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  • Survivor

  • Life in the SAS
  • By: Mark Wales
  • Narrated by: Mark Wales
  • Length: 9 hrs
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (380 ratings)

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Survivor

By: Mark Wales
Narrated by: Mark Wales
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Publisher's Summary

Forging resilience

Finding purpose

Mastering transformation

How do you rebuild your life when you've hit rock bottom?

Mark Wales thought his life would end in a cornfield in Afghanistan.

Mark and his SAS troops emerged from that scorched battlefield 12 hours later, his mentor gunned down, his dream career now a nightmare. Over four deployments of intense warfighting, Mark watched the line between right and wrong become blurred. When he left the SAS he was adrift, crippled by guilt. 

On a mission to rebuild himself, Mark turned his life around. He fought his way into the gates of a US Ivy League business school and into the boardrooms of top-tier international corporations. He spent years navigating failure in a quest to find new meaning in life. With every setback Mark counterattacked, discovering the tactics and tools needed to become more resilient, and to find happiness, belonging and purpose.

Told with gripping suspense, humour and touching warmth, Survivor is Mark's extraordinary life in and out of the SAS, a story of resilience and a testament to the power of transformation.

©2021 Mark Wales (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"A powerful, honest story of courage, redemption and finding purpose." (Bear Grylls)

"Searing, humbling and uplifting.... Mark Wales is a true inspiration." (Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC)

"In Special Forces it is often said the thinking is at least as important as the fighting. Through these pages, Mark Wales is shown as a thinking soldier. And further, a person of magnificent generosity, taking us to rarely trespassed ground, the battlefield within." (Chris Masters, Gold Walkley award-winning journalist and author)

What listeners say about Survivor

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Just Brilliant

Survivor is a story told with clarity and purpose. At first I thought it would be just another book about the tough, unrelenting life inside the SASR.

But it soon became very apparent this was not going to be the case.

Instead, I was taken on a journey of personal self-discovery where the author experiences the essential emptiness of life but finds, through confronting the traumas of war, a sense of purpose that gives suffering context and meaning.

This is a must read for anyone who’s struggling at a career cross road and particularly useful for those who doubt their ability to step off the treadmill of an established, promising career.

Well done, Mark. Thanks.

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Honest Tough Heartfelt

The differing perspectives on life are relatable to all. From self to family to business their are tales and learning for all

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Inspirational Mark! Congrats

Struggled to turn off most nights. Raw, humorous and brutal. Thank you for taking the time to share your journey so far.

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Reality Sucks

You hear a lot from the media about our soldiers at war, blood sucking leeches that they are, but to hear this story first hand is eye opening. You may win the bullet battle but the untold story of the ongoing battle within, often goes unmentioned. Thankyou for opening up and showing us the reality of war and this reality truly does suck. Thankfully, this story had a happy ending. All we need now is for the Australian Government to realise this reality and provide more assistance to those in need a better ending.

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intriguing and ìnsightful

I found the raw and truthful insight to a world I knew nothing about compelling.

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Great insight into an Aussies SAS journey in Afgan

great insight into the journey of and Australia's SAS journey into Afghanistan and then his road to recovery and now success. well done mate

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This is a must read.

Wow, what a story of resilience, courage, support, challenges and grit. Mark Wales is a true Australian hero and his story deserves to be heard by all.

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what the fuck

best book I've read and I've taken so much away from this book to help me in my journey to becoming a better dad, husband and man. thank u Mark for sharing your story. truly inspirational

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No expression

Boring reader no expression. The content should have had the reader on the edge, instead had to keep rewinding to listen again as it all droned on in the background

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Awesome listen

I really appreciate and enjoyed this book written my Mark it has inspired me to follow my heart and dreams.
I am writing a book and hope one day someone listens to my story.

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  • Nick T
  • 27-05-2021

Awesome book

Great audio version. Inspiring, brutal and honest account of the SASR. Loved it and listened to it in 2 days. Highly recommended

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  • Hugh and Linda
  • 26-09-2021

Best book I’ve come across in the last few years!

A POWERFUL yarn. Honest, emotional, and captivating. The chapters on Mark’s time in Afghanistan are some of the most insightful on war generally, and the Afghanistan war specifically. Recommending to all my friends.

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  • Tsandy
  • 20-08-2021

Great listen, hard to put down

I've never watched Survivor, or read many war books or heard of Mark Wales, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. But this is a really interesting, informative, and at times emotional story. Mark comes across as a tough, vulnerable, honest, funny, beautiful human being. It's a book you don't want to put down. The intonation on the narration is a little flat but it's still good to have it read in the author's voice and it feels authentic.
A few minor negative observations: there's a sort of recurring theme of wanting to do something, trying, failing, failing some more, finally getting better, then succeeding. After a while it feels a bit like rinse and repeat on the same story arc/trajectory. Also the language and editing is at times unnecessarily flowery and over the top. Eg I can't remember the context in the book but do men (soldiers anyway) really describe a woman as 'eschewing makeup'? And the chapters on the fashion business feel a little jarring and uncomfortably like a marketing strategy inserted into the book.
Those criticisms aside, it's a great read and what stands out is how lucky we are to have such courageous, committed, decent people in our armed forces. All Australians should be very proud of soldiers like Mark and forever grateful for their sense of duty. Thanks for your service mate.

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  • Mountain Aussie
  • 08-07-2021

From the Heart

What an amazing story, I almost cringe at calling it a story… it’s masterful writing, true “show don’t tell.”
The interspersed dry Aussie humor along with gut wrenching vulnerability by the author almost demands that this go straight to the big screen, Mark’s already shown that he can act! This would and should translate to the silver screen.
The way that he exposes his weakness rather than exploiting his obvious strengths is pure balance.
I love this book, this should be in schools across the globe, it’s hard hitting truth telling that had me laughing,crying and hoping for the outcome he eventually found.
Outstanding memoir Mark, you and everyone associated with this should be justifiably proud.
Hafts admit I was shocked by the 14 year old escapade had me pissing my pants!
Well done…

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  • Gene Crowe
  • 30-05-2021

Powerful, Raw and Thrilling

An honest, vulnerable and powerful memoir. A great listen from start to finish. Well done Mark!

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  • Eric S.
  • 28-11-2022

Great Read

Moving, motivational, inspiring. I needed this book at this time, in this place. thank you

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  • Gary
  • 23-03-2022

Great book - worth a listen

A really enjoyable book that excels because of the honesty shared by the author in telling his story. The fact that Mark himself does the voicing really adds to the overall experience. This isn't a book full of 'hero stories' from the movies, it is a book that describes the reality of war and the trauma that then follows/haunts many servicemen after the conflict is over. What makes this book really worth your time though is the reflection that Mark shares as he goes through the major shifts and pivots in his life, sharing the lessons that many listeners will find relevant and useful to them.

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  • Dean
  • 06-07-2021

Great book

Great book and really interesting story, his voice is flat and monotone. Other than that I really enjoyed it.

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  • mark jones
  • 26-10-2023

Great story and excellent narration

How he lives with making that mistake every day must be tough. As soon as you read the section where he makes the mistake to emerge the green zone your like NO!!!!!!!!!

But he has bounced back, worked hard and is now helping others. Great read.

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  • Daniel
  • 27-06-2023

Everything you could want from a military audiobook

What a book every detail you could ask for and gives you an amazing understanding of what these guys have to go through.
You won’t regret this one.

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  • JULES
  • 20-04-2023

Excellent

Loved this audiobook. Very well read, great pace and superb and interesting recollections. I found myself touched by the Epilogue due to ‘knowing’ the people throughout the book. Dont know if Mark will ever read this but i thank him for his story and wish him, his family and friends the very best.

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  • Andy north
  • 25-01-2023

Ok

Wasent as expected but was very down to the wire with explanation of wat he experienced out in the war that still keeps going

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  • Anonymous User
  • 23-08-2022

Great listen !

Unbelievable story. Great addition that it's Mark narrating. Highly recommend this audio book !

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  • Sarah
  • 29-04-2022

just buy it!

A roller coaster of a book, if you don't laugh out loud and hold back tears there's something wrong with you!
The best book I've listened to.

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  • Dave G
  • 22-01-2022

from the heart

A Honest True Story of the life of a Soldier and the effects it has on you your family your friends your brothers in green......

Mark Wales your book and honestly brother spot on..........

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  • Bryn Thomas
  • 27-09-2021

GREAT LISTEN

Heart felt warmth in the context of this audible. Such an honest account of his battles in combat, and following his time in the military.
Just loved the way the Aussies say the the “C” word, used a few times in this recording. Loved it.

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