It is said that a hero is an ordinary person who does extraordinary things. Well said, and mostly true. But I think it is possible that some people are just born...extraordinary. And when they go on to use that for good, they are heroes too. Adam Brown was such a man, and his story, Fearless: the Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown, flawlessly told by Eric Blehm, is breathtaking.
Adam was born to a simple family in Arkansas, but it became quickly apparent he was not simple. A daredevil's daredevil, he raced, jumped, and crashed through his childhood at breakneck speed. All well and good until he graduated high school and that daredevil personality was hooked by the ruthless allure of dangerous drugs. His life spiraled downward until one day, he gave it to Jesus. From that point forward, Romans 8:28 began to find proving ground in Adam: "For we know all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."
Marrying the love of his life and beginning a family, Adam began to pursue a military career that would take him to the absolute top handful of soldiers in the world--SEAL Team 6. Battling the drug demons that surfaced from time to time trying to reclaim a lost customer, he nevertheless pushed on and ruthlessly pursued perfection in every aspect of his military career. And through it all his passionate love for his God, his wife and his children was an irresolute background.
Killed in action in Afghanistan, Adam died a hero...but he had lived a hero's life for many years already.
This book had me riveted. Eric Blehm's writing style is so personable that I feel like I knew Adam a little bit, and that I know his family. I definitely put down the book feeling changed; it makes me want to live life for my kids as heroically in my own ordinary sphere of influence as Adam did in his extraordinary realm. Although I received a copy of this book for free from Multnomah WaterBrook for review purposes, I would have read this book anyway.
For more information on the book and the author, go here and if you would like to read the first chapter, go here.
