Rising Above: A Green Beret's Story of Childhood Trauma and Ultimate Healing

by Sean Rogers

A simple car accident changed the path of six-year-old Sean Rogers’s life forever. His single mother checked into the hospital as a vibrant young woman and checked out as a full-blown opioid addict. From that day forward, Sean’s life became a silent nightmare of abuse, neglect, chronic hunger, and slow, helpless withdrawal from everything and everyone he loved.In Rising Above, Green Beret Sean Rogers chronicles the toughest battle of his the long, painful fight to confront his darkest fears and reclaim his life. After struggling as a young man to accept the raw trauma of his past, he eventually learned to understand and embrace it, ultimately using it to become an elite Special Forces operator. Through this profoundly honest and inspiring memoir, Rogers explores what it means to make the pain of your past work for you, showing you how to harness the truth of your own reality and take control of your destiny.

Genres: Military Fiction, Biography, Military History

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2021

Reviews

[Brittany Williamson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fragmented and mundane writing.

[Bex Dane · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Above-C...
I'm angry at the adults who failed this child and his siblings. His parents, CPS, the cops, and the teachers all failed to protect him from the horrible abuse and neglect. Also the doctors and his grandparents aunts and uncles.
The purpose of the book is to accept it happened, it was unfair, but it can also lead to great strength and courage.
The unprotected became the protector.
He doesn't use the word hero in this book, but he is one. Imperfect as it felt to him, he showed true valor in the face of hardship and danger. ​I wish it was longer and I'd love to read more from this author.


Side note:
What's with the asshole commandos who didn't show up to work and hid from the bullets? Who were those turkeys? Cowards.

[Aloysius Teng · Rating 1 out of 5]

There’s no denying that Buck Rogers’ childhood struggles were instrumental to his development as an individual. However, this whole book was basically just another typical self-help book regurgitating what has been written in many other biographies about/by people who have faced their own adversities.

Another issue I had was the segment he wrote about the riots in Denver about George Floyd’s death. In that paragraph, he tried painting the police as the victims of the riots while ignoring the issues with policing in America that finally boiled over due to the unnecessary death of an individual.

[Samuel C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest

There is nothing greater than to say that this book was brutally honest-and that’s a good thing. Love that the author was willing to show there is always a lower level and also a way to overcome. Many lessons learned.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admittedly picked up Sean Rogers's book Rising Above: A Green Beret's Story of Childhood Trauma and Ultimate Healing because Rogers is a former member of the US Army Special Forces. SF is a topic about which I'm passionate and I'm always hungry to learn more about the world of the Green Beret.

The thing is, less than half of this book is about Rogers's time on an ODA. That much should be obvious to anyone who reads the subtitle. That may put off some readers who only seek to learn about Special Forces soldiers at war.

I'm a writer. I've long believed that a good writer is a student of the human condition. Some authors get by on plot-driven stories. I'm an adherent to the notion that there are no original plots nowadays, only original arrangement and employment of tropes. In my opinion, what makes good writing, especially in my chosen genre of the military action/adventure thriller, is characters that stand out. That's not to say the characters have to be purely original, either--much like plots, there are no original archetypes, only original presentation of archetypes--but they have to be interesting and seem like real people.

Sean Rogers's story is fascinating. He endures a life of abuse and neglect, his mother a victim of the opioid epidemic and he and his brother being second-hand victims through her behavior changes. After getting to know his father, he decides he's going to leave the California desert behind. Whenever Rogers evades one tribulation, another rears its ugly head. Through these tribulations--which include earning his Green Beret and seeing combat on an ODA--he learns the way to conquer life is to confront your past, learn from it, accept it, and be stronger for exploring and accepting it.

I would implore the folks who picked up the book because the author is a SOF veteran to give it an honest chance. This may be the writer in me talking, but I think it's important to learn about the people who wear the Green Beret and see the circumstances that shaped them into the kind of people who can pass Selection and the Q. I definitely recommend it to people who are fascinated with human stories, as this is a decidedly human story and an incredible one at that.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motivational and relatable

I follow the author's YouTube and decided to give his book a read. Quick read with loads of good advice about harnessing past failures and hurt to live successful. I was able to relate to most of the content, although I'm not in the military and a black woman. I did have a traumatic upbringing, and felt the same sentiments about being afraid of failure and dragon analogies. Being in my 40s and overcoming many obstacles, I've already lived and learned most of the platitudes the author promotes. Nevertheless, it was good to read his story from his perspective. I wish it were longer and revealed more about his childhood and background; it was more like a brief summary. On the other hand, I like quick reads. Still perplexed why he would leave a prestigious military career to be a police officer. That seems like a demotion. But he seems to love what he is doing now.

[carole idris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people have a story within them. I know I do. But my story is the opposite of the author. I was invisible. My emotions were never nurtured. I was never nurtured to become a strong woman. To believe I had value. My parents divorced when I was a small child and I felt I was a burden and inconvenience on my mother. It took me a long time to find my way and my worth and to forgive by trying to understand what made her the person she was. Her life wasn't easy being the oldest of 10 children. She wasn't a bad mother, but she wasn't a good parent. I applaud the author for revealing the traumas his life was so full of and how he learned from them, used them to his advantage and became the person he is today.

[Grassy Mountains · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t ever want to put a star rating on someone’s strenuous life journey, let alone their honest, vulnerable account of it - the account being this book by Sean Rogers. It’s a wonderful read, the gist is clear cut, and very well presented woven into Sean’s life events. I’m thoroughly inspired by what Sean has come to learn and confess; it is incredibly timely and elevating for me in my current situation.

P.s. Sean’s YouTube channel program of Beers and Breakdown is hilarious, and surprisingly cathartic.

[Elvin Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It has held me in multiple areas of my life.

I highly encourage anyone and everyone to read this book. You will surely take away some excellent wisdom! I know I will implement a new away of thinking and dealing with problems that I face today As well as those I will face in the future.

[Bradley J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that is a hero!

Excellent insight into the struggles of a man from boyhood through his veteran days. Amazingly advice how to try to overcome one's own traumas that are holding you back. Hopefully he will find inner peace that he has earned; I look forward to reading more from him.

[Daniel Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Sean's story, especially as a survivor of trauma. It's good first book, with some great short stories. I appreciate his themes-overcoming, healing, from pain comes power. Sean's honesty rings true throughout the book. I think it's a great text for a young person considering joining the military, especially young people hoping to join special operations.

[Abdullah Al]

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[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, heartfelt story of a good man.

I am 68 , I am not a veteran but the son of a career Air Force Officer/Pilot that spent his 20+ years in SAC ( Strategic Air Command). I have always held those who served in high regard. Sean's story is worth reading and his lessons worth applying in all our lives.

[Josh Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a book.

It was a fast read. The author made it easy to feel the pain of a shitty upbringing in the first half of the book. The military portion was short and to the point. The book ends and says “Tame your dragon and burn your goals to the ground”.

I am happy the author made it through what he did and accomplished writing a book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a tool to help them deal with life situations that might be stressful for some. The book was well written and I would like to see more from the author.

[Ashley Krause · Rating 2 out of 5]

The message is good but the story is lacking a lot of detail. Seemed kind of rushed. If you do not know a lot about mental health or you are tarting your journey this is a good place to start.

[Forrest Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the whole thing in a day. Captivating story of resilience and strength. Get it today.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it’s a memoir of a broken child and healing man. But this is more of a self-help book for adults who suppress their inner turmoil. It’s not dissimilar to a keynote address at a convention.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comments from a reader

As a survivor of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment I can tell you that Sean's story will help you to heal. Please read it.

[William Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The more pain you endured throughout your life, the larger and fiercer your dragon. Face it, tame it, and then ride it to the destination of your dreams.”

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Wonderful!!! A must read. It’s trike inspirational. It’s easy to read and a page turner. Book is honest and real.

[Alex Hinojosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was great at keeping my attention which and overall a good book.

[Luke Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book is a phenomenal resource to help all who think they are a victim. Buy this and read it and push through all your struggles.

[zikkery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I forgot to add this when I finished it; the story is compelling but it wasn’t anything necessarily groundbreaking. The writing generally lacked sophistication, but it was also conversational and did not feel like a chore to read.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such a respect for Sean and how he handled himself and turned his trauma in life into something more meaningful. All that he went through could have broken him as a man, but instead he learned to really look at those moments in his past and tried to learn from them and grow. That growth made him into a leader and someone who we can all learn from. Thank you for sharing your story, Sean, and for showing us how to tame our dragon.

[terry sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of a humble man who stood up to his demons, he’s seems good bloke I’m not a military guy but I like his channel too .

Tells it straight with no BS and no bragging although you could forgive him if he did , well done Buck I’m sure others will benefit from reading this book 👍