Customer Reviews
Dull and sad - By: Jeremy Ray, 18 Nov 2008 
Not a lot going for this book. The author spends a lot of time explaining what broken & lost people some of his former comradesin arms are (most of this is describedin other books by the people involved), & that war wrecks peoples lives so perhaps they need professional help. Not exactly news to anyone, one might think.
The Realities of Soldiering - By: fuente6914, 12 Nov 2008 
Like his other non-fictional books, Seven Troop is an excellent read. In my opinion, his best to date. McNab describesin vivid detail, from his own experience, & that of his "Brothersin Arms" the reality of fighting "at the sharp end", & the effect it has on those individuals once they are no longer exposed to those dangers. His unselfish accounts of Frank Collins, Al Slater &in particular, Nish Bruce & Thomas Franks, highlight the problems surrounding PTSD, & the need for thosein a position to do so, to provide the help & counselling these guys so desperately need.
Been there before - By: Steve G, 07 Nov 2008 
My reason for three stars is that I feel I've read most of it beforein Bravo Two Zero. To be honest, I started to skip through it-Yet going back over the parts where McNab ?, likein other books, will keep on telling us & showing photos-of men who are no longerin this world. Please don't take me wrong, I am not saying that he is being unfeelingin this, but the menin question have got friends & loved one still around, & I think it about time the men were allowed to rest, & there families too. I fully agreein one thing he said, & that is that casualties of war, should not have to go to a secret placein 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 - By: Phillip J. Wooley, 03 Nov 2008 I am going to have to disagree with the other reviewers. This book does nothing but rehash Bravo Two Zero & Immediate Action. The fire fightsin Northern Ireland, Nicky Smith's death, selection, The Gulf War, et al. They have been all gone overin 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 & 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, lookin the mirror, & 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 doin the SAS that one & a half years? That part of your life is totally missing from your fans.
High personal price of special forces soldiering - By: cryingfreeman, 11 Oct 2008 A sad but very much needed work on the nasty realities of soldiering, this book recounts the very moving descent into unhappiness & despair some of McNab's best mates enduredin 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 & 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 & 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 wasin Fermanagh, not Donegal, as the latter is part of the Republic of Ireland), the book is replete with fascinating anecdotes & occasional operational accounts, most notablyin my native Northern Ireland, where, among my own community (the Protestants), the SAS are revered for their work at Loughgallin particular & against the IRAin 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 & family lying deadin graveyards around the Province.
In closing, I am very pleased McNab wrote this & especially glad he disclosed so much of Frank Collins' story therein also. I was moved to tears at the kindness & sincerity of Collins as accountedin 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!
