Best Book I've Read This Year: Fearless

Recently, I was with a group of authors and book bloggers talking about—of course—books and this question came up:

What was the last book you read that made you cry?

I had a hard time answering. Really, I think it’s John Green’s latest, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, but that’s not really a surprise. It’s a stunningly smart book. Witty. Insightful. Both the main characters have cancer. You know what you’re walking into when you pick it up.

This week, however, I read one that had me crying hard at two o’clock in the morning.

The book is called FEARLESS and it moved me deeply. It’s not YA fiction—not even close. This is a biography of a Navy SEAL that I picked up after reading NO EASY DAY, which is the account of the Osama bin Laden raid. I’ve been on a little non-fiction kick. I write about heroic characters doing heroic things, but there are service men and women out there, in the military, law enforcement, firefighters, etc.—who are the real deal. After NO EASY DAY, I was hungry for more insight into the lives of these people, who inspire me with every small and great act of courage and selflessness.

I could tell you that FEARLESS is the story of a human being who was flawed and yet utterly extraordinary—but no matter what I say, it won’t really get that point across. It won’t portray the obstacles Navy SEAL Adam Brown overcame to become one of the most elite warriors in the United States military. It won’t show you how this man struggled more off the battlefield than he ever did on it—and triumphed. And it won’t describe to you how sad—how truly sad I am that we lost such an exceptional person in the line of duty.

A powerful book about the brotherhood of the SEALs. About faith. About love. About perseverance and honor and patriotism.

I almost want to assign it to you as required reading, but I will just firmly encourage you to pick it up. This is the kind of book that makes you want to become a better person.

And if you’re reading this and you happen to serve our country in the military, or in any branch of law enforcement:

Thank you.