Suffer in Silence [Hardcover]

David Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

It the pivotal test faced by every Navy SEAL: 120 sleepless hours of relentless physical punishment, interrupted only by hypothermia-inducing surf torture. Ensign Grey thought he knew what to expect, but when Seaman Murray attempts to blackmail an instructor who is determined to see him fail, Hell Week takes on a new meaning. With deteriorating health and a dangerous enemy in hot pursuit, the two unlikely friends struggle to survive. What happens in the darkness at the edge of the Pacific will change their lives forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a rarely seen insider's persective of BUD/S... [Reid has a] gift for relating anecdotal humor and pathos. -- Georgetown Law Weekly, March 22, 2005

Suffer in Silence is thoughtful, fearsomely honest, and expertly crafted -- a genuine triumph. -- Midwest Book Review, February 1, 2005

The ocean doesn't discriminate. Eventually, it pushes everyone to the limit. Reid's riveting account of SEAL training is exhibit "A". -- Chris Mauro, editor, SURFER Magazine

About the Author

The author completed all of First Phase, including Hell Week, while serving as an officer and boat crew leader at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S). He began writing Suffer in Silence shortly after leaving the Silver Strand, resulting in an unprecedented, raw look at the agonizing journey that every sailor must complete before he can call himself a SEAL.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589396499
• ISBN-13: 978-1589396494
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,827,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking read, couldn't put it down, May 23, 2005

By 

haoxiong (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suffer in Silence (Paperback)

I decided to read this book because I had a friend that went through SEAL training. I was always curious about his experience. I got much more than I bargained for, inspiring me to write my first amazon review. Starting to read the book was like stepping into a roller coaster - once on, I couldn't step off till the ride was over! I was in the world... to the point where I was shivering every time they got surf torture.

After finishing Suffer in Silence, I was pretty disturbed. I couldn't believe that anyone (let alone anyone I knew) could/would go through this kind of experience. I asked my friend about his SEAL experience, specifically about the interaction with the instructors. He was surprised at what I knew, and pretty much confirmed that the kind of stuff portrayed in Suffer in Silence really happens. When I told him that I got the info from a book, he said that he wished he had read it to be able to mentally prepare himself before he had gone!

I feel pretty lucky to have had such a window into a world that I could otherwise never know, and I'm grateful for the new sense of connection that I feel with my friend. An outstanding book on every level!!

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on, April 27, 2007

By 

Smithy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suffer in Silence (Paperback)

I did 12 years in the Teams, and I didn't want to like this book. There are just way too many books on SEALs out there. Didn't think the author could add much of value. I was wrong. Don't be mistaken. This book is not fiction. Yes, the characters have made-up names. Yes, the ending is clearly meant to entertain. Everything else is right on, and is as real as I've read. Reading the book brought me back a dozen years. This will give anyone a real sense of what BUD/S is like, fictional characters or not. Overall, impressive read.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, July 2, 2005

By 

elaine (san francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suffer in Silence (Hardcover)

Reid's Suffer in Silence is riveting from cover to cover. It's raw and intense, and rings of authenticity. It will give pause to anyone contemplating the agony of BUDS program, but incite and inspire those as focused and masochistic (self-declared by the author) as Reid. The details of the story are exhaustive, and the rhythm of the book follows the undulations of the long, sleepless nights of the Hell Week experience, leaving the reader spent by the end of the book and craving for deeply needed sleep (or just a nice afternoon nap, as in my case-- of course, after I finished the book!). Though portraying experiences that push the limits of human endurance, and offering a glimpse into a (sometimes dark) mindset and world far from most of our comprehensions, Suffer in Silence succeeds in also being fun and engaging... a great read.