A quote:
"So, as I said, this isn’t a movie and I am a flawed character but I’m just trying to give it to you straight. This is how it happened." (Loc. 1854)

A father, a former soldier, a wounded veteran, Noah Galloway writes about his experiences with a mixture of candidness, some vanity, pride in himself and… lots of courage.
I enjoyed reading this book, it sounds frank and vivid. Always avoiding self-pity, Noah Galloway describes the important challenges he faced with a double amputation, depression, failed marriages and romantic relationships. His most important role – fatherhood – and his public persona(s) are also thoroughly addressed (even this dimensions was new to me as I’m not American) as we watch him cope with his injuries and rebuild his life.
Galloway’s strength and courage facing adversity is perhaps what gives the writing a sometimes dull tone, as a mere rendering of facts about a different person. But what remains is the portrait of a brave and generous man.

In his inspiring autobiography, Living with No Excuses: the Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier, Noah Galloway tells the story of his harrowing journey from his horrendous injuries on the battlefield to his unlikely success on Dancing with the Stars, and the heroic struggles in between. Galloway pulls no punches as he discusses the difficulty of recovery from his catastrophic injuries. In his characteristic frankness, Galloway records his battle with depression while maintaining his role as a husband and father. He also goes into great detail about the physical challenges of being a double amputee. Galloway is open about his faults and failures and what they cost him and those he loves.

Told from a purely secular viewpoint, Living With No Excuses is told in an engaging style. Galloway is both humorous and cynical, but brutally honest. He tackles difficult issues head on and does not apologize for his personal opinion or perspective. One cannot help but admire his perseverance and determination to overcome the obstacles in his path, including his own shortcomings. However, Galloway’s drive to success often comes at the expense of relationships, specifically marriages. This disturbing pattern is repeated throughout the book and may be the result of the trauma he experienced on the battlefield. Readers may find his use of language objectionable.

Despite these drawbacks, Noah Galloway’s story and service are not only eye-opening but deserve our respect. Living with No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier is a true-life tale of human bravery and perseverance in the most difficult circumstances.


I was given a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.