Immediate Action

By: Andy McNab

Narrated by: Paul Thornley

Immediate Action is a no-holds-barred account of an extraordinary life, from the day Andy McNab was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital to the day he went to fight in the Gulf War.

As a delinquent youth he kicked against society. As a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS Regiment he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years - on five continents.

Recounting with grim humour and in riveting, often horrifying, detail his activities in the world's most highly trained and efficient Special Forces unit, McNab sweeps us into a world of surveillance and intelligence-gathering, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.

There are casualties: the best men are so often the first to be killed, because they are in front.

By turns chilling, astonishing, violent, funny and moving, this blistering first-hand account of life at the forward edge of battle confirms Andy McNab's standing in the front rank of writers on modern war.

©1995 Andy McNab (P)2015 Random House Audiobooks

Believable and unglorified.

McNab didn’t place him self as Rambo. In fact
focused more on blending in and pondering home life. Still, great action chapters and great development of the places & people he would go.

Honest

Honest, humble recount of a stellar career of service. Not the typical false bravado and hey look what I did, well done.

Keeps you listening

You can't beat a great biography, after BTZ it filled in the gaps regarding his childhood and how he entered the SAS, a great listen.

Magnificent

For any fan of Special Operations, this book is a must read. It's threaded with bits of golden wisdom from a man who exemplifies a genuine warrior. There's no false bravado or swaggering throughout. It's a lucid view of the SAS selection and why they are the most elite and elusive operating force on the globe.

Britz sure have a lot of colorful language

McNabb writes a very thrilling account of what it is to serve in the regiment (special airborne services). From selection to training to operational events across the water, the reader learns to appreciate how incredibly capable and courageous the soldiers are. The book is a bit long but a good read.

excellent listen.

This is an outstanding book all around. I was never bored and enjoyed every minute of it. the narration is spot on and really sends it.

This was a boring narative

What disappointed you about Immediate Action?

Far too much detail about the hour by hour life of Andy. Different assignment, same details over and over.

What could Andy McNab have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Immediate Action leads a person to believe that there will be action.

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Thornley’s performances?

Not sure.

Meh

This was really disappointing, especially as I am a huge fan of this genre.
I found large parts of the book to be very slow and filled with juvenile and not particularly funny anecdotes.
Great men and an outstanding force, but you wouldn’t really know it from this book in my opinion.

Very Disappointed

What disappointed you about Immediate Action?

I was very much looking forward to read about life in the SAS however I was very disappointed with this book. I can best summarise it as follows - first bit interesting and from then on waffle, waffle, padding, padding, waffle, waffle, padding, padding.

Would you ever listen to anything by Andy McNab again?

Nope .....