I recieved this book shortly after it became availible. I've used numerous workout programs (including military training) and this one looks to be the best by far. LT Smith's 12 week program from his previous book put me in the best shape of my life and I can't wait to see the results once I'm done with this program. The 4 phase structure varies the workouts so you don't get bored with the program and every day is a bigger challenge than the day before. Outstanding book for those wanting to become a SEAL or just get into great shape.

An EXCELLENT fitness work! REVOLUTIONARY, Must Have!!!

This book is designed for ANY person of ANY athletic ability including FEMALES that want to be in the best overall shape possible. Whether you are a lifter, runner, swimmer, cyclist, PT-er, or neither you will gain valuable insight into your field and into the benefits of CROSS TRAINING. It is a scientific and fun 52-week program that will allow you to be as fit as a Navy SEAL and revolutionize your understanding of fitness. These are the same workouts that he used to train candidates who successfully completed Navy SEAL training.

The workouts and techniques can be modified to your level, even if you cannot do a single pushup, pullup, or dip. However, it can also be more challenging than Mr. Smith's 12 week Navy SEAL workout. MALE or FEMALE, this will allow you to perform several pullups or complete a TRIATHLON. I definately recommend purchasing this book if you are interested in being seriously fit and looking good.

I have seen dramatic results both in myself and in many other people.

Good Luck!

Maximum Fitness is a complete reference of well researched and time proven strategies to help anyone, regardless of fitness level, reach their maximum potential.

The workouts are based on a novel crosstraining approach. This approach incorporates calisthenics, weight training, swimming, biking, running, stretching and innovative time saver workouts one can perform anywhere and still maintain peak physical condition.

Mr. Smith's detailed and inspirational descriptions of the exercises, coupled with expertly photographed segments, produces a fine reference that the novice will easily comprehend. Also, the expert will be challenged like never before - try running three miles followed by swimming, abdominal, and chest exercises for thirty minutes, and then another three mile run! Maximum fitness in the only result!

Maximum Fitness is like having a personal trainer next to you during your workout 52 weeks a year. I have had a private lesson with Stew Smith recently and I can attest to his depth of knowledge, and sincerity with which he wants us all to reach maximum fitness.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. It told you all about the equipment and gave you examples of when they would use them. It also told you a lot of missions the SEALS did in Vietnam and lessons SEALS learned from them. It did get a little boring toward the end but it was still one of the best books.

I have read several in the SPECOPs genre, among them the excellent works by Douglas Walker, and also by D.Marcinko. I thought I'd share some concrete reasons why this is one of the best book on the US Navy SEALS I've come across. Gary Stubblefield has written a well informed analysis of present day SEAL teams. He describes in detail the methods emplyed by the teams, and backs them up with his concrete experience in Vietnam, or with stories from his fellow SEALs. You are taken into the jungle to witness a SEAL ambush, or a ship takendown in Panama harbor. Stubblefield gives an authoritative assesment of present day SEAL strengths and weaknesses. His anecdotes and obvious experience gives an unprecedented complete view into the Naval Special Warfare community.

I have recently become interested in the SEALs, as their dedication, skill, and responsibility continue to astound me with every book I read; Mr. Stubblefield has provided us civilians an excellent understanding of who these people are and what they're up against (hostile or otherwise).

The book is written somewhat as a collection of notes discussing various topics regarding the SEALs... Perhaps I'm being overly critical, as I personally found this "style" to be somewhat confusing as topics would seem to wander a bit; but the format was quite approachable and well written.

When I purchased "The Defiant Hero", I really wasn't expecting to like it(me not being a big fan of action, shoot em' up types of novels). The book was much more than I expected it to be. In fact, the next in the series is at the top of my reading list. If I'm not mistakened it's entitled "Over the Edge".

The "The Defiant Hero" actually involves three stories in one, with approximately six main characters. One story(the main one) involves Navy SEAL, John Nilsson and Meg Moore, the woman with whom he fell in love a few years earlier, but couldn't have. Meg and John(Nils) are brought together again when her daughter, Amy, and grandmother, Eve, are kidnapped by foreign terrorists. John wants to make sure he doesn't lose Meg a second time as she makes every attempt, by risking her own life, to save that of her daughter. Out of desperation, Meg is beyond reason and is willing to do whatever it takes to get Amy back, and Nils is more than prepared to make sure she doesn't make herself the sacrificial lamb, even if he has to die doing so.

The second story taking place was my favorite and is why I loved the book. It involves the beautiful, biracial FBI agent, Alyssa Locke and handsome Navy SEAL, Sam Starrett. Sam and Alyssa met during a previous mission, and have decided that each doesn't like the other. Their paths cross again when they're forced to work together to try and rescue those being held. The sexual tension between these two is working overtime. Alyssa sees Sam as nothing more than a chauvinistic male racist, while he 'seemingly' views her as a stuck up sexual object. Through the strangest of circumstances, sparks start to fly, something Sam had been secretly hoping for all along. Alyssa, on the other hand, isn't so willing to form any type of relationship with Sam, to his dismay.

In reality, these two individuals are really into each other, yet they don't realize it. I found this part of the book to be the most enjoyable. It was not only romantic, but funny as well. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at Sam and Alyssa. I can't wait to read Over the Edge, Brockmann's continuation of the series. In that book the story of these two complicated people continues.

There is a third story which involves the grandmother's retrospective of her earlier life as told to Amy and one of the kidnappers. This one, I didn't like. There didn't seem to be a need for it, especially with the other two stories being so well written. I found myself rushing through this part to get to the other two(Starrett and Locke's especially).

I've read most of Ms. Brockmann's books (Heartthrob, Bodyguard, etc.) and have to admit I've enjoyed them all. This one is a little wordy in the beginning while she introduces you to characters who appeared in The Unsung Hero (****), but then it takes off. I would read The Unsung Hero first so that you are familiar with the great characters Ms. Brockmann has created for her SEAL series. This book is unique in that we have two and one-half love stories going at the same time. It works!! The one-half is to be continued in her next book which I will definitely order. The Defiant Hero is sure to entertain you. Plus, it's the older woman/younger man scenario. Being an older woman, I LOVE IT! I've just started "Going Overboard" by Christine Skye, which also involves a hunky SEAL (although I think this story is going to be lighter than Brockmann's), so if you have a thing for the strong macho type, you might want to check it out.

Suzanne Brockmann is the only author I know who can successfully weave three sub-plots into one novel and give each the attention it deserves. Even more impressive, she makes the reader care about each sub-plot. The book starts off with a bang when Meg Moore is informed that her daughter and grandmother have been kidnapped by Kazbekistani extremists. They want Meg to kill or bring them a K-stani terrorist in exchange for the lives of her family. Faced with impossible choices, Meg asks for help from Navy SEAL John Nilsson, a man with whom she has a complicated past. At the same time, Meg's grandmother, Eve, keeps her granddaughter, Amy, from being afraid by telling her about the first love of her life in the days before Britain's involvement in WWII. Adding spice to the mix, Brockmann reintroduces Navy SEAL Sam Starrett and once Navy now FBI agent, Alyssa Locke, two adversaries who are wildly attracted despite tremendous differences. The book is fast-paced, the dialogue is crisp and resonates with authenticity, the characters all compelling. Bring on the next one in this fantastic series, Suzanne!

An all to brief account of a "lifer" navy seal and special warfare operator. From Vietnam to Lebanon and from Panama to Central America, Walsh was there. Big gaps in the time line and only one "war story" per deployment. Very opionnated and not afraid to tell it lke it was. For all his time in the service of Uncle Sam, I'm sure the book could have been two or three times longer on the page count. Mr. Walsh, if you read this, please begin work on Vol. 2. A good companion book to D. Young's THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, Navy Seal's in Vietnam

This is a story tellers book. Mr. Walsh has 26 years of incredible experiences to tell. He has been to hell and back, but at all times he succeeds in keeping his feet on the ground. Not even a book so honest and to-the-point as this can tell the real warriors story. The experience of combat and war can not be described in words. But Michael Walsh does it anyway. And very well, too. We read about his life during 26 years of naval special warfare - the life of a man who took his job very, very seriously. The North Vietnamese had a ransom on him, but if they had known who they were dealing with it would have been multiplied several times. Mr. Walsh covers the 26 years with a good personal pen, not afraid to be emotional. He does not need bravado to tell his story. It comes with little words that hang in there for you to think about. And the humor which is so important for spec warriors. After reading his book, I think I understand the tremendous sacrifices he gave - the risk, the dedication, the hardship, the loyalty to buddies and unit. I am truly impressed. I know that Mr. Walsh has skipped many good stories from his years as a SEAL. Some of them you can find in Greg Walkers "In the Hurricane's Eye" where he describes some of Mr. Walsh's rock solid personality in some very amusing and well-told stories. As another reader said: If you read this, Michael Walsh, please start volume 2. There's room for a lot more of this kind. Jan Holm

The story of an extraordinary man doing his daily job. This book provides insight into the elite fighting groups who defend our freedom. Included in this book are various pictures of Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Walsh, USN, who is now retired. If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes, behind the news stories, read it.

Author Darryl Young takes you from day one. His time in Nam is documented and tranformed into a story that is easy to understand and relate to. This book blew me away. Anyone with an interest in Nam would absolutley love it. It is a book I will keep forever!!

This was my first book that I had ever read that involved Navy SEALs in Vietnam and it hit me like a shock wave. This book is full of action, emotion, and spirit that makes this book reach another level. This book inspired me to read more Navy SEAL books and to join the TEAMs after highschool. HOO YAH!!!

Being a great fan of military books I was suprised to find out the vivid accounts of Darryl Young, and his accounts of war in Vietnam. I also enjoyed his boot camp stories. Especially the one where they cheated and sat up on the hill and waited for everyone else to arrive. But when they went across the finish line, the course had been changed. So they got in a lot of trouble with their DIs. I enjoyed his writings of the silent waiting. I also enjoyed his writings of his accounts with the VC and NVA. I would reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in the SEALs and their role in the Vietnam war.

Speaking as a former member of the military i can tell you that this book tells it like it is. Unlike some of the other books of this type where the author either A: is a reporter and never served in the military or B: The author thinks that he is the best that ever was and that he was never afraid. The B type are usually entertaining but not very real. This is a great daily account of Gary's 1st tour in Vietnam. He tells it like it is from the rides to town through sniper fire to get a beer to the death the he caused and witnessed in the jungle. I have read many books about the Navy Seals both A and B versions and in my opinion this book is in a class by itself.

This book was one of the best books I've read about the Navy SEALs in combat. The author did a good job in letting his audience know what he was feeling at the time. Yeah, the missions got a little repetitive, but that's life, thing get repeated. This wasn't some fiction book where the author could make every mission different from the others. Overall I think the book did about as good a job as any book could do to show people what being a SEAL was like.

This is one of the best books I have ever read about the Vietnam War. It is given first-hand by a Navy SEAL. Gary holds nothing back in this book, he honestly shares his thoughts and feelings about situations that he finds himself in. This book made me laugh and cry and very angry with the VC. I have never read a book as well written as this, it's the kind of book that one can't put down once you start reading it!

Kathryn Harrison's The Seal Wife is quite an intense read. It is the story of Bigelow Greene, a young man who moves to Alaska in 1915 to establish a weather station. He becomes obsessed with a silent Aleut woman he becomes sexually involved with and when she mysteriously disappears, his world, and perhaps his sanity begin to crumble. He becomes involved with another silent woman and his simple life grows more and more complex. The brutal Alaskan landscape serves as an excellent backdrop for this novel and its language. The Seal Wife is certainly not for the faint of heart--Bigelow is obsessed with sex and Harrison is not afraid to delve deeply into that obsession. If you can take that, try this intense read. It's hard to put down.

Kathryn Harrison, author of "The Kiss" and "The Binding Chair," underscores her reputation as a writer of compelling fiction with this tale of passion and obsession on the desolate Alaskan frontier. Fred Stella provides a superior reading.

It is 1915 when Bigelow, a young scientist, is dispatched to build a weather observatory in Anchorage. He is optimistic and enthusiastic, little realizing what life will be like in an arctic railroad town peopled by men and precious few women. The nights are endless and lonely.

Before long he is held sway by a seemingly unknowable woman, Aleut. She is not his only obsession - he designs a kite intended to fly higher than any kite has ever flown.

Harrison's recreation of an icy landscape in all its beauty and danger is spectacular. Stella's reading illuminates that world and her words.

- Gail Cooke

Kathryn Harrison's THE SEAL WIFE is far and away her finest work, and one of the finest works of fiction published this year. Written in a very spare style, Harrison doesn't waste a word, a paragraph or a chapter in telling this story of a US government scientist sent to the wilds of Alaska in 1915. Bigelow's assignment is to map the weather patterns of the area, where railroads and infrastructure are to be built, extracting the riches of gold, furs and other precious commodities. Bigelow embarks upon an ambitious quest to construct the biggest kite known, which will aid him in understanding the changeable nature of the region's weather. The kite itself becomes a metaphor for a man's quest for unattainable love, his desire to conquer nature, and the consequences of reaching too far outside one's known experiences in life.

Bigelow has three relationships through the course of the story: one with the kite, which consumes not only his intellect and emotions, but great periods of his time every day; a physical and strangely emotionally distant relationship with an Aleut woman whose name and background he never knows fully. Thirdly, he has another physical and highly emotional liaison with a young woman who communicates only through song.

Harrison's descriptions of the Alaskan frontier with all its vastness, great white blankets of snow and ice, and the long stretches of light and darkness bring the reader into Bigelow's setting like no other novel I can remember.

THE SEAL WIFE is the finest example of the novelist's craft! I would really, really like to see her write into a screenplay. This is a story of great drama veiled by the whiteness of Alaska, and the loneliness of a man's soul. Beautifully done, Kathryn Harrison!!

I've been a Firefighter for 15 years and even though it can be physically demanding I had no idea just how out of shape I've gotten over the years. I learned this when I tried out this book. I'm well on my way to getting back into tip-top shape after starting the Navy Seal workout. If you want a true FITNESS workout than this is the book for you. Forget about all those goofy workout videos on TV, they can't hold a candle to this workout. Just make sure you read the entire book before starting out(it won't take long due to the education and enjoyment you receive from reading it!) I read the book then started their suggested workout plan and over time have improved to the next level. Oh!...and I feel great and have much more energy too! If you truly want to be FIT! ...then buy this book...nuff said!

Guys Look no futher. Wether you are military personel, or a civilian wanting to get fit. This is the book. It has detailed step-by-step instructions and illustrations of all the PT exercises Navy SEAL's do including advantages and disadvantages as well information about the teams history reputation, nutrition information and psychological aspects of the training. The book also has the official training PT schedule(program) in detail undertaken by SEAL's to acheive Navy SEAL fitness which will enable you too to achieve SEAL fitness standards. The book is very complete and concise and a must for anyone wanting to achieve Navy SEAL fitness Standards.

This is possibly the best book currently available on the US Navy SEAL's physical training program.

As an introductory text, it is thoruogh and concise telling the reader exactly how to perform the exercise, what muscles it'll benefit and warnings to make sure that no injuries follow from using bad form. Plenty of good illustrations and a straight forward text makes this an pleasant and informative read. Both the novice and experienced reader will be able to find a challeging work-out in this book.

With advise on running, underwater swimming and mortivation, the prospective BUD/S student will find this book indespensible.

I think this Book was really well written. It is not for people who want to know about the Navy, but more for people who just want to know about Navy SEALs. It goes in good detail about the SEALs and talks a lot about Weapons, Missions, History, BUD/S Training, and what it is like to be a SEAL. I enjoyed it and I think it educated me a lot about SEALs. It's not a book with a story in it but a book for you to understand what exactly Navy SEALs are and do. If you are a big fan of SEALs this may be the book for you because of it's Details.

My goal in life is to become a navy SEAL and I found this book holds a ton of info about the SEALs their weapons and missions

This book has the most exstensive review on the Navy SEALs I've ever read. Goes into complete, but not overly technical detail on weapons, missions, training, and history. The book is also funny, and the author makes it fun to read. I want to be a SEAL someday, and this is just what I needed to find out just exactly what I'd be dealing with. A great book for any SEAL enthueists.