First Man In: Leading from the front. An inspiring Sunday Times bestselling memoir of personal growth and elite special forces training

Wow! First of all I don’t read a lot of books but this one caught my eye. This is one of the only books I’ve read cover to cover and there are so many reasons for this. Firstly the experiences Ant shares are remarkable and so relateable when you convert it into a more civilised situation we see day to day in our lives. Ant also explains the leadership lessons in further detail to help get through to the reader exactly what he means. This makes it a lot more readable for anybody. The book is so motivational it’s incredible, it has helped me in many ways already by taking a moment to think about situations and dealing properly to different scenarios. His approach is clever on how he achieves his mindset and I am so grateful he has shared this as it truly has helped. I 100% believe everyone needs to read this. It isn’t a book based entirely on his military background and instead gives a full story of his life and about him growing up and growing into a leader. He has inspired me.

Wow! This book is more that I expected. I became a fan of Ant via the TV show SAS - Who Dares Wins. Frankly I’m a total addict. After reading this my respect for this amazing man is very high. Readers will be surprised and possibly opinions changed once gearing his story from childhood to date. This is a book that would inspire anyone and it is very motivational. Ant is honest about his journey from starting in the army, fight to become a Paratrooper and his career as a leader in the SBS (Special Boat Service. He was in the SBS, not the SAS. We form opinions of others and for me this book changed mine of him. It’s written in an entertaining, fascinating to read style. A good book for young men who are possibly going down the wrong path or those who have been and live with guilt. With details of specific dangerous missions to his love of his family and desire to help others reach their best it’s an awesome read. Recommended for males and females. There is lots to learn from this man. I’m so inspired I’ve got tickets for November 2020 to hear him live on my birthday! A great book for yourself or someone you love. I guarantee things will surprise you!

A good read and worth buying. Respect to this man who has turned his life around and turned his negative energy into positive action. His life could have been very different... If you’ve taken the trouble to read this review and are seriously considering buying this book, then buy it. It is exactly as described and is an interesting and enjoyable read. It is quite a quick and easy read, but this is not a criticism. Do not expect great wisdom, but there is much truth, which is helpful in all areas of life. Some of Ant’s opinions on leadership might resonate with leaders in various fields, but a leadership manual this is not. Furthermore, readers expecting great tales of military daring-do will be disappointed (there are other books out there for the SF/military wannabe). However, as a cautionary tale about the consequences of failing to control anger and aggression it is helpful indeed. Ant’s wise words regarding society’s intolerance of aggression and violence are also worth noting for the young and/or testosterone-fuelled. I mean this kindly. Congratulations Ant Middleton and thank you for sharing your life and insights with us. I hope you will publish more of your memoirs, which I (and no doubt many others) would enjoy reading. I feel that you have more stories to tell...

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting. The most intriguing part of this book is the mind set of Ant. The absolute ability to focus, ignore the pain, the negative and to switch it off. Where he cannot use the energy is a positive way, he learns from it. There is so much in this book, I suspect a lot of people will not see it the first time of reading. A book I will read again and again. At the end of the book I thought what he says should be available to all people and especially younger people. Therefore I was delighted to discover some books aimed at a younger audience due for release this year. I will definitely read books by Ant both non fiction and fiction. Recommended.

After watching a few tv shows with Ant in it I was interested to see what his writing would be like. To my surprise (and I shouldn't of judged in the first place) this book is written and constructed very well. Flows well and reads great! Whilst its limited into what you can fit in a 300 page book this gave a great insight into ants life and how he became the man he is today. Really quite interesting as its shows that anyone, with in reason, can train themselves into a higher physical and mental state given the correct environment. I found some of the content highly relatable and he actually offers many life tips about turning negatives into positives without sounding like a motivational help book. Now onto the second book. This is worth the read 110%. For £4 you really cant go wrong

Some of his stories were unbelievable and absolute stay on the toilet for four hours thrilling but there was no coherency. After a while it just felt like a series of boasts to charge up corporate idiots who love championing sh!t like this but actually being a leader in the army has little relevance to real life. As he touches on by mentioning the struggles he had when he left the forces. Some of his messages are a bit conflicting, I don't think the average person could savagely rip themselves apart then just magically fix themselves and be positive. He was desperate to get across how much he has tamed his demons and conquered the world. But again after a while it seems very much like he has unresolved "wee man syndrome" as we call it in Scotland. This bringing me back to the boasts of trying to seem like an unkillable hard man. Which is a shame because he is undoubtedly an absolute hero, I just didn't need to hear about how his pals are "gangsters" and he's broken forty million jaws. But doing as he says and being brutally honest, I couldn't have done what he's done and at 6'3" would still tuck my tail behind my legs and run if he were to offer me a duel! All in all, except for the annoying bits ave mentioned, it's absolutely worth a read from a true hero.

Really good book and insight on how Ant percivered to become a British special forces warrior, I will definitely read more of Ants books .

This was a great read but not what I expected. The book all feels a bit choppy to me. Things are cut off a little too soon and other things begin. I wanted a more in-depth insight into his time SF selection and time spent with the SBS. The book only speaks of the first phase of UKSF selection then moves on to time spent in prison. I was gutted about that! For me personally, I bought the book for the SBS side of things. That's what fascinates me. He refers to a mythical chap a couple of times in the book that passed SBS selection at 19 when the SBS played out and experiment with 10 new recruits fresh out of RM training. That chap happens to be Duncan Falconer. Duncan also did a book on his time in the SBS called First into Action. Now THAT is a gripping book of life inside the SBS and probably one one of the best books I've read and definitely the best SF book I've read. However, it's now getting a little outdated and I was after an up to date experience inside the SBS with Ants book and I didn't get it. This book is more about Ants story through life and his own personal struggles. Read the book in a day which says something in itself but if it's a look inside the life of modern day UKSF and in particular the SBS, you won't really find anything substantial about them here. I am now going to give Jason Fox's book a crack and hope I get what I'm looking for from that one! You can grab a copy of Duncan Falconer's book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Into-Action-Dramatic-Personal/dp/0751531650

A good approach to an agile mindset.

Self psychological problems and solutions solver. How to use the knowledge and instruments at your disposal from time to time to live a better life.

I really enjoyed reading about the journey and how he turned his life around, Some people complained not enough information,..what did you want, specific details of how they operate?? A good read, 5 stars..and not just because all the people who gave one star reviews have gone missing

I was an admirer of this mans achievements prior to reading the book. He has had an interesting military career, but outside of that he has been a pain to society. If anything I have lost some of my respect for this guy, which has left me a little disappointed.

As advertised great seller