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S. N. Goenka: Emissary of Insight (Lives of the Masters #5)
by Daniel Stuart S. N. GoenkaIn a life that saw him evolve from a staunchly religious Hindu to an ecumenical master of Buddhist insight meditation, Satyanārāyaṇ (S. N.) Goenka (1924–2013) emerged as a leader in the spread of lay mindfulness and insight meditation practice on a global scale. A second-generation Burmese of Indian origin, Goenka was a successful businessman before turning to Buddhist meditation for help with crippling migraines. Becoming first a close student and then assistant teacher under the innovative Burmese lay Buddhist teacher U Ba Khin, Goenka eventually felt the pull of karmic destiny to teach meditation in India and thereby repay the ancient debt that Burmese Buddhists owed to the original Indian Buddhist tradition. In the 1970s, as he became an integral part of the Indian Buddhist spiritual landscape, thousands of young people from the United States and Europe flocked to India to explore its spiritual possibilities. Out of this remarkable convergence was launched a global network of practitioners and meditation centers that would become Goenka&’s legacy.Drawing heavily on Goenka&’s own autobiographical writings and Dharma talks, Daniel Stuart draws the first comprehensive portrait of the master&’s life and demonstrates that Goenka&’s influences, teaching, and legacy are much more complex than has been commonly thought. Stuart incorporates a wide range of primary documents and newly translated material in Hindi and Burmese to offer readers an in-depth exploration of Goenka&’s teachings and his practice lineage in Burma. Stuart further details the trials and tribulations Goenka faced in building a movement in India in the 1970s, developing a global network of meditation centers, and negotiating a range of relationships with students and religious leaders worldwide. This fascinating addition to the Lives of the Masters series reflects on Goenka&’s role in the revival of Buddhism in postcolonial India and his emergence as one of the most influential meditation masters of the twentieth century.
S. Weir Mitchell, 1829–1914: Philadelphia's Literary Physician
by Nancy CervettiThis modern biography provides a comprehensive and balanced view of a legendary figure in American medicine. Controversial because of his fierce fight against women’s rights, S. Weir Mitchell achieved stunning success through his experimentation with venomous snakes, treatment of Civil War soldiers with phantom limbs and burning pain, and creation of the rest cure to treat hysteria and neurasthenia. Mitchell’s life was extraordinary—interesting in its own right and as a case study in the larger inquiry into nineteenth-century medicine and culture.
S.A.S Men in the Making: An Original's Account of Operations in Sicily and Italy
by Peter DavisPeter Davis was the youngest officer in the SAS during World War II. In his autobiographical account, he reveals the nave enthusiasm he felt when he joined the Unit, his fears and trepidation during training, and the horror at what he later experienced during his first operations in the liberation of Sicily and Italy. This is his story.It explores the difficulty of a young, inexperienced officer leading older and seasoned soldiers. It tells of mistakes a 'rookie' can make and of how listening, learning and ultimately earning respect made him the skilful leader he ultimately became. During later operations he was awarded the Military Cross.Through it all the enigmatic figure of Paddy Mayne looms large. At times irrational, aggressive, and often drunk, he was always a born leader able to instil obedience and respect. Where he led, men followed.This autobiographical account was written shortly after the end of the War, using diaries written at the time. It is possibly the last, untold, first-hand account of a time of chaos, of horror and of the camaraderie of the men of the SAS.
S.O.S. Spirit Of Survival: One Family's Chilling Account of the Costa Concordia Disaster
by Ananias Family"S. O. S. : Spirit of Survival" is a one-of-a-kind story of the incredible fortitude that ordinary people can conjure in order to overcome even the most harrowing of disasters. Told from the point of view of each of the five members of one family, this book offers a unique and detailed look into the truth behind the headlines surrounding the Carnival Cruise Lines Costa Concordia cruise ship sinking off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Tuscany in January of 2012. Their astounding account of the tragic events before, during and, perhaps most shockingly, after the enormous cruise ship ran aground are sure to amaze readers. However, the true messages of this book are hope and profound inspiration, as this familys bond deepens and strengthens through their ultimate survival journey.
SABATO, EL HOMBRE (EBOOK)
by Julia J. Constenla"Quiero destacar lo inesperado y grato que ha sido para mí leer el libro de Julia Constenla. Estas páginas recuperan, sin grandilocuencia, los acontecimientos más trascendentes de la vida de Sabato, pero también muestran, con valor y equilibrio, los momentos más difíciles y las decisiones menos afortunadas. Matilde y Ernesto están aquí tal como son y es imposible no quererlos. La autora ha querido compartir con usted el maravilloso misterio de su humanidad."Monseñor Justo Laguna A diez años de su primera edición, Julia Constenla vuelve sobre esta ya clásica biografía de Ernesto Sabato para darle su forma definitiva. Retoma también esa mirada cálida y profunda sobre la vida del escritor en su aspecto más humano, desde la posición privilegiada de su amistad, pero también como testigo lúcida de más de cincuenta años compartidos. El resultado es este libro maravilloso, indispensable tanto para sus lectores como para quienes se asomen a su obra por primera vez y deseen aprehenderla desde su propio mundo, a veces tan público, otras tan privado. "A comienzos de la década del cincuenta quise dejar en claro lo que pensaba sobre algunos temas que todavía hoy me acosan. Entonces publiqué Hombres y engranajes. Son mis reflexiones sobre la crisis de nuestro tiempo, después de medio siglo todavía sigo creyendo lo que creía entonces. En mis novelas dije todo lo que tenía que decir sobre el amor, la furia, el dolor, la muerte, Dios. Ya lo he dicho todo, me parece justo y necesario llamarme a silencio." Ernesto Sabato
SACHIN TENDULKAR Playing It My Way,My Autobiography
by Sachin Tendulkar Boria MajumdarIn his autobiography Sachin Tendulkar recounts and shares about the defining moments of his passionate cricket career, his family,his captaincy,his team-mates and about some interesting facts like what goes on in the minds of a player before the match,in the dressing room, during the match and also on his love for food and music.
SAP's CEO on Being the American Head of a German Multinational
by Bill Mcdermott"Today I’m the chief executive of SAP, which is headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. The company was founded by five engineers who would build SAP into a market-leading business software maker and a crown jewel in Germany’s strong economy. I’m the first American to lead SAP in its 45-year history. I’m also the only American-born CEO leading a company on the DAX, Germany’s stock exchange. I’m the only American on the European Round Table of Industrialists, a group of CEOs of Europe’s largest companies. With a presence in nearly every country on earth, SAP has long been open to contributions by anyone, of no matter what nationality or background. Still, leading a company whose identity is rooted in a culture that’s foreign presents unique challenges—which is why few CEOs do it."
SARMIENTO PERIODISTA (EBOOK)
by Valenzuela-SanguinetSarmiento fue periodista, quizás, antes que cualquier otra cosa. Cuando aún no existía un campo periodístico independiente y profesional, ejerció el oficio con pasión, desde su nacimiento a la vida pública hasta su muerte. Libró en este ámbito batallas ideológicas y políticas, y se construyó a sí mismo en la prensa. A diferencia de otros hombres ilustres de su época, como Alsina o Mitre, él no tenía un #aparato# ni una experiencia partidaria o militar que lo pusieran en la lista de los presidenciables. Consiguió ese lugar a fuerza de escribir y polemizar. La pluma y el periódico fueron su partido. Sus mejores textos fueron consecuencia de sus luchas. El Facundo, libro fundacional de la literatura argentina, se publicó originalmente como folletín, con la urgencia de su contienda propagandística contra el régimen rosista. Su estilo como escritor lleva la marca inconfundible de su carácter periodístico: audaz, práctico, punzante, siempre en busca del centro del ring para ganar la polémica. Diego Valenzuela y Mercedes Sanguineti reconstruyen en estas páginas, con materiales y documentos inéditos, el peculiar e intenso itinerario del Sarmiento periodista, iluminando una faceta poco investigada de este personaje ineludible de la historia argentina. Durante su campaña con el Ejército Grande, se definió a sí mismo como #soldado con la pluma o con la espada, combato para poder escribir, que escribir es pensar#. Alberdi le reprochó que #en sus manos, la pluma fue una espada y no una antorcha#, y lo bautizó #el caudillo de la pluma#.
SAS Band of Brothers
by Damien LewisThe new SAS epic from bestselling military historian Damien LewisWe share the triumphs and tragedies of a group of elite soldier trailblazers as they commit daring raids behind enemy lines in 1944, manage an against the odds escape to victory, and then seek post-war retribution for the terrible murder of their captured comrades.SAS BAND OF BROTHERS is replete with action, peppered with great characters, and features two of the most daring escapes of WWII. It ends with the hunted becoming the hunters - a group of men intent on seeking out the Nazis responsible for their brethren's deaths, on an ultra-deniable SAS mission to avenge a war crime.This is the new bestseller from Damien Lewis. It bears all his hallmarks - an epic, page-turning special forces narrative based on hitherto unavailable personal testimony and private family archives.(P)2020 Quercus Editions Limited
SAS Bravo Three Zero: The Explosive True Story of the SAS Patrol That Got Away
by Damien Lewis Des PowellThe untold story of an elite SAS patrol behind enemy lines during the Persian Gulf War is vividly revealed in this gripping chronicle.Iraq, January, 1991. Three patrols—Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero, and Bravo Three Zero—were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam&’s Scud missiles, the use of which threatened a third World War. The men of Bravo One Zero saw the flat desert devoid of cover and decided not to deploy. When Andy McNab&’s famed Bravo Two Zero patrol did deploy, the results were tragic—all but one was captured or killed. Then there was Bravo Three Zero. Deploying despite the lack of cover, they could make a dash for the border if desperate. Even as warnings came in that McNab&’s patrol was on the run, Bravo Three Zero continued undetected—becoming the Coalition forces furthest behind Iraqi lines and taking out a string of targets along the way. But with the desert turning bitter and snow starting to fall, they were forced to fight a running battle against the elements as much as the adversary. The achievements of the highly decorated Bravo Three Zero are the stuff of elite forces legend. Now, for the first time, SAS veteran Des Powell reveals their story in gritty, blow-by-blow detail. Written alongside acclaimed military author Damien Lewis, this is a tale of daring deep inside enemy lands.
SAS Brothers in Arms: Churchill's Desperadoes: Blood-and-Guts Defiance at Britain's Darkest Hour.
by Damien LewisDamien Lewis's new bestseller tells the action-packed, riveting story of the band of mavericks and visionaries who made the SAS. Using hitherto untold stories and new archival sources, Damien Lewis follows one close-knit band of warriors from the SAS foundation through to the Italian landings - chronicling the extraordinary part they played as the tide of the Second World War truly turned in the Allied's favour. This is a narrative of wall-to-wall do-or-die action and daring, chronicling the exploits of some of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the twentieth-century.
SAS Brothers in Arms: Churchill's Desperadoes: Blood-and-Guts Defiance at Britain's Darkest Hour.
by Damien LewisThe riveting birth story of the SAS.Damien Lewis's new bestseller tells the action-packed, riveting story of the band of mavericks and visionaries who made the SAS. Using hitherto untold stories and new archival sources, Damien Lewis follows one close-knit band of warriors from the SAS foundation through to the Italian landings - chronicling the extraordinary part they played as the tide of the Second World War truly turned in the Allied's favour.This is a narrative of wall-to-wall do-or-die action and daring, chronicling the exploits of some of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the twentieth-century.(P) 2022 Quercus Editions Ltd
SAS Ghost Patrol: The Ultra-Secret Unit That Posed As Nazi Stormtroopers
by Damien LewisThe Ultra-Secret Unit That Posed As Nazi StormtroopersThe Most Daring Mission Ever UndertakenSAS Ghost Patrol is the explosive true story of the day in 1942 when the SAS donned Nazi uniforms to perpetrate the most audacious and daring mission of the war. Beyond top secret, deniable in the extreme (and of course enjoying Churchill's enthusiastic blessing), this is one of the most remarkable stories of wartime lawlessness, eccentricity and raw courage in the face of impossible odds - a thoroughly British undertaking.What unfolded - the longest mission ever undertaken by Allied special forces - was an epic of daring, courage, tragedy and survival that remains unrivalled to this day, and which rightly became a foundation stone of Special Forces legend. Written with Lewis's signature authenticity and dramatic verve, SAS Ghost Patrol is peopled by a cast of the utterly maverick and the extraordinary. In its quirky eccentricities and outrageous rule-breaking, this is a story that only the British could have authored, and with such panache and aplomb. It may read like the stuff of impossible myth or folklore, but every single word is true.(P)2017 WF Howes Ltd
SAS Ghost Patrol: The Ultra-Secret Unit That Posed as Nazi Stormtroopers
by Damien LewisAn &“amazing&” account of Britain&’s most audacious act of subterfuge in WWII: an undercover raid of Rommel&’s stronghold in Tobruk (The Daily Mirror). On a scorching September day in 1942, the Special Air Service (SAS), a special forces unit of the British Army, pulled off one of the most daring, top-secret ruses of the Second World War. The plan (sanctioned by Churchill): cover a grueling two thousand miles of the Sahara desert to attack German general Erwin Rommel&’s seemingly impregnable port fortress in North Africa from the rear to break free and arm more than thirty thousand Allied POWs. Led by Capt. Herbert Buck and posing as Afrika Korps soldiers complete with German uniforms and weaponry, the crew broke into the enemy stronghold Trojan Horse–style as part of the coordinated attack on Tobruk. &“Intensively researched . . . powerfully written,&” and culled from the private diaries of the do-or-die maverick heroes, this extraordinary story of the sneak attack on the notorious Desert Fox is more thrilling than any fiction. A bold, outrageous, and rule-shattering mission impossible, SAS Ghost Patrol is &“one of the great untold stories of WWII&” (Bear Grylls).
SAS Great Escapes Four
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildFIVE DARING ESCAPES CARRIED OUT BY THE FAMOUS FIGHTING FORCE DURING WWIIFrom the infamous 1944 desert campaign to the unforgiving terrain of the Vosges Mountains; from a perilous escape across Europe aided by Resistance networks to three Captains fleeing an Italian Prisoner of War camp in 1943, and a death-defying return to Britain via boat, tunnel and train.These inspirational true stories bring to life the do-or-die spirit of the SAS, as they faced an enemy hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing never-before-seen wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to reveal terrifying yet astounding feats of survival from the band of elite soldiers.If you like Great Escapes Four, why not go back and discover the previous instalments in this bestselling series: Great Escapes, Great Escapes Two and Great Escapes Three.
SAS Great Escapes Four
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildFIVE DARING ESCAPES CARRIED OUT BY THE FAMOUS FIGHTING FORCE DURING WWIIFrom the infamous 1944 desert campaign to the unforgiving terrain of the Vosges Mountains; from a perilous escape across Europe aided by Resistance networks to three Captains fleeing an Italian Prisoner of War camp in 1943, and a death-defying return to Britain via boat, tunnel and train.These inspirational true stories bring to life the do-or-die spirit of the SAS, as they faced an enemy hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing never-before-seen wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to reveal terrifying yet astounding feats of survival from the band of elite soldiers.If you like Great Escapes Four, why not go back and discover the previous instalments in this bestselling series: Great Escapes, Great Escapes Two and Great Escapes Three.
SAS Great Escapes Three: Gripping True Escape Stories Executed by World War Two Heroes
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildFIVE OF THE MOST DARING ESCAPES CARRIED OUT BY THE SAS DURING WORLD WAR TWOSAS Great Escapes Three recounts how warriors of the world's most famous fighting force, the SAS, carried out five of the most daring escapes of World War Two. Ranging from the very birth of the SAS, to the post D-Day battles for Nazi-occupied Europe, these gripping true stories cover some of the most iconic operations of the regiment, and its key characters, while also including untold tales of courage and endurance beyond compare.Told in classic Damien Lewis style, each account plunges the reader into the escapees' experiences - sharing the most terrifying yet astounding moments of their lives. They include unimaginable accounts of survival in the face of staggering odds, episodes of nerve-wracking bluff and deception, plus knife-edge ambushes withenemy forces hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.In this new volume of incredible special forces feats, bestselling author Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to relate how the men of the SAS were hunted by the enemy and forced to fight their way out of certain death or capture. Around every corner, upon every decision and every movement lurked the possibility of discovery. Yet with every step, breath and turn taken, these fugitives epitomized the do-or-die spirit of the SAS to overcome.
SAS Great Escapes Three: Gripping True Escape Stories Executed by World War Two Heroes
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildFIVE OF THE MOST DARING ESCAPES CARRIED OUT BY THE SAS DURING WORLD WAR TWOSAS Great Escapes Three recounts how warriors of the world's most famous fighting force, the SAS, carried out five of the most daring escapes of World War Two. Ranging from the very birth of the SAS, to the post D-Day battles for Nazi-occupied Europe, these gripping true stories cover some of the most iconic operations of the regiment, and its key characters, while also including untold tales of courage and endurance beyond compare.Told in classic Damien Lewis style, each account plunges the reader into the escapees' experiences - sharing the most terrifying yet astounding moments of their lives. They include unimaginable accounts of survival in the face of staggering odds, episodes of nerve-wracking bluff and deception, plus knife-edge ambushes withenemy forces hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.In this new volume of incredible special forces feats, bestselling author Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to relate how the men of the SAS were hunted by the enemy and forced to fight their way out of certain death or capture. Around every corner, upon every decision and every movement lurked the possibility of discovery. Yet with every step, breath and turn taken, these fugitives epitomized the do-or-die spirit of the SAS to overcome.
SAS Great Escapes Two: Six Untold Epic Escapes Made by World War Two Heroes
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildSAS Great Escapes Two recounts the hitherto untold stories of six of the most dramatic and daring escapes executed by the world's most famous fighting force during WWII. From the very earliest SAS missions to the push into Nazi-occupied Europe, they cover some of the key figures in the Regiment, including its founder, David Stirling, plus other lesser-known heroes.With each story comes an edge-of-the-seat, rollercoaster ride in classic Damien Lewis fashion, as readers are plunged into the escapees' experiences - sharing their most terrifying yet inspiring moments. These stunning accounts of survival beggar belief, revealing nerve-racking bluff and deception, knife-edge encounters with enemy hunter forces hellbent on wreaking vengeance and murder, but also incredible acts of mercy and kindness from those who risk all to help the escapees on their way. Each tale of breath-taking derring-do reveals how necessity really is the mother of all invention, as with every step and at every juncture these fugitives defied fate, snatching survival and freedom from the jaws of the enemy, and all the horrors that would have followed capture.Damien Lewis has worked closely with the families of those portrayed, accessing wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to relate how the men of the SAS crossed blazing deserts, evaded enemy hunter forces and escaped through hostile lands, battling against seemingly insurmountable odds. But most of all, these uplifting tales of endurance beyond measure showcase the triumph of the human spirit and the will to survive.'Damien Lewis paints a uniquely vivid picture of the wartime SAS. Packed with detail, this fresh and dynamic book brings us as close to its remarkable members as we are ever likely to get.' Joshua Levine, author of Dunkirk'In these days when we are told to be scared of everything it is a relief to read of steely nerves and cold courage. Damien Lewis has collected examples of exactly these qualities from World War II and they are all thrillers, to be read with pleasure - and a bit of nostalgia!' Frederick Forsyth'The fund of SAS escapes turns out to be too big for one book, and in Damien Lewis there is a writer of rare narrative gifts able to bring alive these epic stories for us today' Mark Urban'An astonishing book: a collection of truly riveting stories of bravery, all brilliantly told. In terms of sheer drama and audacity, SAS: Great Escapes Two goes where no fiction writer would dare venture' Alex Gerlis, author of Agent in the Shadows
SAS Great Escapes Two: Six Untold Epic Escapes Made by World War Two Heroes
by Damien Lewis'Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller' Lee ChildSAS Great Escapes Two recounts the hitherto untold stories of six of the most dramatic and daring escapes executed by the world's most famous fighting force during WWII. From the very earliest SAS missions to the push into Nazi-occupied Europe, they cover some of the key figures in the Regiment, including its founder, David Stirling, plus other lesser-known heroes.With each story comes an edge-of-the-seat, rollercoaster ride in classic Damien Lewis fashion, as readers are plunged into the escapees' experiences - sharing their most terrifying yet inspiring moments. These stunning accounts of survival beggar belief, revealing nerve-racking bluff and deception, knife-edge encounters with enemy hunter forces hellbent on wreaking vengeance and murder, but also incredible acts of mercy and kindness from those who risk all to help the escapees on their way. Each tale of breath-taking derring-do reveals how necessity really is the mother of all invention, as with every step and at every juncture these fugitives defied fate, snatching survival and freedom from the jaws of the enemy, and all the horrors that would have followed capture.Damien Lewis has worked closely with the families of those portrayed, accessing wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to relate how the men of the SAS crossed blazing deserts, evaded enemy hunter forces and escaped through hostile lands, battling against seemingly insurmountable odds. But most of all, these uplifting tales of endurance beyond measure showcase the triumph of the human spirit and the will to survive.'Damien Lewis paints a uniquely vivid picture of the wartime SAS. Packed with detail, this fresh and dynamic book brings us as close to its remarkable members as we are ever likely to get.' Joshua Levine, author of Dunkirk'In these days when we are told to be scared of everything it is a relief to read of steely nerves and cold courage. Damien Lewis has collected examples of exactly these qualities from World War II and they are all thrillers, to be read with pleasure - and a bit of nostalgia!' Frederick Forsyth'The fund of SAS escapes turns out to be too big for one book, and in Damien Lewis there is a writer of rare narrative gifts able to bring alive these epic stories for us today' Mark Urban'An astonishing book: a collection of truly riveting stories of bravery, all brilliantly told. In terms of sheer drama and audacity, SAS: Great Escapes Two goes where no fiction writer would dare venture' Alex Gerlis, author of Agent in the Shadows
SAS Insider: An elite SAS fighter on life in Australia's toughest and most secretive combat unit
by Robert Macklin Clint PalmerThe true story of Australia's SAS and the soldier who was there from the start.Clint Palmer has spent much of his adult life in the SAS and has fought in this elite military unit as it developed from its fledgling beginnings into the highly trained, specialised fighting force it is today. He is an insider with the long view and this is his unique story of life in the SAS.As a bush kid in the Northern Territory of Australia, growing up in a one dog mining town, Palmer?s best friends were mostly Aboriginal kids, and the outside world barely existed. But he always had one driving ambition - the army. Enduring the toughest of tough training, Palmer soon demonstrated his fighting capabilities and became part of the Australian SAS. So began almost thirty years of service.We go with him to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he is at the heart of some of the worst fighting in Operation Anaconda in the Shahi-Kot Valley in 2002. He lets us in on what it?s like to have made well over a thousand parachute jumps, many of them in terrible conditions and into treacherous terrain which may have ended not just his career but his life. And he shares with us how this adrenalin fuelled world has become a lifelong commitment.Palmer is the man who knows the Regiment almost better than anyone, so SAS Insider really is the inside story of the SAS - and a gripping account of one Australian soldier?s life at the sharp end.Robert Macklin is a well-known Australian biographer and historian with more than twenty books to his credit. His most recent books include ONE FALSE MOVE, DARK PARADISE and the bestselling SAS SNIPER which he co-wrote with Rob Maylor.
SAS South Georgia Boating Club: An SAS Trooper's Memoir and Falklands War Diary
by Tony ShawMany aspire to serve with the Special Air Service, arguably the world’s most prestigious regiment, but few achieve their aim. In this inspiring memoir the author describes how he left school without any qualifications and embarked on a 30 year career much of it spent in Hereford, including four years in ‘The Regiment’. Against the odds he rose through the ranks before being commissioned and eventually retiring as a Major. Initially attached to 22 SAS as a signaller, he volunteered for and passed ‘Selection’, the most gruelling and demanding of tests. He was posted to D Squadron Boat Troop with whom he saw active service in the Falklands War, Northern Ireland and the UK counter-terrorist team. Thanks to the diary he kept during the Falklands War, the reader is treated to a gripping first-hand account of the intense action that he and his colleagues experienced, including recces, diversionary attacks, raids and ambushes both on South Georgia and the Falklands Islands. Later he commanded the Royal Signals troop supporting D Squadron, 22 SAS before commissioning and later on pursuing a second career as a security consultant in various Middle Eastern hotspots. It is a privilege to read this commendably modest account of one man’s unique career which provides a fascinating insight into elite special forces soldiering.
SAS Trooper: Charlie Radford's Operations in Enemy-Occupied France and Italy
by Francis MackayA prewar Sapper, Charlie Radford served in North Africa until he returned to the UK for parachute training. He volunteered and joined 2 SAS in Scotland. His first operation was in France (Op RUPERT) cutting railway lines, and he then took park in Operation LOYTON, now in armed jeeps. His next assignment (Operation ZOMBIE) involved parachuting into the Italian Dolomites to disrupt the vital German link north of Verona between Italy and Austria.This operation ended in failure due to foolhardy leadership, inadequate manning and poor preparation. His OC was captured, tortured and executed but Charlie escaped to live with the partisans before being repatriated to the UK. After the war he returned to France to help with the exhumation and reburial of SAS men executed in the Vosges mountains. Postwar he served in Kenya and Somaliland and briefly recounts his experiences.
SAS: My Trial By Fire: True Stories and Life Lessons from SAS Selection
by Des PowellDes Powell left school with no qualifications and little in the way of formal education. At nineteen he signed up to join the Parachute Regiment.Famously, the Paras is home to the UK military's second-toughest training regime after the SAS. Des Powell knows all about both. In fact, Des knows SAS selection better than anyone because he's done it twice. In SAS: Trial by Fire he tells the story of those gruelling tests: how Para training turned him into a soldier but, more crucially, how the SAS process turned him into a member of the elite.Des describes exactly what it takes to be an elite special forces operator. From raw recruit to trained fighting machine - including the heart-breaking moment he was forced to withdraw, only to begin the process again - Des shares the details of his personal journey, itself a tale of prevailing against almost overwhelming odd. He teaches us valuable life skills by taking us deep into the training regime itself: fitness, navigation, endurance, weapons and combat training, survival techniques in hostile climates, the terrifying jungle phase, the dark arts of escape and evasion, the secret of surviving interrogation.No one's lifted the lid on what it takes to join the SAS and become the best of the best. Until now.Praise for Bravo Three Zero'A must read. Honesty, integrity and real experience that puts you in the thick of the action.' Billy Billingham'The story that needed to be told' Jason Fox'The attention to detail is unbelievable' Tim Lovejoy'Thrilling' Express