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Unafraid: Staring Down Terror as a Navy SEAL and Single Dad
Hot Wash The review held after military training and real-world operations facilitating growth and improvement; an honest evaluation of strengths and weaknesses As a special operator in the US Navy’s most elite unit and actively engaged in the Global War on Terrorism, Eddie Penney had achieved his childhood dream. He was the tip of the nation’s spear, prepared for anything—except for becoming a single parent of three young children.
Eddie learned powerful lessons from the roles of warrior and father. In Unafraid , he shares his story, insight gained, and the truths exposed when you reflect, regroup, and commit to personal growth. You’ll read about life as a Navy SEAL and the adolescent aspirations that led Eddie toward a military life, as well as the painful challenges that left him a single father with sole custody. You’ll learn that old wounds—both seen and unseen—can heal, and redemption is always possible. Whether these struggles feel familiar or you’re searching for inspiration, Unafraid is a must-read memoir revealing that each of us has a warrior within.
Eddie learned powerful lessons from the roles of warrior and father. In Unafraid , he shares his story, insight gained, and the truths exposed when you reflect, regroup, and commit to personal growth. You’ll read about life as a Navy SEAL and the adolescent aspirations that led Eddie toward a military life, as well as the painful challenges that left him a single father with sole custody. You’ll learn that old wounds—both seen and unseen—can heal, and redemption is always possible. Whether these struggles feel familiar or you’re searching for inspiration, Unafraid is a must-read memoir revealing that each of us has a warrior within.
328 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2022
117 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 1, 2023
One of the greatest books I’ve ever read
November 3, 2022
Eddie Penny is a real man
I have been fascinated with the Teams and special forces since I got my first G.I. Joe with the cool frogman stuff, air tanks, dive mask, dive knife, fins…the whole load out. And I have been following Eddie Penny since I watched his interview on MikeDrop. His book is inspirational, emotional, hard hitting, and brings a harsh reality to young boys who dream of being a frogman. What a sacrifice our veterans make to fight our battles and come home to live out their lives after the trauma of war, only to fight for the help they earned or lose the fight for want of adequate resources afforded to them by the VA. Eddie was fortunate he found God and a family to sustain him in his struggles and triumphs. Thank you, Eddie, for your service and sacrifice and phenomenal book. My family and I appreciate all you and your teammates have done for us so that we can live free in this great country. Thank you. And, from the bottom of our hearts, God bless you, your family, and your teammates and their families. Words are simply not adequate to capture how sincerely grateful we are for each of your sacrifices. God bless.
I have been fascinated with the Teams and special forces since I got my first G.I. Joe with the cool frogman stuff, air tanks, dive mask, dive knife, fins…the whole load out. And I have been following Eddie Penny since I watched his interview on MikeDrop. His book is inspirational, emotional, hard hitting, and brings a harsh reality to young boys who dream of being a frogman. What a sacrifice our veterans make to fight our battles and come home to live out their lives after the trauma of war, only to fight for the help they earned or lose the fight for want of adequate resources afforded to them by the VA. Eddie was fortunate he found God and a family to sustain him in his struggles and triumphs. Thank you, Eddie, for your service and sacrifice and phenomenal book. My family and I appreciate all you and your teammates have done for us so that we can live free in this great country. Thank you. And, from the bottom of our hearts, God bless you, your family, and your teammates and their families. Words are simply not adequate to capture how sincerely grateful we are for each of your sacrifices. God bless.
January 21, 2023
AMAZING BOOK, AN INSPIRATION
I learned about Eddie Penney from the interview he did on ten Shawn Ryan show. That interview brought me to tears, literally. I purchased this book and the inspiration gleamed from the book is a continuation of what I gained from that interview.
Eddie has inspired me to burn my sins (and those things holding me back) in the fire (if you read the book you’ll know what this means). My faith and my walk with Christ has been strengthened by the story Eddie tells.
I learned about Eddie Penney from the interview he did on ten Shawn Ryan show. That interview brought me to tears, literally. I purchased this book and the inspiration gleamed from the book is a continuation of what I gained from that interview.
Eddie has inspired me to burn my sins (and those things holding me back) in the fire (if you read the book you’ll know what this means). My faith and my walk with Christ has been strengthened by the story Eddie tells.
June 4, 2024
Wow. Just wow. Awesome book that’ll make you cry along with the author and make you feel like you’re there in the action.
I grew up in a military (army) family and have great respect for the men and women who serve in the line of duty. I myself never went into the marines or Air Force like I wanted to and can only imagine what they go through. This book, I’m sure, only scrapes the surface so I thank you for your service.
I grew up in a military (army) family and have great respect for the men and women who serve in the line of duty. I myself never went into the marines or Air Force like I wanted to and can only imagine what they go through. This book, I’m sure, only scrapes the surface so I thank you for your service.
October 25, 2024
Listening to the audiobook made this an even more emotional read and made me so immensely invested in this story. His raw and vulnerable emotions presented as he tells the story brought me to tears everytime. A beautiful story balanced between Christ, his family and his career.
Each time he talks about Kayla cuddling up on his chest during BUD/s makes me want to BAWWWLLLL 😭😭😭 “you may have thought I was comforting you, but you were comforting me” So beautiful
Each time he talks about Kayla cuddling up on his chest during BUD/s makes me want to BAWWWLLLL 😭😭😭 “you may have thought I was comforting you, but you were comforting me” So beautiful
December 29, 2024
A solid military autobiography. I appreciated that he personally narrated it.
January 27, 2023
What a fantastic read! I was immediately intrigued by the dual focus of Eddie’s story – his life as a career-focused seal and his life as a husband and father. Most of the hundreds of warrior memoirs I read are focused 98% on the heroic career, with a few side sentences dealing with the failed marriages and the regrets of not having been there as a father. This book is different. Each chapter tells the real story, warts and all, and ends with a hotwash, an immediate debrief to focus on the key messages Eddie had to learn the hard way. As the story unfolded, my appreciation of Eddie’s mindset grew. Many of us have clawed our way to the top of their hierarchy and hidden physical and mental scars. Eddie, however, chose to be brutally honest in this book, which is so damned refreshing. I loved how he can nowadays describe the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced the first time he admitted his moral failures in public. Or the way his soul urged for another person to help him. Or the freedom he experienced after his first emotional release, which included snot and all. These are the words from a real man. I can’t wait to have Eddie as a guest on my show, My Steps To Sobriety.
March 8, 2026
The Best Book I Have Ever Read.
Buy this book, Give it to all the men in your life. Give it to the women too, if they’re warriors at heart. (Women can be—how many of us have fought for our marriages, our children’s salvation, our communities?) I am buying 4 more copies, and in the front of the book I will write, “Hard is not the same thing as bad. Never, ever surrender—except to Jesus Christ.”
I saw Eddie Penney on a podcast with another former SEAL, discussing his faith, and this is going to seem weird because he’s a former SEAL and current entrepreneur and I’m a wife, mom and grandma, but I instantly got him. I don’t get why exactly—normally I’m not “cool, interesting” ^click^ and so all I can say is—it’s a God thing. The most we have in common is being born across the Ohio River from each other, and my dad was a combat Marine veteran with the Striking Sixth, seeing 82 days of hand to hand, cave to cave combat in Okinawa. We were very close, he was my mentor—and maybe that’s what it is.
Either way, but this book. It just might change your life.
Buy this book, Give it to all the men in your life. Give it to the women too, if they’re warriors at heart. (Women can be—how many of us have fought for our marriages, our children’s salvation, our communities?) I am buying 4 more copies, and in the front of the book I will write, “Hard is not the same thing as bad. Never, ever surrender—except to Jesus Christ.”
I saw Eddie Penney on a podcast with another former SEAL, discussing his faith, and this is going to seem weird because he’s a former SEAL and current entrepreneur and I’m a wife, mom and grandma, but I instantly got him. I don’t get why exactly—normally I’m not “cool, interesting” ^click^ and so all I can say is—it’s a God thing. The most we have in common is being born across the Ohio River from each other, and my dad was a combat Marine veteran with the Striking Sixth, seeing 82 days of hand to hand, cave to cave combat in Okinawa. We were very close, he was my mentor—and maybe that’s what it is.
Either way, but this book. It just might change your life.
March 29, 2025
Easily one of the best modern memoirs from someone who has experienced a lot of life. You can tell Eddie wrote this from the heart, transparently, and it shows in his tears during the heavier parts of the audiobook version. This book strengthened my mentalities towards all of life’s challenges as well as my faith. His experiences go to show that men of all different calibers experience the same physical and emotional challenges in fatherhood, manhood, finding purpose, suicide, relationships, worldly crutches, and so on. I feel like I know Eddie like a good friend after reading his book. We can all learn something from people who have overcome this level of adversity in a lifetime.
December 29, 2022
I enjoyed Eddie Penney's book of being at the pinnacle of operations within the Navy SEALs but more importantly his realization that his own family - his children - his tribe were the ones he needed to put first in his life. The end of each chapter having a "Hot Wash," was a great approach and reflection of that particular chapter. Great story of the ups and downs of life and overcoming struggles that can be applied to anyone.
June 19, 2024
My favorite memoir I’ve read yet. Goes into detail about different stages of his life and the different struggles and triumphs along the way. A lot of it was relatable and overall this was just very human and raw (it’s hard to describe). Enjoyed it the entire way through and found the last few chapters or so to be especially satisfying and heartfelt. Shoutout Eddie Penney.
“Without the mistakes, the failures, the ignorance, and the sin, there’s no meaning to the redemption” (299)
“Without the mistakes, the failures, the ignorance, and the sin, there’s no meaning to the redemption” (299)
March 10, 2025
4.5 / 5
Eddie Penney’s story feels typical at first (he enlists right out of high school, marries young, fails as a husband, deploys often, etc.), but it takes some amazing unexpected turns (seeing Jesus in his bedroom as a child, becoming a single dad in his 30s, attending a Wild at Heart retreat, etc.) that shape his story into one of humility and repentance — aspects that are always worth reading about.
Eddie Penney’s story feels typical at first (he enlists right out of high school, marries young, fails as a husband, deploys often, etc.), but it takes some amazing unexpected turns (seeing Jesus in his bedroom as a child, becoming a single dad in his 30s, attending a Wild at Heart retreat, etc.) that shape his story into one of humility and repentance — aspects that are always worth reading about.
April 29, 2025
Awesome Book
I've read many books about special operators. Mostly to try and learn what my own son has been through. He can't talk about it.
This book helped me understand him more and how God works in our lives.
At the age of 41, He is currently dying of cancer.
I hope and pray that he finds the God that you found.
I'll give him this book.
Thank you for putting it in words.
God Bless you!
I've read many books about special operators. Mostly to try and learn what my own son has been through. He can't talk about it.
This book helped me understand him more and how God works in our lives.
At the age of 41, He is currently dying of cancer.
I hope and pray that he finds the God that you found.
I'll give him this book.
Thank you for putting it in words.
God Bless you!
June 6, 2023
Wonderful book!
Eddie Penney’s story is not only interesting but also humbling. He tells what seems to be an honest look at his life beginning at the age of seventeen when he joined the Marines. After his time in the Marines he leaves to fulfill a dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. Be sure to keep some tissues handy because there will be tears when reading this emotionally charged book. Thank you, Eddie Penney for your service.
Eddie Penney’s story is not only interesting but also humbling. He tells what seems to be an honest look at his life beginning at the age of seventeen when he joined the Marines. After his time in the Marines he leaves to fulfill a dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. Be sure to keep some tissues handy because there will be tears when reading this emotionally charged book. Thank you, Eddie Penney for your service.
January 3, 2023
Heart warming, Eye opening, & passionate
The author opens his heart to the world to help others realize no matter who or what you are, you can always fix your mistakes and become a better human being.
The author opens his heart to the world to help others realize no matter who or what you are, you can always fix your mistakes and become a better human being.
December 9, 2023
First off, it's hard not to give a 5 star to someone who puts their life out there. This book exposed all but with the purpose of helping others instead of glorifying bad behavior. Very inspirational.
February 27, 2024
If I could give this more stars I would. This book details one man’s incredible story of healing and finding Christ without failing to share all of the darkness that led to that moment. I highly recommend this book.
March 31, 2024
Eddie Penney is an inspiration. What an amazing read! A top-tier Special Forces operator thrust into the unknown world of single-fatherhood. A man who most unexpectedly found faith in Christ, setting the stage for an extraordinary testimony of strength and courage under extreme adversity.
April 11, 2024
Eddie Penney is the man. I had to choke back some tears at the gym while I listened to him read his story. Out of all the books I’ve read from tier 1 operators this one stands out and has a ton of heart.
September 13, 2022
Great book. Feels like the author was open and transparent. The chapters had valuable lessons. And I felt like the lessons of each chapter built upon those in the chapters before. Motivational book.
October 10, 2022
great great book
Great read and truly a gamer changer. I will read this one again. Thanks for your service and for the words
Great read and truly a gamer changer. I will read this one again. Thanks for your service and for the words
January 18, 2023
A powerful testimony of Christ’s redemption, love and forgiveness. The hot washes and the end of each chapter are encouraging for anyone of any belief, also.
January 25, 2023
Amazing.....the story read with such raw emotions....twell done Eddie
March 13, 2023
Great story of a great warrior.
June 7, 2023
great story with great life lessons
Eddie is the true definition of resilience!! What a great story filled with a lifelong of lessons learned! Recommend to anyone
Eddie is the true definition of resilience!! What a great story filled with a lifelong of lessons learned! Recommend to anyone
June 20, 2023
"If we don't find a way to work as a team we will fail as a nation."
What you'll find inside
Military: Marines and Navy after 9/11
Some swearing, not excessive
What I loved
Eddie's willingness to see his own failures and mistakes in his marriage
What you'll find inside
Military: Marines and Navy after 9/11
Some swearing, not excessive
What I loved
Eddie's willingness to see his own failures and mistakes in his marriage
December 29, 2023
I enjoyed this book. Good for him to take on the responsibility of his children when his wife was a drug addict. Had to be hard being a seal and full custody of three young kids.
January 9, 2024
A must read!
A great book with an inspiring message! Anyone would be greatly served in taking the time to read and hear the message!
A great book with an inspiring message! Anyone would be greatly served in taking the time to read and hear the message!
December 21, 2025
It always amazes me that every military autobigraphy is a testimony to God!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews