No Easy Day
The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.
Add to basket failed.
Please try again later
Add to Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Remove from Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
No Easy Day
Narrated by:
Holter Graham
Buy Now for $19.01
-
Narrated by:
-
Holter Graham
About this listen
From the streets of Iraq to the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean, and from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama Bin Laden’s compound, operator Mark Owen of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group—known as SEAL Team Six—has been a part of some of the most memorable special operations in history, as well as countless missions that never made headlines.
No Easy Day puts readers alongside Owen and his fellow SEAL team members as they train for the biggest mission of their lives. The blow-by-blow narrative of the assault, beginning with the helicopter crash that could have ended Owen’s life straight through to the radio call confirming Bin Laden’s death, is an essential piece of modern history.
In No Easy Day, Owen also takes readers into the War on Terror and details the formation of the most elite units in the military. Owen’s story draws on his youth in Alaska and describes the SEALs’ quest to challenge themselves at the highest levels of physical and mental endurance. With boots-on-the-ground detail, Owen describes several missions that illustrate the life and work of a SEAL and the evolution of the team after the events of September 11.
In telling the true story of the SEALs whose talents, skills, experiences, and exceptional sacrifices led to one of the greatest victories in the War on Terror, Mark Owen honors the men who risk everything for our country, and he leaves readers with a deep understanding of the warriors who keep America safe.
Critic Reviews
“This harrowing, minute-by-minute account by one of the highly trained members of Navy SEAL Team Six is narrative nonfiction at its most gripping....No Easy Day puts you right there for every tense moment.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Gripping....There is no better illustration in No Easy Day that SEALs are ruthless pragmatists. They think fast. They adapt to whatever faces them. They do what they have to do.”—The New York Times
“[Mark Owen] has given us a brave retelling of one of the most important events in U.S. military history.”—People
“Make no mistake: No Easy Day is an important historic document.”—Los Angeles Times
“A remarkably intimate glimpse into what motivates men striving to join an elite fighting force like the SEALS—and what keeps them there.”—Associated Press
“Gripping....There is no better illustration in No Easy Day that SEALs are ruthless pragmatists. They think fast. They adapt to whatever faces them. They do what they have to do.”—The New York Times
“[Mark Owen] has given us a brave retelling of one of the most important events in U.S. military history.”—People
“Make no mistake: No Easy Day is an important historic document.”—Los Angeles Times
“A remarkably intimate glimpse into what motivates men striving to join an elite fighting force like the SEALS—and what keeps them there.”—Associated Press
thank you for ur service sir.
a well storied book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Brilliant
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fascinating Story and Perfect Narration
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
by Mark Owen (pseudonym for Matt Bissonnette) & Kevin Maurer
I just finished No Easy Day, and for some reason I kept thinking of it like a Bond-style “No Easy Day to Die”—even though that’s definitely not what it is. Despite being marketed as the autobiography of a Navy SEAL, this book reads far more like a memoir. It isn’t a complete life story; instead, it offers brief glimpses of the author’s childhood in Alaska, a few anecdotes from BUD/S, and a snapshot of DEVGRU training. The real focus is on how the teams operate, the lead-up to the bin Laden raid, the mission itself, and its immediate aftermath. And honestly, I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.
I ended up reading this because my partner heard the author mentioned on a podcast and was talking about the controversy surrounding the book. That was what pushed me to finally pick it up. Knowing that Bissonnette was sued by the U.S. government and that parts of his account have been challenged, I expected the tone to be defensive or self-promoting, but it wasn’t. If anything, he repeatedly downplays his own role and highlights the team. He admits he wanted to be point man, or to be on the other helicopter—he wanted more of the “action”—but circumstances dictated otherwise. His narration feels less like an attempt to centre himself and more like a way to give readers someone to follow through the story of the raid.
Something that stood out to me was his reflection on why he became a SEAL. He writes about being inspired by books written by SEALs who served in Vietnam, and that struck me as significant. If earlier generations writing down their experiences helped shape his path, then perhaps there is a place for modern memoirs like this—despite the pushback within the Special Operations community about operators publishing books or speaking publicly. These stories clearly have influence and resonance.
My partner and I had a long conversation about whether Bissonnette should have sought official clearance before releasing the book, but after listening, I don’t think anything here hasn’t already been retold countless times in media leaks and public discussions. Considering how much information came out immediately after the raid, I can understand why he may not have felt it necessary to go through federal channels.
As for the book itself, I thought it was well written and tightly paced. The chapters are short, focused, and engaging, with no drag or unnecessary detours. Personally, I would’ve liked more about his childhood in Alaska—being raised by missionary parents living off the land, his father’s reflections on Vietnam, and the family tensions around joining the military. Those glimpses were fascinating, and I would’ve happily read more, but it’s clear that wasn’t the goal of this memoir.
Throughout the book, I kept thinking about Adam Brown—another DEVGRU SEAL whose story I’ve read—and wondering whether their paths crossed. I even tried Googling, but information about individuals involved in the raid is still scarce. In that sense, the author does succeed in maintaining the privacy and anonymity of his teammates.
Overall, No Easy Day is a sharp, fast, engaging account of an extraordinary mission. If you’re interested in military memoirs, special operations, or modern military history, I’d definitely recommend the audiobook.
A Candid, Fast-Paced Look Inside the Bin Laden Rai
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.