Seven Troop

Not a lot going for this book. The author spends a lot of time explaining what broken and lost people some of his former comrades in arms are (most of this is described in other books by the people involved), and that war wrecks peoples lives so perhaps they need professional help. Not exactly news to anyone, one might think.

The Realities of Soldiering (3/4 people found this helpful)

Like his other non-fictional books, Seven Troop is an excellent read. In my opinion, his best to date. McNab describes in vivid detail, from his own experience, and that of his "Brothers in Arms" the reality of fighting "at the sharp end", and the effect it has on those individuals once they are no longer exposed to those dangers. His unselfish accounts of Frank Collins, Al Slater and in particular, Nish Bruce and Thomas Franks, highlight the problems surrounding PTSD, and the need for those in a position to do so, to provide the help and counselling these guys so desperately need.

Been there before (1/2 people found this helpful)

My reason for three stars is that I feel I've read most of it before in Bravo Two Zero. To be honest, I started to skip through it-Yet going back over the parts where McNab ?, like in other books, will keep on telling us and showing photos-of men who are no longer in this world. Please don't take me wrong, I am not saying that he is being unfeeling in this, but the men in question have got friends and loved one still around, and I think it about time the men were allowed to rest, and there families too. I fully agree in one thing he said, and that is that casualties of war, should not have to go to a secret place in Wales to recover from a thing that the Government has put them into. It should be there on a plate for them, showing them the respect they showed to the job they did.
In my opinion for what its worth. If you want a book on the Special Forces, you need to be reading Fighting Scared by Robin Horsfall, as he doesn't invade on other mens lives only his own.
Sorry Andy but thats the way I feel.

A Disagreement (3/5 people found this helpful)

I am going to have to disagree with the other reviewers. This book does nothing but rehash Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action. The fire fights in Northern Ireland, Nicky Smith's death, selection, The Gulf War, et al. They have been all gone over in McNab's two previous non fiction books.

Personally, I was hoping for something with more depth into operations, training, etc. However, I did not get that. Yes, I realize OPSEC is an issue. However, lets be real here folks, most of the information is on open forums now.

Another issue, he could have not been so heavy on the religious issues. Frank Collins is mentioned so heavily and his constant bible thumping, became "borish."

Finally, I would like to challenge (let the flames begin) McNab's statement he does not suffer from any sort of PTSD. A man who has been married 5 times, needs to really sit back, look in the mirror, and figure out exactly what HIS OWN personal problems are. There has to be something.

Mr McNab, if you write another non fiction book, I'd like to see you detail what you did AFTER the 1st Gulf War. What did you do in the SAS that one and a half years? That part of your life is totally missing from your fans.

High personal price of special forces soldiering (7/8 people found this helpful)

A sad but very much needed work on the nasty realities of soldiering, this book recounts the very moving descent into unhappiness and despair some of McNab's best mates endured in the aftermath of service.

From this book it seems clear that the Regiment is an unnatural substitute for normal family life for young men, i.e., wife and kids are replaced by comradeship, which perhaps becomes foundational for a subsequent dysfunctional life for some of the guys. It means that when they leave there is a sense that they've lost the focus or foundation of their daily existence. And of course, the exposure to the cutting edge of modern military adventurism is the other key factor destabilising the mental health of special forces soldiers, with the inevitable horrible sights, sounds and loss of beloved friends. I couldn't help but conclude that, all the prestige notwithstanding, making it into the SAS is just not worth it for a lot, maybe even most, of the lads who manage it.

A few errors apart (i.e. Kesh RUC station was in Fermanagh, not Donegal, as the latter is part of the Republic of Ireland), the book is replete with fascinating anecdotes and occasional operational accounts, most notably in my native Northern Ireland, where, among my own community (the Protestants), the SAS are revered for their work at Loughgall in particular and against the IRA in general. Many of us would have liked to have seen them given a freer hand during the Troubles, as we are sure that had they been, there would be fewer of our friends and family lying dead in graveyards around the Province.

In closing, I am very pleased McNab wrote this and especially glad he disclosed so much of Frank Collins' story therein also. I was moved to tears at the kindness and sincerity of Collins as accounted in the book, so credit to McNab for not shying away from relating the man's religious convictions. In sum, this book shows us that even the elite forces are just human beings, amongst some of the most noble on the face of this earth. Highly recommended reading!

Andy McNab

Reader Reviews:

Dull and sad (0/3 people found this helpful)

The Realities of Soldiering (3/4 people found this helpful)

Been there before (1/2 people found this helpful)

A Disagreement (3/5 people found this helpful)

High personal price of special forces soldiering (7/8 people found this helpful)

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