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SAS Who Dares Wins
No other military unit in the world can match the reputation of Britain's SAS. They are the men in the shadows who operate in the planet's most dangerous places and who have become bywords for qualities like bravery, resilience and outstanding leadership.
Their skills and techniques have been tested in the crucible of the most demanding environments imaginable, but many of these can also be applied to our everyday lives. Each of the four author - the stars of the hit Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins - have parlayed the working practices and lessons they learned in their lives as elite operators into successful careers outside the regiment, and in this book they will share these with us to show how we can do the same.
This book takes situations all of us will experience during our lives and presents tactical lessons drawn from their own training and battlefield experience on how to handle them successfully. Middleton, Fox, Ollerton, and Maclachlan demonstrate how their psychological tactics can be applied in any environment: the workplace, home, pub, classroom, gym, stressful car journey, doctor's waiting room and packed train carriage. Their advice on negotiation, people management, self-motivation, and resilience, among other things, can transform your performance in a whole range of scenarios: from buying a house, nailing a job interview, and the experience of dealing with rejection, to maintaining a diet, or managing that pushy colleague at work.
Their skills and techniques have been tested in the crucible of the most demanding environments imaginable, but many of these can also be applied to our everyday lives. Each of the four author - the stars of the hit Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins - have parlayed the working practices and lessons they learned in their lives as elite operators into successful careers outside the regiment, and in this book they will share these with us to show how we can do the same.
This book takes situations all of us will experience during our lives and presents tactical lessons drawn from their own training and battlefield experience on how to handle them successfully. Middleton, Fox, Ollerton, and Maclachlan demonstrate how their psychological tactics can be applied in any environment: the workplace, home, pub, classroom, gym, stressful car journey, doctor's waiting room and packed train carriage. Their advice on negotiation, people management, self-motivation, and resilience, among other things, can transform your performance in a whole range of scenarios: from buying a house, nailing a job interview, and the experience of dealing with rejection, to maintaining a diet, or managing that pushy colleague at work.
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 19, 2017
I am thoroughly fascinated by the SAS. I don't know why, I just am. I do not come from a military family nor am I closely linked to anyone serving, but I am fascinated by the rhetoric, psychology and machismo that seems to prevail in this world, particularly the Special Forces.
This book is an interesting read. Peppered with personal military experience, this book is narrated by Ant, Ollie, Foxy and Colin most well known for Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins television series. It offers some useful insights into how 'Elite' techniques can be utilised on Civvy Street: how to successfully self-motivate or how to deal with stress/emotion during job interviews for example.
I've never read anything like this before so have nothing to compare it to. Either way, I enjoyed it and found it interesting from start to finish.
I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in the SAS and the psychology behind what it takes to be the thinking soldier.
Breathe. Recalibrate. Deliver.
This book is an interesting read. Peppered with personal military experience, this book is narrated by Ant, Ollie, Foxy and Colin most well known for Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins television series. It offers some useful insights into how 'Elite' techniques can be utilised on Civvy Street: how to successfully self-motivate or how to deal with stress/emotion during job interviews for example.
I've never read anything like this before so have nothing to compare it to. Either way, I enjoyed it and found it interesting from start to finish.
I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in the SAS and the psychology behind what it takes to be the thinking soldier.
Breathe. Recalibrate. Deliver.
September 1, 2019
Some interesting Points in here but since I had already read the biographies of several of the authors as well as listened to some of their talks on this Topic beforehand nothing new for me here. If you go in blind though this might be a practical littel guide as a starting Point. Although be Aware that there are many, many Military tales as reference Points - if that´s not your Cup of tea, this books isn´t for you.
September 17, 2020
This book is just fine. You will not find anything revealing here, but most of conclusions are quite accurate. Maybe the funny part is author's conviction that some ideas were discovered by SAS, when in fact it is a generic knowledge.
June 28, 2023
An excellent approach and overview of becoming a better leader. Easy to read and enjoyable throughout.
June 8, 2025
Quite an interesting book
April 26, 2026
3-3.5 stars.
Immensely readable. Very helpful in its delivery for the best outcomes in life: for example, dealing with setbacks or planning for an upcoming project. I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
Immensely readable. Very helpful in its delivery for the best outcomes in life: for example, dealing with setbacks or planning for an upcoming project. I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
January 21, 2017
I spent about 20 minutes reading this book when I realised it wasn't really what I was after. The by-line is 'Leadership Secrets from the Special Forces' though there are very few 'secrets' in this book you could use in any form of leadership. Just about every chapter is 80% 'war stories' i.e. back when I was in Afghanistan..., when we went on a mission to rescue a group of people..., with many of these 'stories' producing a very loose association to any lesson you can apply in real life, at work or at home.
If you're after a book that turns the training, discipline and camaraderie of the Special Forces into something you can take to your corporate, sporting or club leadership role, this is not the book you're after. A disappointment...
If you're after a book that turns the training, discipline and camaraderie of the Special Forces into something you can take to your corporate, sporting or club leadership role, this is not the book you're after. A disappointment...
November 18, 2019
Fantasising about heroism is a common thing, and the stars of 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' given you their secrets on how to adopt certain traits to make you a leader in civilian situations. There's lots of interesting tidbits here, but it's the stories of how their leadership was born and utilised in the special forces that is far more interesting. I know it's sort of the point of the book, but discussing covert missions as bullets are flying, and flicking over to speaking more confidently in the workplace is quite jarring and leaves you yearning for the former. The format is quite interesting too, flitting between the four members of the Special Forces, perhaps because of a 'round-table' secret gathering inception. All in all though, decent tips with trickles of more entertaining stories.
January 29, 2019
The war stories are the only aspect of this book I enjoyed (and if you're honest some of those have the feel of a fishing story that's been told so many times that the fish has now become a shark). The pound shop psychology/business advice bits are horrendous. It's like being stuck in a meeting with Gareth from The Office while he drones on to you about being in the TA. No more of these books for me thanks.
May 17, 2017
Some interesting tips to use in daily life, written in easily digestible short sections. Not my usual type of read but I enjoyed it.
January 7, 2025
This book offers an interesting look into leadership lessons drawn from the Special Forces world, but it’s a bit uneven in its delivery. Written by four former SAS members, I was pleasantly surprised that their collective voices felt consistent rather than disjointed—a definite strength of the book.
The standout sections for me were part four and part five, where the leadership principles really come to life. Part one, which covers the SAS selection phase, was also fascinating and sets the tone well. However, parts two and three made up a substantial portion of the book and felt more like filler. They were fine, but I could take or leave them.
The authors make an effort to relate their military experiences to civilian life, which will likely appeal to readers at the early stages of their careers or those transitioning out of the military. However, I felt these applications were hit-and-miss, sometimes insightful but other times overly simplified or generic.
Overall, this isn’t a bad read, and I can see its appeal for those interested in Special Forces culture or who need practical advice on adapting military skills to the civilian world. Still, it’s not something I’d rush to recommend or gift to friends. It was useful, but not exceptional.
The standout sections for me were part four and part five, where the leadership principles really come to life. Part one, which covers the SAS selection phase, was also fascinating and sets the tone well. However, parts two and three made up a substantial portion of the book and felt more like filler. They were fine, but I could take or leave them.
The authors make an effort to relate their military experiences to civilian life, which will likely appeal to readers at the early stages of their careers or those transitioning out of the military. However, I felt these applications were hit-and-miss, sometimes insightful but other times overly simplified or generic.
Overall, this isn’t a bad read, and I can see its appeal for those interested in Special Forces culture or who need practical advice on adapting military skills to the civilian world. Still, it’s not something I’d rush to recommend or gift to friends. It was useful, but not exceptional.
January 26, 2023
Empat orang bekas pasukan khas British AS berentap menghasilkan sebuah buku motivasi berpandukan ( pengalaman ketika operasi dan latihan. Special Forces memerlukan daya fokus, kawalan emosi, disipilin yang tinggi. Semua ini disatukan dalam "Leadership". |
Mission Sucess Cycle yang merang kumi empat elemen iaitu Plan, Brief, Deliver dan Debrief. Setiap ini diselangi dengan kemahiran intel (perisikan). Secara logiknya kemahiran risikan perlu ada walaupun dalam bidang korporat dan pengurusan. Untuk menjayakan satu misi dan operasi memerlukan kita mengenali & setiap orang daripada tim dan menghormati setiap kepakaran yang ada walaupun bukan dalam kalangan tentera. Kita perlu letak ketepi dan pandaikan menguruskan kekalahan dan kemenangan.
Mission Sucess Cycle yang merang kumi empat elemen iaitu Plan, Brief, Deliver dan Debrief. Setiap ini diselangi dengan kemahiran intel (perisikan). Secara logiknya kemahiran risikan perlu ada walaupun dalam bidang korporat dan pengurusan. Untuk menjayakan satu misi dan operasi memerlukan kita mengenali & setiap orang daripada tim dan menghormati setiap kepakaran yang ada walaupun bukan dalam kalangan tentera. Kita perlu letak ketepi dan pandaikan menguruskan kekalahan dan kemenangan.
August 20, 2017
Middleton, Fox, Ollerton and Maclachlan succeeded in the most difficult task: explaining how military life - at an elite level- can show many similarities with daily life.
"SAS Who dares wins" offers a lot of ready-to-use advises, simple adjustments that the reader could implent without and particolare effort.
Not only they excelled as soldiers, they now stand out in every possible environment, as you never know where the next challenge could come from.
Well written and simply explained, I recommend this book as an interesting leadership reading.
"SAS Who dares wins" offers a lot of ready-to-use advises, simple adjustments that the reader could implent without and particolare effort.
Not only they excelled as soldiers, they now stand out in every possible environment, as you never know where the next challenge could come from.
Well written and simply explained, I recommend this book as an interesting leadership reading.
November 1, 2018
Excellent
Very informative read, Very well written and easy to absorb as each chapter goes over what you've just took in making it easier to understand and remember.
This book has helped me a lot in my everyday life, working and personal.
Just remember Breath, Recalibrate, Deliver.
Thanks Ant.
Very informative read, Very well written and easy to absorb as each chapter goes over what you've just took in making it easier to understand and remember.
This book has helped me a lot in my everyday life, working and personal.
Just remember Breath, Recalibrate, Deliver.
Thanks Ant.
May 14, 2026
The book is a good read for you if you curious on:
- the training selection in SAS is, and want to feel it without needing to try it out
- the mental pressure that these authors had endured and how they overcame it
- true stories of SAS mission
And many more
Overall, it's a good read and satisfied my curiousity 😁
- the training selection in SAS is, and want to feel it without needing to try it out
- the mental pressure that these authors had endured and how they overcame it
- true stories of SAS mission
And many more
Overall, it's a good read and satisfied my curiousity 😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2017
Not what I was expecting, interesting read in parts putting SAS training techniques into the civilian workplace. A corporate training book on steroids but I have taken a couple of bits from it if I’m being honest.
May 31, 2019
Very informative.
Packs a lot of common sense logic that can be applied to every day life. All the contributors described how their training and experience was vital in high pressure situations.
Packs a lot of common sense logic that can be applied to every day life. All the contributors described how their training and experience was vital in high pressure situations.
September 29, 2019
Management / leadership advice from former special forces soldiers.
I thought that this was a really good book - a straightforward guide with plenty of good common sense recommendations.
Reading time around six hours.
I thought that this was a really good book - a straightforward guide with plenty of good common sense recommendations.
Reading time around six hours.
February 1, 2020
Good book
Very interesting learned a lot . Not sure I am cut out for this life but assured that the life I live is a battle and a march. There's hope for even me being an all rounder
Very interesting learned a lot . Not sure I am cut out for this life but assured that the life I live is a battle and a march. There's hope for even me being an all rounder
August 19, 2023
Absolutely loves this book. It's written in a way which makes it such an engaging and easy read.
There's plenty of great tips from the DS - Colin, Ant, Foxy and Ollie. They're elite and experienced and have related their experience to civilian life so that there's genuinely something for everyone.
There's plenty of great tips from the DS - Colin, Ant, Foxy and Ollie. They're elite and experienced and have related their experience to civilian life so that there's genuinely something for everyone.
April 24, 2025
This book really dives deep about the ways we are able to overcome our challenges in leading people in the right way.
(Spoilers). The most memorable words that is stuck in my head for months now is "Breathe, Recalibrate & Deliver". Useful in my daily tasks.
(Spoilers). The most memorable words that is stuck in my head for months now is "Breathe, Recalibrate & Deliver". Useful in my daily tasks.
April 24, 2018
Loves this book snippets from times in the forces but lots of leadership styles, tips and positive thinking!
November 9, 2018
Great read
Plenty of golden nuggets in this book on how to approach difficult situations in a military sense but also transferable into civilian life
Plenty of golden nuggets in this book on how to approach difficult situations in a military sense but also transferable into civilian life
December 5, 2018
Some good advice. I never would have considered the SAS as life couches as far as my work life is concerned, but after reading this book I can see how their techniques can work in a civilian life.
March 15, 2019
Breathe.
Recalibrate.
Deliver.
Recalibrate.
Deliver.
July 27, 2019
If a book was a life coach, this would be it
Never had a book been so true, this book has helped me through every day life and a must read for all
Never had a book been so true, this book has helped me through every day life and a must read for all
August 28, 2019
See my blog here for info about this book
https://bestversionchris.home.blog/20...
https://bestversionchris.home.blog/20...
January 1, 2021
This book provides clear examples of inspirational & leadership advice that could be replicate in normal work and life. Good reading.
July 11, 2021
Great little book on ways to tackle lifes demands both in work and at home . Will definitely be using the advice from this book.
September 3, 2021
Another inspiring book. I don't think anyone realises what our forces men and women go through to protect us, let alone our special forces. Respect to you all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews