Sea Stories cover art

Sea Stories

My Life in Special Operations

Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Sea Stories

By: William H. McRaven
Narrated by: William H. McRaven
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Following the success of his #1 New York Times bestseller Make Your Bed, Admiral William H. McRaven is back with amazing stories of bravery and heroism during his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces.

"Fascinating ... McRaven's war stories deliver remarkable insight into the life of a wartime leader." ―Publishers Weekly


Admiral William H. McRaven is a part of American military history, having been involved in some of the most famous missions in recent memory, including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden.

Sea Stories begins in 1963 at a French Officers' Club in France, where Allied officers and their wives gathered to have drinks and tell stories about their adventures during World War II-the place where a young Bill McRaven learned the value of a good story. Sea Stories is an unforgettable look back on one man's incredible life, from childhood days sneaking into high-security military sites to a day job of hunting terrorists and rescuing hostages.

Action-packed, humorous, and full of valuable life lessons like those exemplified in McRaven's bestselling Make Your Bed, Sea Stories is a remarkable memoir from one of America's most accomplished leaders.
Afghan & Iraq Wars Armed Forces Military Military & War Personal Development Personal Success Special & Elite Forces Middle East Solider War Witty

Critic Reviews

"Fascinating...McRaven's war stories deliver remarkable insight into the life of a wartime leader."—Publishers Weekly
"Engaging...Sea Stories is more than an autobiography, more than a narrative of recent military history, and more than the sum of one remarkable man's experiences. In his excellently flowing prose...McRaven not only allows readers the opportunity to vicariously experience daring adventures and the command of elite warriors heading into harm's way, he also shares practical everyday wisdom."—Booklist (Starred Review)
"Sea Stories, a well-written book that reads like a thriller, covers some of the most important historical actions taken by Navy SEALs and other special operators."—The Washington Times
"Readers interested in the essential work of military special forces will be inspired by McRaven's adventures."—Kirkus
PRAISE FOR MAKE YOUR BED:
"Should be read by every leader in America... [MAKE YOUR BED] is a book to inspire your children and grandchildren to become everything that they can. It is a book to discuss with your executive leadership team as a spur to meeting shared goals. Most of all, it is a book that will leave you with tears in your eyes."
Wall Street Journal
"Full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault...McRaven's lessons, like his commencement speech, extend far beyond his bed-making. He devotes the 10-chapter book to lessons about moving beyond failure, standing up to bullies and giving others hope."—Washington Post
"McRaven...has taken the genesis of what he learned during SEAL training and his nearly four decades in Navy Special Operations into a thin, powerful book."—USA Today
"Exquisitely simple...superb, smart, and succinct."—Forbes
"Spellbinding."—Texas Monthly
All stars
Most relevant
I am a ADM McRaven fan so may have tinted lens but this book of his stories was a great listen. The view of major SF operations through his eyes and ears is captivating and you can’t put this book down.

ADM McRaven Stories are Superb

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

William McRaven you are an inspirational man, and this story was fascinating, out of the ordinary and a very special story.

What a guy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I could live twice as long as mcraven and still live half the life he has

words to live by

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Enthralling enjoyed every minute, made even better by personal narration, a little holly wood with the musical backing on occasion, Provided a perspective into the burden and responsibility of command.
Highly recommended.

In HIS words

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Amazing to know more about the life of an navy seal !! A lot of stories /behind the scenes shared when any special operations carried out by forces ..it’s a story of living courage , empathy and leadership!!

Excellent storytelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews
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.