Not a Good Day to Die, Sean Naylor
Not a Good Day to Die, Sean Naylor
9 Rating(s)
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Not a Good Day to Die
The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda

Author: Sean Naylor

Narrator: John Henry Cox

Unabridged: 19 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/01/2007

Synopsis

At dawn on March 2, 2002, America's first major battle of the twenty-first century began. Over two hundred soldiers of the 101st Airborne and Tenth Mountain Division flew into Afghanistan's Shah-i-Kot valley—and into the mouth of a buzz saw. They were about to pay a bloody price for strategic, high-level miscalculations that underestimated the enemy's strength and willingness to fight.Now, award-winning journalist Sean Naylor, an eyewitness to the battle, details the failures of military intelligence and planning and vividly portrays the astonishing heroism of these young, untested US soldiers. Denied the extra support with which they trained, these troops nevertheless proved their worth in brutal combat and prevented an American military disaster.

About Sean Naylor

Sean Naylor is a senior writer for the Army Times. He has covered the Afghan mujahideen’s war against the Soviets and American military operations in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He earned the White House Correspondents’ Association’s prestigious Edgar A. Poe Award for his coverage of Operation Anaconda. He lives in Washington, DC.

About John Henry Cox

John Henry Cox is an actor and voice-over artist with many film, television, theater, and audiobook credits to his name. He has worked at such notable theaters as Circle in the Square, Cherry Lane Theatre, and the Public Theatre, and he has appeared in numerous New York Shakespeare Theatre festival performances. His film credits include Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and The Siege with Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington, and Annette Bening.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Steve on January 13, 2012

Too many Chiefs... And definitely, due to micro-management of the battlefield, not enough of our Indians. Not a Good Day to Die, by Sean Naylor, is just a terrific battle-book. It's almost overwhelming in detail, but Naylor is a fine writer taking you, with effective prose, to the mountains of Afgha......more

Goodreads review by Naim on April 21, 2023

Sean Naylor has ways with word to make this chaotic operation grounded. Great explanation of why putting all your special forces into one giant basket doesn't necessary work.......more

Goodreads review by Oceana2602 on March 13, 2011

Sean Naylor has an amazing talent for describing details. I now know the personality of each of the 1700 US troops involved in Operation Anaconda, when they first met each other, and what their first dogs were called. Also, what they had for breakfast. On every single day of the mission. Well, I supp......more

Goodreads review by Evan on February 15, 2020

I finished "Alone at Dawn" a few weeks ago and read this to find out more about the operation where John Chapman died. The book is fairly exhaustive, I think, with respect to the planning the lead up to the operation and what happened in the first few days. Unfortunately, I thought the writing was h......more

Goodreads review by Jack on September 03, 2017

Well written with significant inputs from the men on the ground. Anaconda was the first action for us in a generation. Elite us Airborne, Ranger, Delta, SEAL, SAS, and not-so-elite Afghans moved into the Shahikot valley expecting Al Qaeda to surrender after realizing they were hopelessly surrounded.......more

Quotes

“If you liked Black Hawk Down, you’ll not be disappointed by Not a Good Day to Die…Extraordinary.” New York Post

“Naylor does an admirable job of exposing the many shortcomings that plagued this chapter of the Afghanistan war.” Washington Post

“Meticulously reported.” Oregonian (Portland, OR)

“Naylor’s excellent reporting—with detailed attribution—unveils a system that clearly failed to give American soldiers the equipment and help they deserved to save their own lives and take those of the enemy. Anybody who is thinking of joining the military, has family in uniform, or is concerned about what happens to America’s soldiers should read [this book].” Cleveland Plain Dealer

“The best full-scale history of Operation Anaconda to date.” Booklist

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