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The Hard Way
- Adapt, Survive and Win
- Narrated by: Mark 'Billy' Billingham, Simon Slater
- Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Military & War
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Summary
Billy Billingham grew up tough - a grim future ahead of him offering little respite from the hostile streets he walked. Leaving school at 11 years of age, the threat of borstal hanging over his head, running with gangs in Birmingham, and almost being killed in a knife fight eventually led to Billy discovering the British armed forces at 16 years of age. It would be the making of him.
Billingham would graduate from the Royal Marine cadets to enlist with the Parachute Regiment in 1983, where he would serve with distinction as a Patrol Commander and expert sniper. In 1991 he took on an even bigger challenge - taking the SAS course - the fearsome and secretive elite special forces unit with a well-won reputation for excellence in operating in extreme and hazardous conditions. He excelled in this life, rising to the rank of sergeant major for the regiment, and undertaking dozens of classified and extremely dangerous missions. He would ultimately serve 17 years with the SAS, serving in countless war zones, winning a commendation for bravery and being awarded the MBE. After leaving the army he would embrace the life of a bodyguard to Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe before being recruited as one of the lead instructors on SAS - Who Dares Wins for television.
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What listeners say about The Hard Way
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 16-12-19
misleading
the story was great but mark billingham only reads the prologue and epilogue which I was very disappointed about as I dont like listening to stories not read by the writer
52 people found this helpful
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- mr s k hargreaves
- 31-10-19
A truly inspirational book!!
A no frills and tell it as it is book. The only way is the hard way!! And the message this book tells you is a no nonsense, honest and tough reality check we all can learn from. Well done Mark, you should be proud!!!
Shaun Hargreaves
16 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 26-11-19
shame Billy never narrated the book
good story however dissapointing to find that Billy doesn't narrate , i find it easier to visualise the story when the written narrates thier own story ,
24 people found this helpful
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- jonny
- 10-11-19
Superb
Absolutely brilliant book. What a total legend. Listen this book, You won't be dissapointed!
9 people found this helpful
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- andy baker
- 05-11-19
Billy
The only issue I had with the book was the guy reading it doesn't get the anounciation of swear words and the way the sentences string together like a working class lad from Walsall but what an amazing story and life to hear about
8 people found this helpful
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- Owain Thomas
- 07-11-19
Brilliant stories, humble, great listen.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommend. Great sense of humour but at the same time very gripping.
7 people found this helpful
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- Ujay
- 05-11-19
Good one
Wish he had more stories about selection but good compact writing. He certainly had a great career with SAS and exciting life that. Really enjoyed listening to it.
6 people found this helpful
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- Dave Blundell
- 04-11-19
An inspiring story.
Although Billy for whatever reason only narrated the forward and epilogue. This book was an inspiring story from start to finish, about a poor young lad from the West Midlands. A right little fighter who everyone thought would fail! But a few souls gave him a life line in the form of guidance and he took it big time. Billy show's you that anyone from any background can succeed if you apply yourself, adapt and overcome. Thanks Billy 10/10
6 people found this helpful
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- martin
- 19-05-20
Enjoyable but felt like a lot was missing.
Mark Billingham comes over as a really nice guy who wants to help others but I felt let down by the lack of content and substance in the book. I understand due to the official secrets act there was a lot of stuff he could not repeat but it just seemed to jump from his early days to joining the army to SAS selection and then his private bodyguard and tv work outside of the military. I was a bit disappointed really.
5 people found this helpful
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- Clare Marmont
- 04-11-19
The hard way
Absolutely inspirational man, true gentleman and a true hero in every aspect of the word.
4 people found this helpful
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- SerieLis
- 20-06-20
Strong Story, lessons learned, now take action
Inspiring, audio bit blank, but behind it all great lessons that can come from experience
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- Ingemar Roos
- 28-04-20
Great!
Really liked it. Great story and very inspiring! A real insight to his life and career.
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- Dave
- 12-04-20
Superb
One of the most interesting people out there, 100% give it a listen. Great story.