Immediate Action

I have always been fascinated by the various Special Forces. I had heard about Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero and when I saw that this book is about his days in the SAS I decided to give it a try. Written in simple language and liberally interspersed with soldier’s lingo, this book chronicles his early days as a “juvenile delinquent”, his service as a “Green Jacket” in the infantry, his obsession with the Regiment (SAS) and what grueling tests and training people undergo for the privilege [...]

Special Forces ever since I came to understand them has been a source of fascination for me. The fact that a handful of soldiers could inflict deeper damage into ant enemy's heart than a conventional military force is nothing sort of a brilliant albeit successful idea. I had heard of McNab from the Bravo Two Zero legend (which interestingly i am yet to read) and Immediate Action was in fact called a stepping stone for B2Z. The book sketches the career of McNab from the time when he was a juvenil [...]

As realistic an account of real life pre his selection for the SAS as you're ever likely to get in an autobiography, every word making you realise the day to day existence of someone brought up in the 60s and 70s in Britain.The stories of selection make you exhausted just reading them and the missions are as non glamorous as you could possibly imagine. This is not the world of James Bond or John Wayne.I really enjoyed reading this, as you can probably tell, by the fact it only took three days to [...]

Loved it!!Although I was never in the Regiment, I did serve in the infantry around the same time as the author and as you would expect with a diminishing list of destinations at that time, served in almost all of the locations described in the book.I guess this was the main reason I found this book so compelling and identified with it so well.

Given the subject matter--an autobiography of an SAS soldier up to Desert Storm--you would expect one of two things: a) insightful commentary about the SAS, its methods, its role in the world, and it's interrelationship with Thatcherian policies, or b) a great escapist thriller with lots of action, whether interpersonal or military.Given the lurid cover Bantam/Dell gave the mass market edition ("The explosive true story" "The controversial book the British government tried to suppress!" "Dares t [...]

I find with Andy McNab’s books that on average I enjoy every other one. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of the books that I enjoyed. The last one I read by McNab prior to this was ‘Bravo Two Zero’ which I thought was fantastic. Although a lot of reader think that the authors writing style adds to the authenticity of his books, I don’t think it lends itself particularly well to this autobiography. I felt that some of the operations weren’t described in any detail, which is unusual for a [...]

this book reveals that even killer elite squads like the Regiment are afraid of a hippopotamus.

Fascinating insight into a life in secrecy and adventure well worth the read

The follow-up to "Bravo Two Zero", "IA" provides more background into McNab's SAS career.

McNab ci fa vivere la sua esperienza nei SAS ai quattro angoli del mondo, sempre là dove l'atmosfera è più incandescente

CAPOLAVORO. Anzichè Tom Clancy che al massimo avrà fatto il militare 40-50 anni fa McNab, che è stato un grande soldato, superspecializzato e superaddestrato, racconta la sua storia nei Sas (ma non la fine, il libro finisce con la partenza in Iraq dove comincia la sua avventura + difficile, raccontata in Pattuglia Bravo Two Zero) in modo perfetto, ironico, molto dettagliato, avvincente. Ogni pagina del libro è farcita d'azione e di tipica ironia inglese e ci fa immaginare di essere lì con l [...]

Great insight on how the training is for the SAS commando. Great book with many details and the struggle to finish one of the hardest trainings in the world.

This is a memoir that shows that even the author can find it difficult to find any redeeming features about themselves! This work by Andy McNab reveals, with brutal honesty, what an unpleasant, dishonest young person he was - the kind of youth we cross roads to avoid. More, he exhibits an egocentricity ruling his life for many years that many will find extremely unattractive. Indeed, apart from very rare hints of a better nature, it's not until the last moments of the book that he suggests that [...]

Published after Bravo Two Zero, in IMMEDIATE ACTION McNab takes us back to his early life. He starts, albeit briefly, with being raised by his adoptive parents after being found as a baby on the steps of Guy's Hospital.In McNab's very matter of fact style he relates how, as a juvenile delinquent, he decided he had a choice between jail and a nothing much of a life, and the Army. After fighting against the IRA in South Armagh McNab decides that the SAS is where he wants to be and he goes in for " [...]

Mr McNab could be an ideal neighbour. Some years among SAS troops, an autobiography. Who joins the Regiment (hungry orphans, angry young boys, white trash and eccentric or particular people); what the Regiment does (everything but flying planes or floating ships); when they need to be fit and ready for action: immediately; how heavy and tough their drill is (as tough as hell). Where: Brunei, Malaysia, Ulster, Oman, Belize, Botswana, UK, Beirut, Colombia, Iraqi desert. Unexpectedly, weaponry is n [...]

Good book, however I had to learn all new words to understand what he was talking about. I served in the armed forces, and the jargin is entirely different. When I began to read the book I was having to read paragraphs twice to understand what exactly was going on. The author did attempt to explain some of the terms, and how things relate to American English. One of the quotes on the exterior of the book said in essence that the government tried to suppress the release of this book. I kept looki [...]

Leggere "Azione immediata" è stato come sedersi al bar con uno sconosciuto,ma che ti sembra di conoscere da sempre.Ti racconta gli aneddoti della sua vita. Solo che invece che aneddoti soporiferi,di cui non te ne può fregare una mazza,questo ti racconta di quella volta che era di pattuglia in Irlanda dove i soldati inglesi saltavano per aria cercando di togliere bandiere dalle aste.Oppure ti racconta dell'addestramento, di marce di 60km in un bosco con un freddo cane o di quando si trovò ad a [...]

Interesting topic lines but not necessarily the best writing. A lot of time spent in the minute details which if combined with a wider perspective, i.e. the politics of the events, may have added to the readers enjoyment. There was probably a fair amount of editing that occured as a result of the potentially sensitive material and I am sure that the author was writing with this possible sensorship in mind as well as the fact that he would not want to compromise past present and future regiments [...]

Un libro davvero incredibile. L'autobiografia di un agente del SAS, dalle incredibili prove affrontate per superare la selezione iniziale alla descrizione di varie missioni compiute in giro per il mondo nel corso degli anni. McNab racconta il tutto in modo molto interessante, senza spacconerie e con una certa ironia. Questi uomini sono delle macchine da guerra, preparate ed addestrate fino ai minimi dettagli sono anche un pò fanatici.

An impressive biography from a writer who - by his own admission - couldn't read or write particularly well until his adult years. McNab is an easy read, with a loose and informal style that means the pages turn quickly. McNab has led an interesting life and he relates the highlights (and lowlights) with characteristic honesty.

I know for a lot people Andy McNab is their initiation into the special forces world and therefore, there first love. And I respect that. He is not that for me. I will say his writing has a quick paced, adventurous style that mirrors his life and is impressive to read. But I do feel like there is something lacking. I just can't put my finger on it. It could be depth or introspection.

Lots of acronyms to go with the action in this book. I could have done without the intelligence officers being called 'slime' every time. Once for verisimilitude would have been enough. However I did enjoy it and found it amazing that so many men actually want to be in the SAS and put themselves in harm's way - with absolutely no voice in where they go or when.

Very descriptive analysis of the selection process and the counter terrorist methodology in eliminating opponents (very useful in mock trial criminal self-defense claims). Also has recollections from the British Special Air Service incursions, against the IRA, in Belfast.

senz'altro uno dei migliori di Andy nde chiaramente il senso dell'azione e della preparazione dei SASr soli amatori, agli altri i particolari tecnici e dell'azione potrebbero stufareodotto di settore

I had read some really great reviews of Andy McNab books, but was really disappointed with this particular one. The paragraphs jumped ahead in the narrative so much that it was jarring and confusing.I gave up about 82 pages from the end. I'll try his other books next.

Interesting look at the making of a warrior and how he is used. Also a disturbing commentary on the choices of what others do with their training. Is it the rush, making a living, greed, wanderlust, death wish? Who can tell.

Massive McNab fan but got bored with this book and gave up 3/4s of the way through.arted reading seven troop and the 1st 100 pages of that seem to be the same as what was mentioned in immediate action

Super fast and funny narrative of an elite member of the royal british armyIn this book Mcnab shows the human face of soldiers and the personal problems that they have to be ready to face in order to have a military career. I only wonder if the cost worths it

James here again. Read this book to learn all about the secret world of the SAS the masters of CQB. Fun to read and amazing that people are alive to tell the tell. Jason Bourne is fiction. Andy McNab and his team of SAS guys are real.

First modern [non-WW2] book on SAS that I have read. Gripping tale of SAS operators and their actions worldwide. As it is always the case with this sort of history books do not expect that all secrets of the trade will be revealed.