overall, I think this book is a very good book that has a lot of good things in it. The author does a very good job at describing the entire book. I would most definitely recommend this book to a friend and I would definitely read another book similar to this one.

[Ethan Starck]

In the book becoming a navy seal it goes through the author, Brandon Webb's point of view before, during, and after Navy Seal training. Brandon Webb was doubted by a lot of people in his life but he overcame all the haters and became a Navy Seal sniper. At the age of 16 Webb was thrown off his fathers boat and forced to live with his summer boss and good friend. Webb heard people talking about Navy Seal training and he decided to do research about it. He found out that being a Navy Seal involved a lot of diving and underwater missions. Webb had been diving his whole life so he decided to enlist in training. Having read the book I found out that Navy Seal training is one of the hardest things the human body can endure. Webb makes it through training and becomes a very successful Navy Seal sniper. I hope you consider reading this book.

[Adam Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers* This book is a very good book. It shows Brandon Webb's story in becoming a Navy SEAL. He shares all his stories which include his missions he went on. It gives you a look in what happens through the eye of a covert operations specialist. Before Brandon was in the navy seal he went through a tough childhood. His dream was to become a Navy SEALs and a special forces snipers. He explains what he does through his years of training and missions. He explains what shooting snipers really means like not just marksmanship, you need to be able to keep calm and think clearly under pressure. If you are not thinking clear under pressure because you can make a bad decision mess up the mission or your aim if your shaking.

[Margaret B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this before, this book has been just sitting around in one of the bookshelves in my house and I picked it up because my family and I were talking about Navy SEALS and how crazy intense and hard their training is, and plus my kindle has been broken for a while, so I figured why not?

This is definitely a great little book, it explains things pretty simply and it is so fascinating the journey this guy goes through. It's insane.

This is definitely a great, easy read that really puts things into perspective. It is more of a middle grade book I feel, but I still enjoyed it and I believe that anyone can learn something from this book.

5/5 STARS

[Ryan Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Making of a Navy SEAL: My Story of Surviving the Toughest Challenge and Training the Best, was a very informative but interesting story. Webb talked a lot about his physical and mental challenges through his Navy SEAL training and describes the idea of how hard BUD/S training really is. I really enjoyed the book, it taught me a lot about Navy SEALs and their lifestyles.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

a remarkable story of the courage of the men who become navy SEALs. Brandon Webb has lead an amazing life and this is an interesting read.

[Adam Alden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. It puts you through Brandon Webb's point of view of the military and how much it takes to become a Navy SEAL. There are also some parts of his childhood and how he got to want to become a Navy SEAL. Then there were also chapters about fighting in the middle east as well as becoming a sniper.

[Keaton Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Making of a Navy Seal is about a guy who has a dream in becoming a Navy Seal. The story tells you about his life and the events that led up to him achieving his dream. I like this story because it explains his child life and the things that helped him become a better man and a Navy Seal. I also like this book because the way the chapter are ordered is the order of his life. I would highly recommend this book to people who also want to become a Navy Seal, or even just ti read a great book.

[Cole Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole Lewis
Mrs. St. Clair
English 10
6 March 2017
The Making of a Navy Seal
The making of a Navy Seal by Brandon Webb truly tells the story behind americans greatest warriors. The book is a story of Brandons life ad how he got to the point he is at today. He starts his story with describing his life before the military with his parents. They would send him off to work on a boat every summer for massive time periods to get him out of trouble. He learned to love the sea and began scuba diving at a young age. He then hears about the SEALS and turns his focus on becoming one. He goes through many different programs before being allowed to go to BUD/S to train to be a seal, once in BUD/S he is pulled aside and is asked to join the sniper category of the seal training course. And from there on he becomes a master sniper and rebuilds the seal training from the ground up to help all other military become a seal. I found this book to one of the best that I've ever read due to the fact that I've always wanted to be in the Navy. It gives a great deal of detail when talking about the expeditions and the training required and i found it very interesting. I over all loved the book and would mostly recommend this book to people to are very patriotic or into the military.

[Cody Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is The Making of a Navy SEAL by Brandon Webb. This book is about how Brandon Webb became a Navy Seal and he is very good at explaining his life on the way. The book is very interesting when he talks about the PTs and the training in the military, and even how his life went before he became a Navy SEAL. He shows how brave and confident he was pushing through no matter what happens, to achieve his goals in life. Brandon has lots of personalities that make the book more fun, which is another reason why I like the book. If I were to recommend books, this would be one of them.
One specific reason why I love this book is because of Brandon Webb. He has a great personality and he is very good at reaching all his goals. His personalities are brave, confident, caring, smart, strong and some other good ones. I would recommend this book because it would bring people's attention to how you can reach any goal in life you want if you are confident and try as best as possible. Brandon did an excellent job at telling how he ended up considering the job of a Navy SEAL with his parents and life story.
There are many reasons why I like this book, and I think others should read this book as well. It shows how you can be confident and do anything you want if you try. It can teach people to go for the things you want to do and don't give up no matter what. It also tells the story of someone becoming a SEAL, so if someone reads this, they might be convinced to take that job one day. If you have not read this book, I would consider it. Maybe you will learn something or find something you will use in life.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Excellence matters.” With those two words, Brandon Webb sums up the message he hoped to leave with the readers of this 2015 autobiography. Webb writes, “What (he) learned about being a Navy SEAL is, it’s all about excellence and about never giving up on yourself.”

If you’ve read any books written by other former Navy SEALs, this one isn’t much different. Yes, Webb did survive a somewhat dysfunctional family growing up. That may or may not be a common denominator with all the other SEAL team bios out there.

But here too, Webb gives us a detailed but very typical tour of Hell Week and beyond during training for BUD/S Class 215. Out of Webb’s original 220 classmates, only 23 made it through five weeks of indoctrination, six weeks of physical conditioning, eight weeks of diving and water skills training and nine weeks of land warfare. “Roughly ninety percent of (Webb’s) class had failed.” A more than seven-month trial by fire, not for the faint of heart.

Webb and his co-author, John David Mann, apparently aimed this military journal at twelve to fourteen year-old boys. In his forward, Webb writes, “What I wouldn’t give to be twelve years old again.” When Webb was fourteen, the author explains, he formed the desire to become a Navy SEAL. “Many kids (his) age and adults told (him) this was impossible. (Webb) calls these negative people dream stealers. Watch out for them. Let whatever they say stoke your dream fire a little more.” Webb goes on to advise his apparently young readers, “Remember that the tough times will eventually end . . . the best things in life take hard work and determination to complete. Think about this next time you’re practicing music, working on math, playing sports.” Webb told his readers, “Consider (this book) your own secret weapon to help you to pursue your ultimate dreams.”

I came away from Webb’s “story of surviving the toughest challenge and training the best” with a couple of surprises. I was a little shocked to learn that even with all his time in the Navy, Webb apparently served only one, six-month tour in the war zone of Afghanistan. I was not aware that legendary SEAL team members, Chris Kyle, (author of “American Sniper”), and Marcus Luttrell were the recipients of Webb’s own, newly-revised sniper course. In fact, Luttrell credits Webb with saving his life and allowing him to become “The Lone Survivor.”

After reading and reviewing so many of these former SEAL tell-all-tales, I still don’t understand why anyone would put themselves through the abusive SEAL training. I still don’t understand how even the fortunate few manage to survive.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

very inspirational book and really enjoyed him showing his path to becoming a SEAL.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at a school book fair. Several of my students are interested in war books. I prefer to stack my classroom library with books that inspire my students to push themselves to be better (Excellence Matters!) than those that inspire them to violence. This is one of those books.

To be honest, this book is dry. Really dry. But I think my students who are truly interested in war and real military will find this a good read. The details serve to push the difficulties encountered to becoming the best of the best. On the other hand, many other details are glossed over as being either unfit for young eyes or still under the heading of Top Secret.

Even the obscuring of the faces in the photographs serve to prove "this is real." I think it will take a special student to enjoy this book but I also think I have several special students.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Brandon grew up always near and on the water until his dad threw him off his boat. This book is about a guy named Brandon Webb who goes through this intense Navy Seal training. Once he finishes his training in about four years, he and his friend are immediately offered a position in the Navy Seal Sniper program. They both had no hesitation and accepted the position. He even graduated that too. When he graduated he trained one of Americas deadliest snipers, Chris Kyle. Chris was no joke. He hit every single target right in the center every time every day and at a fast paced rate. Brandon then went on to train almost every elite sniper in the history of the Navy Seal Sniper program. in conclusion this book was great and I loved it. I would recommend it to a 6th or 7th grader.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! A quick, easy read that is just the right size. Bravo Zulu to Brandon Webb for giving a real account of what his time in the service was like. Short, insightful chapters that tell it like it is in going through U.S. Navy SEAL training and then what really follows after that. Some author feel the need to write more than they should, but Mr. Webb kept it simple and to the point. My boys have already expressed an interest in reading this and I strongly feel that they will enjoy it like I did.
I received this book through the goodreads giveaway program. What a great program and I thank all those that made it possible for me to receive a free copy of this well done non-fiction book.

[Jackson E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring and I enjoyed reading it. I liked how it talked about the different challenges and how hard it is to become a Navy Seal. It had a bunch of action. It was probably one of the best books.

[Aiden Kessinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book it didn't take long for me to read it.Brandon Webb reminds me of Chris Kyle strong and not scared of any thang.

[Jake Ratermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dream Job

The Navy SEALs are the most infamous task force our military has. They are the elite of the elite and practice nothing but protection. The book The Making of a Navy SEAL (2010) written by Brandon Webb, illustrates the true dream of hardships of becoming a SEAL. This book not only captures the moments and difficulty the SEALs go through in their training but what goes on after the training and into the real life job of being a SEAL. Brandon Webb, a former Navy Seal part of SEAL Team 7 was a special forces sniper graduating top of his class and becoming an officer at age 24. He documents the true first hand experience of the life and training it takes to make a Navy SEAL.

This novel captures these hardships with such detail allowing you to take in every moment. Brandon does an excellent job giving the reader an expressive detailed look so they can almost imagine how it was like to go through all the pain. Brandon takes the reader on a journey through obstacles, adventures, action, and most of all suspense. He keeps his reader locked in at all times which is crucial to his unique audience. Most audiences of the war genre are looking for a book that will keep the edge of their seat, and need to feel as if they are in the actual war situations. I feel as if Webb could not do a better job of describing the struggles with more emotion, it sometimes feels as if he is scanning through them with details but leaving out the real feelings he had through the process. This is important because it reaches the reader in a totally new intriguing environment.

Throughout the novel Webb uses his own personal experiences to help improve his storyline. His experiences of growing up and becoming a boy and how his interests slowly changed throughout the course of his life. This is a great way to relate to the reader in how they grew up and how each one of us had our own unique adventure that transformed our lives. The dialogue that is portrayed through this book is full of emotion even through times of decision making and. high stake situations it never looses its intensity.

Webb showing his struggles throughout the novel gives the audience a true feel on what it truly takes to become a SEAL. He always inserts hidden messages throughout his narration of his specific journey through the SEAL program. One thing that he wants to stick with his audience is if the opportunity comes never be hesitant to take it. Life gives you so many amazing things and it’s up to you to notice it. He also coins the term, “Take pain, harness it, and turn it into aggression.” He states that the way of life and things that the SEAL Teams teach can be used in every aspect of life. The way they talk about never giving up, surrounding yourself with successful people, and always being comfortable being uncomfortable. All these things are what Webb wants the readers to take from this book. This type of writing is very meaningful and the author shows he devotion to the Teams and how much he values character.

In conclusion I find this book to be a very intense, edge of your seat read. It gave me a taste for adventure and mindset of the struggles of the SEAL team. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read with tones of action and military role play. Webb did an incredible job of portraying what it takes and how becoming a SEAL is amazing. Brandon not only helps the reader grown in knowledge about the SEALs, but he teaches valuable messages and connects to the reader on an emotional level. I would definitely rate this at the top of my list for best military books I’ve ever read.

[AlyssaV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently, I have read The Making of a Navy Seal by Brandon Webb. The main character is based on a true story who is known as, Brandon Webb. The setting of this book takes place around the world as Brandon Webb and his family travel around on their ship; basically as you can see it takes place through Brandon's life. How I had found this book was by reading other books like it such as Max and I wanna go into the service also so that's why I'm also reading it.
Therefore, this book is based on Brandon Webb's life story up to the process of becoming a Navy Seal. As he was younger he and his family had bought a ship and traveled to 12 different places. These places were San Diego, USA, Guadaloupe Island, Mexico, La Paz, Mexico, Mazatlan, Mexico, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They had also traveled to Manzanillo, Mexico, Acapulco, Mexico, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, and last but not least Papeete, Tahiti. Of course, though some of these places had a big impact on him such Ventura, California. He had arrived there at the age of 10 and would live a the Agio for the next 6 years. Throughout these years, he had worked on the Peace which he started at the age of 13 which they would take passengers out diving during the day; and when they are anchored up at night they would party. As he worked on the Peace, he learned new things and got stronger and learned to breathe longer and more in the water.
Soon to come, as he got older and turned 19, he was about to be shipped off to Navy boot camp in Orlando, Florida where he will start off his journey of becoming a Navy Seal, in March 1993. The book is about achieving anything you put your mind to which Brandon did to become a Navy Seal Sniper, who had helped shape the lives of hundreds of elite special forces warriors. He had to complete some of the toughest and longest military training in the world to get to where he is.
How I feel about the book at the end is that it was very good. Yet he had to make a hard decision. He was just getting back from deployment on the Duluth and had two things in stock coming his way. He was becoming a father, and that he would soon be leaving again for the Golf Platoon. He went out of his way and enlisted for Echo so that he could get a bonus so he could support his family; he wasn't gonna enjoy it on the bit, but he had to do what he had to do. This makes it my favorite part of the book because he dedicates his family first before everything else on what they need as he says, "Ultimately, though, I decided to put my family first and agreed. I was a move I would soon regret."
Overall, my personal opinion of this book is that it's excellent. I enjoyed reading about his life story and what he did to achieve his goal. I also like as he told his life story he described each hardship he had faced with each platoon he was in.

[Kale Butikofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Making of a Navy SEAL by Brandon Webb is a gripping book Written by Webb, a retired SEAL sniper, and instructor, the book presents readers with a firsthand experience of the challenges and mental fortitude required to be accepted into one of the world's most elite military forces. Webb's narrative is extremely personal, as he uses his own experience of having undergone Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, which forms the basis of the book. His writing is candid and insightful, providing not just a description of physical endurance but also a psychological breakdown of the resilience required to endure.

The greatest strength of the book is its ability to narrate the raw, unvarnished facts of SEAL training. Webb doesn't romanticize the experience but instead shares stories of failure, success, and perseverance that are typical of the SEAL process. The book is filled with vignettes from Webb's training as an instructor, offering an intimate view into the mental and emotional transformation that occurs among the trainees. His description of "Hell Week," the physically most demanding segment of BUD/S, is particularly compelling, as it uncovers the degree to which the path of the SEAL is a test of mind over muscle.

Webb also explores the parts played by attitude, leadership, and teaming in the framework of SEAL training. He mentions that while toughness is physical, it is mental toughness among candidates that ultimately separates them. There are numerous instances of how individuals of varying physical capacities succeeded or failed depending on their mental resilience and ability to collaborate. The mental aspect of training is explained with great attention to detail, and hence this is not just a story of physical victory, but also a handbook of conquering adversity in every aspect of life.

Although The Making of a Navy SEAL is certainly a page-turner for military history or special training program buffs, it is also an inspiring tale for anyone who wishes to test their limits in any pursuit. Webb's writing is direct, but it is couched in universal themes of toughness, perseverance, and seeking excellence. His insights on leadership and teamwork have rendered the book useful to professionals and aspiring leaders in almost all areas of life. It is generally an inspiring, engrossing read that is a detailed examination of the building of one of the world's greatest warriors.

[Cashton Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I would summarize this book is that a young kid named Brandon Webb was influenced into joining the Navy SEALS. When Brandon Webb joined the marines he instantly wanted to be a sniper and he worked his way up through all the training and finally got his wishes. Brandon now is a leader for the shadowy sniper cell. He is also the course manager of the navy seal sniper program that has trained some of the finest most skilled snipers in america. Like Chris Kyle.
The making of a Navy Seal is a book that has many opportunities. I say that is because the main person in this book had many opportunities and took advantage of some. To start he was born for sports and did almost every sport you could imagine an elementary kid and teenage child can do. Wrestling was his favorite though and was what he cherished most. Before we get too far into detail I would like to note for future readers that he had a rough childhood and it was his fault. He started getting into a lot of trouble and that is the reason he was forced to do all sports so he could stay out of trouble.
I really do recommend this book, because it could send some readers down the right path which could influence you to maybe join the navy seals or some sort of military. What influenced him to join the SEALS was a guy he met on the boat he was working on and the guy was a well known customer along with his buddies who liked to go diving to hunt fish and just explore. He went to talk with him and was recommended to the SEALS because the guy saw how well he could hold his breath without an oxygen tank and dive down to the bottom of the ocean 40 feet down without oxygen assistance.
Like I said before this book is a very good one and shows what some teenagers go through in their teenage years and some of their decisions lead them down the wrong path. This kid was close to going down the wrong path being that he was left by his parents out in the middle of an ocean and relied on other ships to bring him back to the beaches of California. If it wasn't for him being on that vessel that day meeting that SEAL he could be living a totally different life in a jail cell mauve but now he is in the military heading down the right path. This book is a good example for kids who could be making poor decisions and maybe it will make them change their ways to do better and serve our country.

[Benjamin Bodensteiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Making of a Navy SEAL" is a story of the journey that Brandon Webb takes to change from a troublesome youth to being a very accomplished Navy Seal, more specifically, a sniper. The readers get to “experience” the mental and physical strain that Brandon Webb went through becoming a Navy Seal. Although he went through the most challenging training in the U.S. military, he was committed to proving people wrong and getting through it to make his dream a reality. The story "The Making of a Navy SEAL" by Brandon Webb is about him working his tail off and persevering through everyone trying to hold him back, and being proficient in one of the world's top military programs.
In my opinion, this is a great book and there is a lot of great about it. For reference, I enjoy outdoorsy-type books such as My Side of the Mountain and I am intrigued by the military and things involving that. I find it very interesting how he described his childhood and how he was very active and in sports, much like I am. I also like the way he described what being in the military could consist of for you, “You may never shoot a sniper rifle. You may never serve as part of an assault team, or stand security in combat, or board a hostile ship at midnight on the high seas. You may never wear a uniform; hell, you may never even throw a punch in the name of freedom. I’ll tell you what, though. Whatever it is that you do, you are making a stand, either for excellence or for mediocrity” (Brandon Webb, 2015, p. 116). It is interesting to me how he worked on a dive boat and how he and his family sailed around the world on a boat. The way he described the training he did in the military and what he did to become a Navy Seal was fascinating. I think he has overall great storytelling.
One thing about the book that could've been better was that he could’ve gotten into the story quicker. The story started telling a story, and then it got into the actual story of the book. If he shortened that up I think it could be a better story. However, like I previously said, the book was a great read overall. I would recommend this book to someone who doesn’t necessarily like reading, like myself.
This book would definitely be a great read for someone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy reading. I for one am an individual who would rather not read. But this book is one I would keep picking back up to finish it. It has a great storyline and storyteller. It is for a reader who likes being outside and being active. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone.
References

Webb, Brandon. (2015). The Making of a Navy Seal: The boy who overcame and became one of few greats.

[Jack Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Making Of A Navy SEAL is the story of Brandon Webb being a regular dude, then becoming one of the best soldiers of all time. He tells about the training it takes to become a SEAL, the missions he went on, and the things he learned along the way.
One good thing about this book is that the writing is super detailed; it puts a picture in your head easily. “In January 1994, I reported to the helicopter Ati-Submarine Squadron Ten (HS-10), the helicopter training squadron in San Diego. There, I would learn the ropes before finally deploying as a part of an operation.” (Webb, 2015, p. 112). This shows us where he was and what he was doing, and it paints a picture of this in our head.
The only “lousys” I can think of are, first off, how the book doesn't show much of his personal life, only his upbringing. It’s pretty much all about just the Navy training, and not how he really got there. Also, some parts of the book go super deep into detail, which can be sometimes confusing if you don't remember or know a lot about the Navy or the military in general. For example, when he goes on rants or tangents like this, “I went into BUD/S Medical and told the guy I had a bad quad. It was my first time there in six months of physically grueling training. The guy took care of me, got me on crutches, and I lucked out. For the next two weeks, all we had to do was show up for one PT day, and those didn't count toward our passing.” (Webb, 2015, p. 112). This dialogue brings things up like PT and BUD/S, which you may not understand if you're not familiar with the terminology.
I believe someone who would want to read this and enjoy it would be someone who understands the military, and especially someone with a past in the military and Navy, for sure. Someone who might not enjoy this book as much would be someone like me, who doesn't know much about the military or the Navy. Using the same example as earlier, I wasn't a big fan of this book personally. I couldn't really connect to the main character much, and as I mentioned before, I didn't really understand a lot of the terminology without googling it or trying to remember what some words mean.

[Derek Farwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, The Making of a Navy SEAL, was not what I was expecting. I chose this book anticipating multiple stories of Brandon Webb getting into fire fights and going on raids against terrorists. Instead, it was an account of his life before he became a SEAL and what made him decide to join this elite group of military men. The Making of a Navy SEAL tells what Brandon did after he was a SEAL and what impact he had on the whole system of the US Navy SEALs.
Although it surprised me, I loved this book because of its reality and how you should handle a situation when it doesn’t go your way. When his wife divorced, him he didn’t get down and depressed. He appreciated the positive things that happened in his marriage and saw his kids and spent as much time with them as he could. “A few weeks past my sixteenth birthday, my dad threw me off a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”(Webb 43). Brandon empowered himself when his dad did this to him. He was thrown off the boat and had to figure out how to get home. He found people that were headed back to the United States and worked as a ship hand on their boat to earn his keep and helped that boat return to the mainland at the age of 16. I think the resilience he learned during this experience as a teenager helped him cope with the divorce.
He left an inspiring mark on the SEAL training. To this day, the US military uses his techniques in sniper training. I don’t have a personal connection to this book however I am inspired through his will to teach other military personnel to be the best they can be. His motto was excellence over mediocrity.
I would recommended this book to anyone that wants to read about real life experiences and how to manage yourself when you are down and feel like all the odds are against you. Brandon was an inspiration to read about. I also feel that this would give a lot of insight to anyone that might want to join the service and be a SEAL .

[Ryan]

The making of a navy seal is a nonfiction book based around the life of Brandon Webb a Navy Seal Sniper. Unlike most books about the Navy, Seals Brandon tells us why he joined the Navy seals and tips he would give to people who want to join the Special forces. Before going into life during Seal training he talks about parts of his childhood that made him want to join the military in general. The book covers all Ups and Downs of the Navy seals and stories from when Brandon was deployed to Iran and Afghanistan.

One of the great parts of the book is that this author makes a nice point on how he feels saying “What I wouldn't give to be a twelve-year-old again but this time with the knowledge that I have now as a Navy SEAL” (Webb, 2015). I love this book and honestly thought I wouldn't. I assumed the book would just be like any other Navy Seal book and was pleasantly surprised The author went into great detail on many occasions throughout the book and making it more interesting to tell the reader What was going through his mind in a certain situation along with how he got through the tough situations he was forced into. Not only did he tell us about Boom camp but every little requirement and exercise he did.

If I am going, to be honest, I couldn't think of anything wrong with the writing. The storyline was perfect transitions were well the only thing I would have liked to see more of would be Photos. The author did not hold back and really made it feel like he was connecting with the ready personally.
The book is focused more on teenagers who are interested in the Military and young adults. The way
its formated and the language used wouldn't be easy for older generations to understand.
The book is amazing and I recommend it to a lot of people if you are interested in Navy Seals. The author did an amazing job explaining and always explaining terms used along the way instead of some other place in the book.

[Kent Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Making of a Navy Seal, by Brandon Webb, was a novel as it was not a genre that I usually enjoy reading in that it is nonfiction. However, my English class had to pick a Florida Teens Read book and I chose this one because it had to do with the army and I do not regret it one bit. The novel, being written by an actual Navy Seal, gave me high expectations and they were all exceeded as I read the novel. I was able to make personal connections because my uncle is in the Navy and tells stories of similar training to that described in the book.

“With my mom and sister wailing in grief and disbelief, my father threw me off the boat. He didn't actually hurl me off physically. He just told me that I should take a pack with me and find passage upon another boat to a destination of my choice. He said it like he meant it,”(Webb 23).

This books main essential question is the idea of coming off age to a future path in life. In the quote above, Mr. Webb describes when his father kicked him off of the families boat. This leads him down the road to becoming a navy seal. As Webb works on a dive boat he sees what he needs to do with his life, and this is his “destination of choice.” I myself have made major decisions that boosting me into a mature age that truly changes how I was for the better.

As stated above, this novel is on the Florida Teens Reads list so young adults would really enjoy this novel because of its suspenseful realism and bold story. That being said, adults would also enjoy this if they are thinking about going the Navy, or just want a fantastic story to sit down and read. Truly, anyone would enjoy this novel as long as they are okay with the violent- war theme that the novel has. If they are all good with that then they will definitely enjoy the novel as much as I did.

[Makaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book The Making of a Navy Seal by Brandon Webb is a nonfiction autobiography book. This book is about a guy named Brandon who goes through many different situations in his life until he reaches his career.
At the beginning of this book when Brandon was 16 he got dropped off in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by his dad on a boat for many reasons. When this happened he had many mixed emotions what was going on. He didn’t know what to do with his life so he got on a boat called the Shilo that took him off to different places. After awhile of thinking of what to do he settled down somewhere and got a job on a scuba diving boat. This is where he toured people around and learned how to scuba dive well and other important skills. One day on his job one of his passengers told him to try being a Navy Seal as a career. Brandon thought about this idea and believed it would be a great path for him to go. Soon, he started applying for camps and training to start his life goal. One of his major goals was to get into his dream training place called BUD/S, which came true. This training was physically and mentally tough to become a Navy Seal, so many people dropped out. These were long days of running, swimming, obstacles, and more. He graduated this long training and soon after he got an option to join Sniper School which is the hardest school to get into and pass. He went for the challenge and graduated from it which made him very surprised and proud. He got certified with a few other people that he will always remember that helped him through the process.
This book talks about how you have big goals in life and you should go for them and believe in yourself. This is what Brandon Webb did starting at the age of 16 when nobody believed in him, including his instructors. This book is filled with action and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a suspenseful book. Anyone who wants a true story about someone's life, and that keeps you on your feet while wondering what would happen next. I would recommend this book to you.