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The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior

Author:
Robert O'Neill
Read by:
Robert O'Neill
Read Read Own Own

Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
443
Narrator
67
Release Date
April 25, 2017
Duration
9 hours 42 minutes
Summary
This instant New York Times bestseller—“a jaw-dropping, fast-paced account” (New York Post) recounts SEAL Team Operator Robert O’Neill’s incredible four-hundred-mission career, including the attempts to rescue “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell and abducted-by-Somali-pirates Captain Richard Phillips, and which culminated in the death of the world’s most wanted terrorist—Osama bin Laden.

In The Operator, Robert O’Neill describes his idyllic childhood in Butte, Montana; his impulsive decision to join the SEALs; the arduous evaluation and training process; and the even tougher gauntlet he had to run to join the SEALs’ most elite unit. After officially becoming a SEAL, O’Neill would spend more than a decade in the most intense counterterror effort in US history. For extended periods, not a night passed without him and his small team recording multiple enemy kills—and though he was lucky enough to survive, several of the SEALs he’d trained with and fought beside never made it home.

“Impossible to put down…The Operator is unique, surprising, a kind of counternarrative, and certainly the other half of the story of one of the world’s most famous military operations…In the larger sense, this book is about…how to be human while in the very same moment dealing with death, destruction, combat” (Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author). O’Neill describes the nonstop action of his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, evokes the black humor of years-long combat, brings to vivid life the lethal efficiency of the military’s most selective units, and reveals details of the most celebrated terrorist takedown in history. This is “a riveting, unvarnished, and wholly unforgettable portrait of America’s most storied commandos at war” (Joby Warrick).
Reviews
Profile Avatar Anonymous Nov 2017

I could not stop listening to the book. The story was told well, entertaining and down right awesome. You will not be disappointed.

Profile Avatar Chris B Oct 2017

Excellent book, great narration., definitely worth the listen

Profile Avatar Laura S Aug 2017

This was an absolutely riveting book to listen to. I would love to meet Robert in person and say thank you. Navy SEALS are truly amazing people.

Profile Avatar Sgoen Feb 2025

Great book, i tend to fall asleep when I read. This book really kept my interest. Love it

Profile Avatar Super Sapper Dec 2023

I enjoyed this book!

Profile Avatar V J. Aug 2023

The author factually describes his career as a navy seal fighter. I've read lots of war themed books and I can say the book is unfortunately bland. I feel it could have featured more riveting combat and could be more technical with more details. It is enjoyable and an easy listen. Also I feel there is too much patriotism involved. Thank you for your service!

Profile Avatar Anonymous May 2023

Great book and narration.

Profile Avatar Adam H. May 2023

Great book

Profile Avatar Tony S. Oct 2022

Good listen, I was there working with in JSOC in Afghanistan. I’ve seen these play out and this brought back some good memories.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jun 2022

I loved the book, the author read it as if you were there with him, you can hear the recollection.

Profile Avatar Anthony E. May 2022

Exelent story , it pulls you inside the world of an operator and Seal Team 6 is like the MLB , NBA and NFL of war fighters . I've seen these gentlemen in action and they are the world's best at getting it done .

Profile Avatar Vinn Feb 2022

Love the author. Love that he read the audio book. Love everything about it. This book is the reason I started listening to audiobook. High praise and highly recommend

Profile Avatar Ed Griffin Jan 2022

Loved it start to finish

Profile Avatar Luke S. Dec 2020

Amazing story... great listen

Profile Avatar Anonymous May 2020

hunkydorie!!!!!

Profile Avatar Dan T. Sep 2019

Outstanding, and hard to turn off. Fast paced and action packed story of our nation's special warfare operators and their incredible service and sacrifice. God bless them all.

Profile Avatar Jodie L. May 2019

I couldn’t stop listening! Excellent book and narration. This is hands down the best Seal book I’ve ever read and I think I’ve read them all. Not to say that the other stories aren’t good but this was written from the heart and with pure honesty and told so well by the author that the story clearly unfolds in your mind and you develop a huge appreciation for what this man went through, all the highs and lows and the bittersweet ending of his career. That the government would allow the crappy treatment of these guys (he should have had his pension after all he endured and accomplished !! At the very least!) Just know that even if your country’s own government doesn’t appreciate you that people around the world do. You wiped out one of the most evil entities in history. Thanks to your courage and that of your team. I hope you have a great rest of your life. You deserve to be happy.

Profile Avatar Glenn S. Mar 2019

Listening again. Great book. O’neill Should narrate other people’s books. He is easy to listen to.

Profile Avatar Gary L. Feb 2019

This book started out slow with a lot of personnel back ground about the author and his life before joining the Navy. It takes a while before getting into the nitty gritty of substance of the book. His life as making it into the Seals. The prior missions he and his Seal Teams he was on and with prior to the big mission. I personally want to thank each and every man who becomes a Seal Team member. We as Americans should be extremely proud and hopeful thankful to have this fighting warriors as our best of the best. Thank You All for what you do for this nation and the sacrifices you and your families have to endure!!!

Profile Avatar Stephanie H. Nov 2018

This is a fantastic read. You won't want to put it down or turn it off.

Profile Avatar Anonymous May 2018

One of the best books I’ve ever read! Narration is phenomenal and so is the story.

Profile Avatar Chris W Apr 2018

Fantastic book!

Profile Avatar Jason O Feb 2018

Great book

Profile Avatar josh p Dec 2017

Great book!!.. O'Neil, gives us a great vision as to how hard, even after successfully finishing "Hell Week", it is to stay and be a Navy SEAL Operator. ..

Profile Avatar jennifer m Sep 2017

Unbelievable. What an honorable man and American!

Profile Avatar Jesse H Jun 2017

One of the best SEALs books out there. Thanks for your service Rob.

Profile Avatar Jeremy T Jun 2017

An amazing book and story that I'm glad was told. Thank you for your service!!

Profile Avatar Laurence K May 2017

Very interesting and some truly eye opening experiences. Being English I did cringe at times, however, I chose to read this book so I can't complain too much. I would listen to parts again, it truly is a fascinating account of what these guys sacrifice for what they and we perceive as the greater good, and who is to argue.

The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior

The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior

Author: Robert O'Neill
Read by: Robert O'Neill
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