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Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations
Following the success of his #1 New York Times bestseller Make Your Bed, which has sold over one million copies, Admiral William H. McRaven is back with amazing stories of bravery and heroism during his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces.Admiral William H. McRaven is a part of American military history, having been involved in some of the most famous missions in recent memory, including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden.Sea Stories begins in 1963 at a French Officers' Club in France, where Allied officers and their wives gathered to have drinks and tell stories about their adventures during World War II-the place where a young Bill McRaven learned the value of a good story. Sea Stories is an unforgettable look back on one man's incredible life, from childhood days sneaking into high-security military sites to a day job of hunting terrorists and rescuing hostages.Action-packed, humorous, and full of valuable life lessons like those exemplified in McRaven's bestselling Make Your Bed, Sea Stories is a remarkable memoir from one of America's most accomplished leaders.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2019
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12144 people want to read
About the author
William H. McRaven
41 books1,334 followersAdmiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired) served with great distinction in the Navy. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. He is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 953 reviews
November 16, 2021
SEA STORIES is a compilation of different moments in the life of Admiral William H McRaven. The stories begin with a couple of examples of a precocious young boy, full of "snips and snails and puppy dog tails", describing the beginnings of one full of curiosity and tenacity. This sets the tone for the outline of a man who will become one of our nation's most respected leaders.
I found this book extremely easy to read in its presentation, but also one that was direct and forthright in the circumstances being described...whether it was a delightful memory or an important and somber remembrance.
This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I would encourage anyone, especially one who has not had experience with the military, to give this a read.
I found this book extremely easy to read in its presentation, but also one that was direct and forthright in the circumstances being described...whether it was a delightful memory or an important and somber remembrance.
This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I would encourage anyone, especially one who has not had experience with the military, to give this a read.
December 21, 2019
This is the memoir of retired full Admiral William H. McRaven. As most people in the military today, he grew up in a military family. McRaven became a SEAL and went up the ranks until he was the Commander of U.S. Special Forces. McRaven tells of his early life, but most of the book is about this naval career. To me, the most exciting part of the book is about the first-hand account of the killing of bin Laden.
The book is well worth the read. I recommend it.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and fourteen minutes. Admiral McRaven does a good job narrating his own book. Listening to Admiral McRaven tell his story added a special enjoyment to the book.
The book is well worth the read. I recommend it.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and fourteen minutes. Admiral McRaven does a good job narrating his own book. Listening to Admiral McRaven tell his story added a special enjoyment to the book.
May 30, 2019
This is truly my best book of 2019, and I have read some good ones this year.
While reading this book, the quote from Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing", was in my head the whole time, and luckily for the world William McRaven is one of those good men who did something, and is filled with stories of other good men and women who did something. The stories filling these pages are amazing and the man has truly lived a full life, he is a brilliant story-teller, while there are also life lessons in each of these stories. A very interesting part of this book is the behind-the-scenes look at the control of Special Operations Forces throughout the world and the sheer scale of it. I personally think that the United States is lucky to have such highly trained and motivated armed forces to safeguard it's future and seeing in the media how they are sometimes condemned by their own public is shocking to me, these brave men and women should each be heralded as a hero, because that is what they are, because believe me, it is not nice living in a country where your armed forces can barely defend themselves, let alone the people who depend on them.
While reading this book, the quote from Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing", was in my head the whole time, and luckily for the world William McRaven is one of those good men who did something, and is filled with stories of other good men and women who did something. The stories filling these pages are amazing and the man has truly lived a full life, he is a brilliant story-teller, while there are also life lessons in each of these stories. A very interesting part of this book is the behind-the-scenes look at the control of Special Operations Forces throughout the world and the sheer scale of it. I personally think that the United States is lucky to have such highly trained and motivated armed forces to safeguard it's future and seeing in the media how they are sometimes condemned by their own public is shocking to me, these brave men and women should each be heralded as a hero, because that is what they are, because believe me, it is not nice living in a country where your armed forces can barely defend themselves, let alone the people who depend on them.
January 11, 2020
“As the RHIB tumbled underwater I was trapped in the bolster seat, rolling over and over again as the force of the wave pushed me along the bottom. Shotline, that thin nylon cord that SEALs use to tie down loose gear, had somehow gotten wrapped around my neck and my arms. It was like a wire garrote, strangling me as I cartwheeled over and over. Grabbing the line, I tried to pull it away from my neck, but the tension was too tight and the more I pulled the tighter it got.
“There had been several times in my SEAL career when I faced the possibility of dying, but the events happened so quickly that I only had time to react. It was over before I could think about it. Now, trapped under the RHIB, a noose around my neck and no air to breath, I thought this was finally it.”
Bill McRaven has done it all from the lowliest navy swab to a four-star admiral. His father was in the Army Air Corps and Air Force from WWII and Bill was tolerated in the American Officers’ Club in France where his father and his father’s buddies held forth. He heard some great stories by his father and about him from others. If there is a gene for storytelling, Bill McRaven inherited it.
McRaven ended his military career as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces, but he began it trying to become a SEAL. As a SEAL, he recounts many adventures including training missions gone wrong, death avoided, career mistakes, as well as, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the raid to kill Osama bin Laden and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips.
I both read the book and listened to the audiobook read by McRaven, himself. He does a fine job and this is a memorable read.
Addendum: McRaven, as any author of non-fiction (and particularly historians) can be criticized for what is included (fact, truth) and what is omitted. Some have said that there is a "yarn factor" in McRaven's account. I need to know more before dropping this highly entertaining read below 4*
“There had been several times in my SEAL career when I faced the possibility of dying, but the events happened so quickly that I only had time to react. It was over before I could think about it. Now, trapped under the RHIB, a noose around my neck and no air to breath, I thought this was finally it.”
Bill McRaven has done it all from the lowliest navy swab to a four-star admiral. His father was in the Army Air Corps and Air Force from WWII and Bill was tolerated in the American Officers’ Club in France where his father and his father’s buddies held forth. He heard some great stories by his father and about him from others. If there is a gene for storytelling, Bill McRaven inherited it.
McRaven ended his military career as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces, but he began it trying to become a SEAL. As a SEAL, he recounts many adventures including training missions gone wrong, death avoided, career mistakes, as well as, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the raid to kill Osama bin Laden and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips.
I both read the book and listened to the audiobook read by McRaven, himself. He does a fine job and this is a memorable read.
Addendum: McRaven, as any author of non-fiction (and particularly historians) can be criticized for what is included (fact, truth) and what is omitted. Some have said that there is a "yarn factor" in McRaven's account. I need to know more before dropping this highly entertaining read below 4*
June 7, 2020
Wow! What a life and successful military accomplishments. I borrowed this book in audio form and it was read by the Admiral himself. It was excellent! He is a very talented narrator.
The book started off with young Bill in France to becoming a Navy SEAL candidate. Later it covers him as an operator in hostage rescue missions in various locations, recovery of a Navy recon plane that went missing in 1948 with nine crew (at the bottom of a lake in British Columbia). As a Commander we see the planning, and strategy side of things like the one that went into the rescue of Captain Phillips and his leading role in Operation Neptune's Spear - the one that killed Osama bin Laden. What a book!
The book started off with young Bill in France to becoming a Navy SEAL candidate. Later it covers him as an operator in hostage rescue missions in various locations, recovery of a Navy recon plane that went missing in 1948 with nine crew (at the bottom of a lake in British Columbia). As a Commander we see the planning, and strategy side of things like the one that went into the rescue of Captain Phillips and his leading role in Operation Neptune's Spear - the one that killed Osama bin Laden. What a book!
July 22, 2019
Fantastic book. I was not sure I was going to like this one but was pleasantly surprised! Each chapter was an action packed tale that kept me reading. I loved how the author was introspective and much could be taken away from every story. Worth a read.
June 7, 2019
3.5 stars. By all accounts retired Admiral William McRaven is an impressive guy. 37 years as a Navy SEAL, led the team that captured Saddam Hussein and led the team that killed Bin Laden. He’s definitely lived an eventful life.
Having said that, the problem with a memoir from a commander is that you get the administrative/top down view of the incident (as in the search for Hussein and Bin Laden) and not the on the ground, action-packed view. This makes for frankly boring reading at times. I enjoy combat memoirs, but I find the ones that contain actual combat more riveting than these bird’s eye, here-is-the-behind-the-scenes-information-on-how-we-captured/killed-the-bad-guy.
This book consists of several events during Admiral McRaven’s military career, though surprisingly little about any on the ground tactical stories of actual combat. I assume that is because Admiral McRaven didn’t experience much because that is the nature of being an officer. After about the rank of Lieutenant, you are directing special ops and not really involved in the operations themselves.
Admiral McRaven refers very quickly to an incident fairly early in his career in which he was relieved as a SEAL commander, and how a higher officer who saw potential in him acted to save his career. Unfortunately, the admiral doesn’t recount what happened nor give any analysis or lessons he learned in that incident which is too bad. We often learn the most through failure, but you wouldn’t know that from this memoir.
This is a quick read, and interesting, but I would have liked more stories of the admiral in actual combat, and also some vulnerability in discussing his being relieved of command and how that affected him.
Having said that, the problem with a memoir from a commander is that you get the administrative/top down view of the incident (as in the search for Hussein and Bin Laden) and not the on the ground, action-packed view. This makes for frankly boring reading at times. I enjoy combat memoirs, but I find the ones that contain actual combat more riveting than these bird’s eye, here-is-the-behind-the-scenes-information-on-how-we-captured/killed-the-bad-guy.
This book consists of several events during Admiral McRaven’s military career, though surprisingly little about any on the ground tactical stories of actual combat. I assume that is because Admiral McRaven didn’t experience much because that is the nature of being an officer. After about the rank of Lieutenant, you are directing special ops and not really involved in the operations themselves.
Admiral McRaven refers very quickly to an incident fairly early in his career in which he was relieved as a SEAL commander, and how a higher officer who saw potential in him acted to save his career. Unfortunately, the admiral doesn’t recount what happened nor give any analysis or lessons he learned in that incident which is too bad. We often learn the most through failure, but you wouldn’t know that from this memoir.
This is a quick read, and interesting, but I would have liked more stories of the admiral in actual combat, and also some vulnerability in discussing his being relieved of command and how that affected him.
July 13, 2019
A thoughtful and vivid memoir.
McRaven’s narrative is pretty straightforward but heavy on anecdotes, covering his childhood, his experience as a SEAL, and his various command experiences. His special operations career takes up the majority of the book. McRaven does, of course, provide firsthand accounts of the capture of Saddam, the rescue of Richard Phillips, and the bin Laden mission; these are probably the most gripping parts of the book.
Throughout the sections on his career, McRaven provides lots of insight into how special operations are planned and executed, what leadership in such units is like, and how fluid situations can get. He stresses the importance of the team and the interdependence of each person on the other.
The book is well-written and readable, and McRaven’s humor and compassion really shines through. He provides great human portraits of his associates (which some readers might find a little gushing at times, but, given the units involved, it’s hard to doubt, too) However, McRaven doesn’t have many reflections to share about the America’s lengthy wars following 9/11; when he does, he usually writes about his hope in a vague sort of way.
A colorful and engaging work.
McRaven’s narrative is pretty straightforward but heavy on anecdotes, covering his childhood, his experience as a SEAL, and his various command experiences. His special operations career takes up the majority of the book. McRaven does, of course, provide firsthand accounts of the capture of Saddam, the rescue of Richard Phillips, and the bin Laden mission; these are probably the most gripping parts of the book.
Throughout the sections on his career, McRaven provides lots of insight into how special operations are planned and executed, what leadership in such units is like, and how fluid situations can get. He stresses the importance of the team and the interdependence of each person on the other.
The book is well-written and readable, and McRaven’s humor and compassion really shines through. He provides great human portraits of his associates (which some readers might find a little gushing at times, but, given the units involved, it’s hard to doubt, too) However, McRaven doesn’t have many reflections to share about the America’s lengthy wars following 9/11; when he does, he usually writes about his hope in a vague sort of way.
A colorful and engaging work.
June 13, 2021
Wooden writing, but—if you believe it—this Navy Seal hung on long enough to make Three Star Admiral. And be involved (by that time at a high level) in the capture of Saddam and killing of Usama bin Laden. Some of the earlier stories are more interesting where there’s fewer flat screens and more foreign mercenaries. There’s the obligatory wife, 2.5 kids, and pix at the end.
His career nearly went off the rails when going on as a senior officer on routine training mission, and the guy below’s chute smacked him right in the face, knocking him out briefly. When he came to, realizing he was no more than 500 ft above ground, he pulled his rip cord. But the author had tumbled, and the straps opened wrapped one around each leg, immediately separated his pelvis from his legs, not to mention breaking something like 50/206 bones. “I’ll be fine, he grunts,” when SAR finds him south of the Mexican border.
A real Doctor finally arrives, puts him on a back-board, says “Sir, I’m going to give you some Morphine.”
“Don’t want Morphine; want to recover.”
“Sir, the regulations require me to give you morphine unless you tell me ‘no’ three times.”
[silence]
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Ok, sir, you’re crazier than hell, but good luck.”
No one thinks he will be physically fit enough to pass for his next (Pentagon) duty station next year, but by continuing PT and delaying the exam he makes Flag Rank.
As I say, the man should have hired an editor. But on this Memorial Day, I thank him for his service.
His career nearly went off the rails when going on as a senior officer on routine training mission, and the guy below’s chute smacked him right in the face, knocking him out briefly. When he came to, realizing he was no more than 500 ft above ground, he pulled his rip cord. But the author had tumbled, and the straps opened wrapped one around each leg, immediately separated his pelvis from his legs, not to mention breaking something like 50/206 bones. “I’ll be fine, he grunts,” when SAR finds him south of the Mexican border.
A real Doctor finally arrives, puts him on a back-board, says “Sir, I’m going to give you some Morphine.”
“Don’t want Morphine; want to recover.”
“Sir, the regulations require me to give you morphine unless you tell me ‘no’ three times.”
[silence]
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Sir, do you want morphine?”
“‘No!”
“Ok, sir, you’re crazier than hell, but good luck.”
No one thinks he will be physically fit enough to pass for his next (Pentagon) duty station next year, but by continuing PT and delaying the exam he makes Flag Rank.
As I say, the man should have hired an editor. But on this Memorial Day, I thank him for his service.
April 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this, but it is very pro military and of course, the author is the Best Military Man Ever.
The author never met another military man that he didn’t like. Everyone is competent, trustful, fit, super intelligent....and likeable. The author doesn’t write a negative word about anyone or anything.
Come on, 35 ish years in the bureaucratic military and no suggestions or comments on how things could be run better? I’ve been on jobs for less than a DAY and I could tell you who’s incompetent (and have their position due to sucking up) and/or ways to be more efficient.
Since he clearly is concerned about his reputation, I’m wondering if the book was written to help him with his difficulties as president of the University of Texas system, or he’s setting the stage to run for political office.
Anyways, good stories.
I listened to the audio book, where there’s distracting music at the beginning and end of each chapter. Wish that wasn’t added in.
The author never met another military man that he didn’t like. Everyone is competent, trustful, fit, super intelligent....and likeable. The author doesn’t write a negative word about anyone or anything.
Come on, 35 ish years in the bureaucratic military and no suggestions or comments on how things could be run better? I’ve been on jobs for less than a DAY and I could tell you who’s incompetent (and have their position due to sucking up) and/or ways to be more efficient.
Since he clearly is concerned about his reputation, I’m wondering if the book was written to help him with his difficulties as president of the University of Texas system, or he’s setting the stage to run for political office.
Anyways, good stories.
I listened to the audio book, where there’s distracting music at the beginning and end of each chapter. Wish that wasn’t added in.
May 27, 2019
Thank you Admiral William H. McRaven for your service to this country. We need to hear more stories of our brave men and women who have served and sacrificed to give us our freedom. This book is not just stories about Admiral McRaven's career, but he describes what its like for all SEAL team recruits. He writes of the heroes, the wounded and the fallen. He acknowledges the families who stand behind them and gives credit where credit is due to his team members and those who helped him throughout his career. It made me proud of America and helped remind me that freedom isn't free.
December 14, 2023
This book was a surprise. I thought it would be a romanticized version of one man's military career. Instead, it was a concise, easy to read memoir that held my attention through all 300 plus pages of its length. Each chapter tells a story of its own and the narrative builds gradually to Operation Neptune's Spear, the bin Laden raid. While not overly detailed, the story still flows well. I was surprised that there were no redactions throughout the entire length of the book. Overall, a very satisfying book.
May 21, 2020
I really love biographies and this one, of a career Navy Seal, was hugely entertaining and well written. The first time I heard of McRaven was during his UT commencement speech about the virtue of making your bed each morning. It was an impressive talk that went viral. But this book goes into the behind-the-scenes episodes of many things I'd only read about in the news and seen in movies. It's a tremendous and inspiring story. Someone who has lived a life that most can't even imagine.
February 8, 2020
At first, I wasn't sure I would like this book. The first chapters are stories of McRaven's life as a child before the military. He seemed a little full of himself, and I thought a whole book of this would be just a little much. However, by the time he joined the Navy, went through SEAL training, and told of his exploits as both a SEAL team leader, and later as a planner of special combat operations the book became hard to put down. The book demonstrates that often military training is often more hazardous than going on actual missions. Nail-biting action, mixed with a little humor and some heart-wrenching stories of fellow patriots. I have read accounts of the mission to capture/kill Osama bin Laden, but never from McRaven's side--as the master planner he was responsible for the mission's development and overseeing the operation through the command center.
July 4, 2019
“Sea Stories” is a GREAT READ. It tells the story of the life of a man who made a difference in the world. It brings every emotion to the surface, tears and often a smile. I am proud to say I know the author, went to school with him, and am so impressed by all the things he accomplished with so many brave men at his side. I loved the book and have gained a new appreciation for our military. Life lessons, so well written, and well spoken. Thank you Admiral Bill McRaven for your lifetime of service to our nation and our people.
July 2, 2019
Setting aside some glorification of war, trivialization of peace, and prehistoric notions of what constitutes "manhood", it must be said that McRaven has a knack for story-telling. This episodic military memoir is certainly chock-full of stirring tales; none more so than the penultimate chapter about the conception, preparation, and execution of the Bin Laden-raid; but the author, while glorying in the triumphs, is far less sanguine when it comes to failures that are mentioned only in passing and lacking any detail.
Memoirs have become a part of laying the groundwork for a political career (Obama did it quite well) so be not surprised if McRaven runs for high-elective office in the future. All the more reason to accentuate the positive.
Memoirs have become a part of laying the groundwork for a political career (Obama did it quite well) so be not surprised if McRaven runs for high-elective office in the future. All the more reason to accentuate the positive.
May 16, 2019
I knew I would love this book from the "Make Your Bed" author. Loved the early years stories..."Mothers!" I wish more children had early beginnings like his. Great book!!
Thank you to Goodreds for a copy for my review.
Thank you to Goodreds for a copy for my review.
December 24, 2019
Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations by William H. Mcraven follows the author’s life stories from his youth listening to his military father sharing stories with his friends over drinks in the officers club to his drive to qualify as a US Navy Seal. He rose through the ranks to eventually become Commander of America’s Special Operations Forces. He was involved in planning and executing some of the most well-known missions including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Phillips from Somali pirates, and the raid that killed bin Laden. Sea Stories brings you along on the inside of successful missions as well as some that didn’t work out.
June 6, 2019
A very good book about being in special forces. The title is a little misleading, a few stories take place on dry land. A more interesting book cover would be good. The picture of the author is nice. I can easily imagine the author writing believable fiction.
August 22, 2019
Of all of the Special Forces, military, and autobiographies, this is easily one of my favorite. Admiral McRaven oversaw some of the highest profile and dangerous missions, including the highjacking of the Maersk Alabama and the raid on Bin Laden's compound.
January 19, 2021
What a fascinating inside look at military life as experienced by Navy SEAL Admiral William McRaven. Written by a man who was involved in capturing Saddam Hussein, rescuing Captain Richard Phillips from pirates, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden, it reads rather like an adventure novel. Admiral McRaven had a number of close calls with death, suffered and recovered from a near-disastrous parachute accident, and even served at the White House. If fiction, it would be unbelievable that one person could have so many escapades—sort of like Forrest Gump—yet these are McRaven’s memoirs. Parts of the book got a little technical with terms and explanations, but I suppose that’s to be expected with subject matter like this. The military has their own language in many ways, and it didn’t detract from the book. What a beautiful testament to the men and women in the military who put their lives on the line and accept the risks, all for the love of their country. Thank you, Admiral McRaven, and all who have served and continue to serve America!
June 7, 2019
This book... I absolutely love this book. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this book was a sequel to Forrest Gump! As a matter of fact, this book is essentially a book form of Forrest Gump, except everything in it is real. The book is written to highlight significant milestones and events in Admiral McRaven's career, and boy what a career... September 11, Usama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Captain Phillips, etc etc, the man was truly in the center of some of the significant events post 9/11! I couldn't recommend this book enough to both military and non-military readers. Must read!
November 19, 2022
Admiral William H McRaven is an extraordinary man who passed Hell week to become a Naval SEAL and that is an impressive feat in itself. He was instrumental in taking out both Sadaam Hussein and Osama bin Laden as well as other enemies. This man has survived awful conditions including getting nearly ripped apart in a parachute drop gone wrong. I don't question his courage but American foreign policy toward these Middle Eastern countries is questionable.
November 10, 2021
McRaven is a good storyteller. My favorite parts of the book were the stories about the missions he was a part of, from his perspective.
November 7, 2019
Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations by William H. McRaven
“Sea Stories” is a riveting memoir that captures the epic missions of retired Admiral William H. McRaven. The retired U.S. Navy Admiral takes the reader behind-the-action-packed scenes of his illustrious 40-year career. This enthralling 353-page book includes the following eighteen chapters: 1. The Greatest Generation, 2. Operation Volcano, 3. It’s a Wonderful Life, 4. The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, 5. The Hand of God? 6. A Gorilla Walks into a Bar, 7. The Ghosts of Tofino, 8. American Pirates, 9. Second Chances, 10. Airborne Froggy, 11. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 12. The Ace of Spades, 13. Wanted Dead or Alive, 14. High Seas Hostage, 15. Manhunting, 16. The Next Greatest Generation, 17.Neptune’s Spear, and 18.The Final Salute.
Positives:
1. A well-written, behind-the-scenes memoir.
2. A fascinating memoir, epic missions involving Navy Seals.
3. Action packed missions that are easy to follow. McRaven knows his target audience is the general public so he keeps the technical jargon to a minimum while keeping interesting details. The book is generally broken out into missions and done so chronologically.
4. Describes his family life and how that impacted his life. “But I’m convinced that what made this generation so great was their ability to take the hardships that confronted them and turn them into laughter-filled, self-deprecating, unforgettable, sometimes unbelievable stories of life. My father used to tell me, “Bill, it’s all how you remember it.””
5. The book is quite inspirational. “Knowing I could set a goal, work hard, suffer through pain and adversity, and achieve something worthwhile made me realize that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to.”
6. Describes SEAL training. “For the next thirty-seven years I would compare every tough situation I was in to the rigors of Hell Week. Throughout the rest of my career I was never as cold, or wet, or exhausted as I was in Hell Week, and therefore I knew whatever life threw at me, I could make it.”
7. Great missions covered throughout the book from locating wreckage from 1948 to the mission that led to bin Laden.
8. The capture of Saddam Hussein. “Saddam Hussein had been warned: Get out of Kuwait or we will force you out. The United Nations issued Resolutions 661 and 665 authorizing a naval blockade to stop any ship providing economic support to the Iraqis.”
9. Naval knowledge. “Experience matters, and sometimes all the staff work in the world doesn’t get you better results than what the experienced officer knows intuitively.”
10. Not as technical as I would like but there are some technical descriptions of equipment. “The RHIB was a relatively new boat in the Naval Special Warfare inventory. It was built specifically to carry a SEAL squad of seven men and was crewed by sailors from the Special Boat Squadron. These sailors were all trained as Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCCs), and the officer-in-charge was a Navy Surface Warfare Officer, schooled and qualified to pilot a Navy ship.”
11. McRaven is not afraid to describe failures or challenges faced. “Within seconds, the canopy caught air. The two risers, one wrapped around each leg, suddenly and violently pulled apart, taking my legs with them. My pelvis separated instantly as the force of the opening ripped my lower torso. The thousand small muscles that connect the pelvis to the body were torn from their hinges.”
12. His days working at the White House. “I had arrived at the White House just five days earlier assigned to my new position as the Director of Strategy and Military Affairs in the Office of Combatting Terrorism. My boss, retired four-star General Wayne Downing, had persuaded Admiral Olson that my services would be better utilized in the White House, helping orchestrate the war on terrorism, than on the Navy staff in the Pentagon.”
13. Interesting findings or lack thereof. “There were also no weapons of mass destruction, and no matter how many times the team reengaged Saddam on the issue, the answer was always the same. Iraq didn’t have nuclear WMD. It was not the answer we were hoping for.”
14. A look at suicide bombings and the quest to track down Abu Ghadiya. “The most difficult part of the plan would be getting all the approvals quickly enough to be able to react when Ghadiya was on target. But in reality, we needed only one yes vote, and that was the President of the United States, George W. Bush.”
15. Somali pirates and the quest to rescue Captain Richard Phillips. “This year alone, Somali pirates had attacked more than two hundred ships, with 263 crewmen being taken hostage. Most of the ships and their crew were taken to an anchorage point off the Somali coast where they waited, sometimes for years, before the shipping company negotiated their release.”
16. The heart of a soldier. “I look back on the hundreds of men and women I visited in the hospitals. Every single one of them—every single one of them—asked me the same basic question: When can I return to my unit? When can I be back with my fellow soldiers? When can I get back in the fight? No matter how battered their bodies, all they could think about were their friends, their colleagues, their comrades, still in harm’s way. Never once—never once—did I hear a soldier complain about their lot in life.”
17. Political philosophy worth repeating. “If a nation is to survive and thrive it must pass on the ideals that made it great and imbue in its citizens an indomitable spirit, a will to continue on regardless of how difficult the path, how long the journey, or how uncertain the outcome. People must have a true belief that tomorrow will be a better day—if only they fight for it and never give up.”
18. The quest to track down Osama bin Laden. “Three months earlier, the Deputy Director of the CIA, Michael Morell had briefed me that the CIA had a lead on the location of Osama (a.k.a. Usama) bin Laden (UBL). Through a series of courier follows, surveillance, and technical collection, the Agency identified a large walled-in compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.”
19. Special forces. “I concluded that special operations forces were able to achieve “relative superiority” over an enemy by developing a “simple plan, carefully concealed, repeatedly rehearsed, and executed with surprise, speed, and purpose.”
20. Photo inserts provided.
Negatives:
1. Lacked supplementary materials that could have made this book a true 5-star effort. As an example, McRaven could have provided a glossary of acronyms, or better yet an appendix describing weapons used by Navy Seals.
2. There are some references to “ghosts” and or “spiritual” experiences that I could do without.
3. I understand why McRaven decided to make the book accessible for the masses. Understood, but some of us technical junkies wanted more information on the weapons used.
In summary, this is a book that reads like a thriller but even better because it’s based on real events. Admiral McRaven provides readers with a taste of what our military special forces are all about by describing his first-hand remarkable experiences involving epic missions. A lot of fun to read and I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “Make Your Bed” and “Spec Ops” by the same author, “My Share of the Task” by Stanley McChrystal, “Saving Bravo: The Greatest Rescue Mission in Navy History” by Stephan Talty, “Transformed” by Thomas Nelson, “Relentless Strike” and “Not a Good Day to Die” by Sean Naylor, “Delta Force” by Charlie A. Beckwith, “Chosen Soldier” by Dick Couch, and “War” by Sebastian Junger.
“Sea Stories” is a riveting memoir that captures the epic missions of retired Admiral William H. McRaven. The retired U.S. Navy Admiral takes the reader behind-the-action-packed scenes of his illustrious 40-year career. This enthralling 353-page book includes the following eighteen chapters: 1. The Greatest Generation, 2. Operation Volcano, 3. It’s a Wonderful Life, 4. The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, 5. The Hand of God? 6. A Gorilla Walks into a Bar, 7. The Ghosts of Tofino, 8. American Pirates, 9. Second Chances, 10. Airborne Froggy, 11. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 12. The Ace of Spades, 13. Wanted Dead or Alive, 14. High Seas Hostage, 15. Manhunting, 16. The Next Greatest Generation, 17.Neptune’s Spear, and 18.The Final Salute.
Positives:
1. A well-written, behind-the-scenes memoir.
2. A fascinating memoir, epic missions involving Navy Seals.
3. Action packed missions that are easy to follow. McRaven knows his target audience is the general public so he keeps the technical jargon to a minimum while keeping interesting details. The book is generally broken out into missions and done so chronologically.
4. Describes his family life and how that impacted his life. “But I’m convinced that what made this generation so great was their ability to take the hardships that confronted them and turn them into laughter-filled, self-deprecating, unforgettable, sometimes unbelievable stories of life. My father used to tell me, “Bill, it’s all how you remember it.””
5. The book is quite inspirational. “Knowing I could set a goal, work hard, suffer through pain and adversity, and achieve something worthwhile made me realize that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to.”
6. Describes SEAL training. “For the next thirty-seven years I would compare every tough situation I was in to the rigors of Hell Week. Throughout the rest of my career I was never as cold, or wet, or exhausted as I was in Hell Week, and therefore I knew whatever life threw at me, I could make it.”
7. Great missions covered throughout the book from locating wreckage from 1948 to the mission that led to bin Laden.
8. The capture of Saddam Hussein. “Saddam Hussein had been warned: Get out of Kuwait or we will force you out. The United Nations issued Resolutions 661 and 665 authorizing a naval blockade to stop any ship providing economic support to the Iraqis.”
9. Naval knowledge. “Experience matters, and sometimes all the staff work in the world doesn’t get you better results than what the experienced officer knows intuitively.”
10. Not as technical as I would like but there are some technical descriptions of equipment. “The RHIB was a relatively new boat in the Naval Special Warfare inventory. It was built specifically to carry a SEAL squad of seven men and was crewed by sailors from the Special Boat Squadron. These sailors were all trained as Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCCs), and the officer-in-charge was a Navy Surface Warfare Officer, schooled and qualified to pilot a Navy ship.”
11. McRaven is not afraid to describe failures or challenges faced. “Within seconds, the canopy caught air. The two risers, one wrapped around each leg, suddenly and violently pulled apart, taking my legs with them. My pelvis separated instantly as the force of the opening ripped my lower torso. The thousand small muscles that connect the pelvis to the body were torn from their hinges.”
12. His days working at the White House. “I had arrived at the White House just five days earlier assigned to my new position as the Director of Strategy and Military Affairs in the Office of Combatting Terrorism. My boss, retired four-star General Wayne Downing, had persuaded Admiral Olson that my services would be better utilized in the White House, helping orchestrate the war on terrorism, than on the Navy staff in the Pentagon.”
13. Interesting findings or lack thereof. “There were also no weapons of mass destruction, and no matter how many times the team reengaged Saddam on the issue, the answer was always the same. Iraq didn’t have nuclear WMD. It was not the answer we were hoping for.”
14. A look at suicide bombings and the quest to track down Abu Ghadiya. “The most difficult part of the plan would be getting all the approvals quickly enough to be able to react when Ghadiya was on target. But in reality, we needed only one yes vote, and that was the President of the United States, George W. Bush.”
15. Somali pirates and the quest to rescue Captain Richard Phillips. “This year alone, Somali pirates had attacked more than two hundred ships, with 263 crewmen being taken hostage. Most of the ships and their crew were taken to an anchorage point off the Somali coast where they waited, sometimes for years, before the shipping company negotiated their release.”
16. The heart of a soldier. “I look back on the hundreds of men and women I visited in the hospitals. Every single one of them—every single one of them—asked me the same basic question: When can I return to my unit? When can I be back with my fellow soldiers? When can I get back in the fight? No matter how battered their bodies, all they could think about were their friends, their colleagues, their comrades, still in harm’s way. Never once—never once—did I hear a soldier complain about their lot in life.”
17. Political philosophy worth repeating. “If a nation is to survive and thrive it must pass on the ideals that made it great and imbue in its citizens an indomitable spirit, a will to continue on regardless of how difficult the path, how long the journey, or how uncertain the outcome. People must have a true belief that tomorrow will be a better day—if only they fight for it and never give up.”
18. The quest to track down Osama bin Laden. “Three months earlier, the Deputy Director of the CIA, Michael Morell had briefed me that the CIA had a lead on the location of Osama (a.k.a. Usama) bin Laden (UBL). Through a series of courier follows, surveillance, and technical collection, the Agency identified a large walled-in compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.”
19. Special forces. “I concluded that special operations forces were able to achieve “relative superiority” over an enemy by developing a “simple plan, carefully concealed, repeatedly rehearsed, and executed with surprise, speed, and purpose.”
20. Photo inserts provided.
Negatives:
1. Lacked supplementary materials that could have made this book a true 5-star effort. As an example, McRaven could have provided a glossary of acronyms, or better yet an appendix describing weapons used by Navy Seals.
2. There are some references to “ghosts” and or “spiritual” experiences that I could do without.
3. I understand why McRaven decided to make the book accessible for the masses. Understood, but some of us technical junkies wanted more information on the weapons used.
In summary, this is a book that reads like a thriller but even better because it’s based on real events. Admiral McRaven provides readers with a taste of what our military special forces are all about by describing his first-hand remarkable experiences involving epic missions. A lot of fun to read and I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “Make Your Bed” and “Spec Ops” by the same author, “My Share of the Task” by Stanley McChrystal, “Saving Bravo: The Greatest Rescue Mission in Navy History” by Stephan Talty, “Transformed” by Thomas Nelson, “Relentless Strike” and “Not a Good Day to Die” by Sean Naylor, “Delta Force” by Charlie A. Beckwith, “Chosen Soldier” by Dick Couch, and “War” by Sebastian Junger.
January 20, 2020
⭐️🇺🇸⭐️Salute⭐️🇺🇸⭐️
March 31, 2020
A fast-paced, enthralling account of 40 years of service, this was a fun and inspiring read. At the end of the book, McRaven reflects on his career and calls it "a cosmic adventure... an odyssey. This is an accurate description. The chapters are self-contained, each offering a brief glimpse into McRaven's life as a Navy SEAL and the challenges, triumphs, and difficulties that came in myriad forms. The episodic structure not only allowed the book to cover a wide array of topics and stories, but also effectively communicated the impressive variety of McRaven's career. Overall, anyone looking to get a better idea of what this part of the Navy does would be well-served by reading at least part of this book. Several themes stood out; early chapters on SEAL training, as well as one covering McRaven's recovery from a debilitating injury drove home a powerful message of resiliency and the importance of mental fortitude that equals if not surpasses one's physical toughness. Repeated descriptions of talented junior officers or enlisted sailors communicated the theory of decentralized command in practice, and the chapter on the Bin Laden operation impressively laid out the importance of the union of meticulous tactics and sound strategy. In one chapter, McRaven calls millenials and Gen Z the "new greatest generation," showing a surprising understanding of those 40+ years his junior when he praised young peoples' questioning drive and forward-thinking impetus. The fact that he recognizes and appreciates these traits perhaps speaks to his own flexibility and evolution, characteristics not at all common among military figures of similar stature.
This gets 3 stars because of the moments when McRaven slips into old-fashioned military tropes, such as when he repeatedly references "brotherhood" in the fleet, invokes quasi-religious language when speaking about US operations abroad, or carefully avoids discussing pervasive internal issues (eg. sexual assault, LGBTQ experiences, racial dynamics) that he, as a leader, should seek to solve. Despite these issues, the book is inspiring, and returns to the idea that careers like his are possible not because of individual talent but because of trust and faith in teammates, humility, and most importantly, hope.
This gets 3 stars because of the moments when McRaven slips into old-fashioned military tropes, such as when he repeatedly references "brotherhood" in the fleet, invokes quasi-religious language when speaking about US operations abroad, or carefully avoids discussing pervasive internal issues (eg. sexual assault, LGBTQ experiences, racial dynamics) that he, as a leader, should seek to solve. Despite these issues, the book is inspiring, and returns to the idea that careers like his are possible not because of individual talent but because of trust and faith in teammates, humility, and most importantly, hope.
April 16, 2021
*Score: 6/10*
Written by retired Admiral William H. McRaven of US SEALs, book is chronological detailing key highlights of the author's life serving his country, from childhood till his later years as part of special operations. From Saddam Husain to Osama Bin Laden captures, it goes into some very risky operations.
The book was a rollercoaster ride for me, but not in the best way. The initial part was boring as the examples brought up from his childhood were not very exciting, and dragged for a bit too long. Then the book gets good as he enters the SEALs training, and some chapters like the recovery of the missing plane (Tofino chapter), and his accident, are really interesting and get very intimate with the cast of people who were with him on those missions / incidents. I felt I was about to really like this book but by the half way mark, it went downhill again, barely recovering with minor exceptions.
Almost every major chapter in second half is pretty much same formula, and gets repetitive very fast: oh no unbelievable opportunity to capture X person, train, bit of B type movie action, and then commentary about being justice and defeating evil. I appreciate the partiotic aspect, but this very basic good vs evil got very tiring after some time, and so much could have been explored with his relations with his companions, or the difficulty of war and ao forth, but its barely touched on and gets very generic very fast. Oh, and every single charcater is described same exact way, being "best ever" with most skills and greatest humanity and with dry sense of humor! Eventually I could not care less and got bored and just wanted to move on. First half was much better in the sense that there was more interaction with team mates and to get to know their inner struggles, and was just more genuine imo.
Overall, a decent read, but not one that I would actively recommend. If you enjoy this kind of topic without caring much about depth in morality or war, you might find this more entertaining than myself. Its pretty much like a standard action movie.
Written by retired Admiral William H. McRaven of US SEALs, book is chronological detailing key highlights of the author's life serving his country, from childhood till his later years as part of special operations. From Saddam Husain to Osama Bin Laden captures, it goes into some very risky operations.
The book was a rollercoaster ride for me, but not in the best way. The initial part was boring as the examples brought up from his childhood were not very exciting, and dragged for a bit too long. Then the book gets good as he enters the SEALs training, and some chapters like the recovery of the missing plane (Tofino chapter), and his accident, are really interesting and get very intimate with the cast of people who were with him on those missions / incidents. I felt I was about to really like this book but by the half way mark, it went downhill again, barely recovering with minor exceptions.
Almost every major chapter in second half is pretty much same formula, and gets repetitive very fast: oh no unbelievable opportunity to capture X person, train, bit of B type movie action, and then commentary about being justice and defeating evil. I appreciate the partiotic aspect, but this very basic good vs evil got very tiring after some time, and so much could have been explored with his relations with his companions, or the difficulty of war and ao forth, but its barely touched on and gets very generic very fast. Oh, and every single charcater is described same exact way, being "best ever" with most skills and greatest humanity and with dry sense of humor! Eventually I could not care less and got bored and just wanted to move on. First half was much better in the sense that there was more interaction with team mates and to get to know their inner struggles, and was just more genuine imo.
Overall, a decent read, but not one that I would actively recommend. If you enjoy this kind of topic without caring much about depth in morality or war, you might find this more entertaining than myself. Its pretty much like a standard action movie.
December 6, 2021
What a fascinating look into the life of Admiral William H. McRaven in Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations! This man knows how to share his memories!! The bits about his childhood were hilarious, and I was happy to read something light before getting into the descriptions of becoming a Navy Seal. I'm amazed anyone could live through Hell Week!!
Hands down, my favorite story was when Mac and his fellow Seals located the wreckage of the P2V2 Navy airplane that had been missing since 1948. Can anyone say goosebumps AND tears??
This book is definitely action-packed. The rescue of Captain Phillips, followed by the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of Osama bin Laden all had me hanging on by my fingernails!! It didn't help at all that I already knew how the actions turned out!
Even though I don't consider myself a huge fan of the essential work of our military's special forces, after reading Sea Stories, I AM a huge fan of Admiral McRaven!
Hands down, my favorite story was when Mac and his fellow Seals located the wreckage of the P2V2 Navy airplane that had been missing since 1948. Can anyone say goosebumps AND tears??
This book is definitely action-packed. The rescue of Captain Phillips, followed by the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of Osama bin Laden all had me hanging on by my fingernails!! It didn't help at all that I already knew how the actions turned out!
Even though I don't consider myself a huge fan of the essential work of our military's special forces, after reading Sea Stories, I AM a huge fan of Admiral McRaven!
June 12, 2022
Absolutely spectacular book -- so much more than a military memoir. William McRaven tells his story with an almost spiritual sense of purpose, carefully arranging each story to teach a lesson about loyalty, perseverance, optimism, and faith. Each combat operation or rescue effort seems to fit into a rhythmic pattern, and they are told in a sequence that gives greater meaning to the whole.
Not that the entire book is without flaws. Some readers may find the childhood chapters are a little too canned and sentimental. The evening out at the Officers' Club, where the war heroes and their glamorous wives swap stories, and the little boy hero listens from under the table in rapt adoration, is like something out of GOODFELLAS. But by the end of the book you realize that unlike Henry Hill, William McRaven is the real thing. His modesty, humor, and optimism are as remarkable as his courage. His voice is compelling, and he emerges from the pages as a good man, husband, father, and warrior. And a great American!
Not that the entire book is without flaws. Some readers may find the childhood chapters are a little too canned and sentimental. The evening out at the Officers' Club, where the war heroes and their glamorous wives swap stories, and the little boy hero listens from under the table in rapt adoration, is like something out of GOODFELLAS. But by the end of the book you realize that unlike Henry Hill, William McRaven is the real thing. His modesty, humor, and optimism are as remarkable as his courage. His voice is compelling, and he emerges from the pages as a good man, husband, father, and warrior. And a great American!
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