I have previously bought and read the debut books by the other DS from the TV series, SAS: Who Dares Wins. I thoroughly enjoyed them all, but made a conscious decision not to read the follow-ups which I could see focused more on the corporate ‘ better yourself’ type courses that employees are sent on by bosses who are looking to write off some expenditure to reduce tax liability. Perhaps.

Anyway – having been in that world (corporate, not SAS!) it makes me want to throw up now.

Anyway, I thought Jay came across well in the one series in which he was a DS. And I have the total, utmost respect for these guys – all Armed Forces, in fact – so why not complete the set and read this account.

Again, due to operational restrictions, there are no specific details of what he went through in his army life. But there was enough mention to keep me interested.

Where this book differs from the others’ first books, is this is not just an autobiography. We don’t read too much about his life leading up to and through the Special Forces. Instead, Jay uses this book to point the reader in the direction of those dreadful corporate self-examinations leading to a ‘better you.’

I didn’t mind. It doesn’t come across too dry as could easily have been the case. And to be honest, I could see a lot of what I believe and have tried to incorporate in my life, so I could relate to it.

Nothing too far fetched, then. Nothing so far distant to my own principles that I’d instantly write it all off as bollocks, as I’m sure I did with some course material in my time withing Banking.

I tend to think this ‘self betterment’ market is becoming a bit saturated by now. But if you’re interested in reading a combination of a soldier’s life and the parallel with life in everyday civvy street, then this will do nicely.