Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    First Man In: Leading from the Front
    First Man In: Leading from the Front
    First Man In: Leading from the Front
    Audiobook7 hours

    First Man In: Leading from the Front

    Written by Ant Middleton

    Narrated by Ant Middleton

    4.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

    No one is born a leader. But through sheer determination and by confronting life’s challenges, Ant Middleton has come to know the meaning of true leadership. In First Man In, he shares the core lessons he’s learned over the course of his fascinating, exhilarating life.

    Special forces training is no walk in the park. The rules are strict and they make sure you learn the hard way, pushing you beyond the limits of what is physically possible. There is no mercy. Even when you are bleeding and broken, to admit defeat is failure.

    To survive the gruelling selection process to become a member of the elite you need toughness, aggression, meticulous attention to detail and unrelenting self-discipline, all traits that make for the best leaders.

    After 13 years service in the military, with 4 years as a Special Boat Service (SBS) sniper, Ant Middleton is the epitome of what it takes to excel. He served in the SBS, the naval wing of the special forces, the Royal Marines and 9 Parachute Squadron Royal, achieving what is known as the ‘Holy Trinity’ of the UK’s Elite Forces. As a point man in the SBS, Ant was always the first man through the door, the first man into the dark, and the first man in harm’s way.

    In this fascinating, exhilarating and revealing book, Ant speaks about the highs and gut-wrenching lows of his life – from the thrill of passing Special Forces Selection to dealing with the early death of his father and ending up in prison on leaving the military – and draws valuable lessons that we can all use in our daily lives.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJul 12, 2018
    ISBN9780008245757
    Author

    Ant Middleton

    Ant Middleton is the author of three Sunday Times No. 1 bestsellers, First Man In, The Fear Bubble and Zero Negativity. His books have sold over two million copies around the world. He is an adventurer, public speaker and television presenter, best known as the front man for Channel 4’s hit show SAS: Who Dares Wins.

    More audiobooks from Ant Middleton

    Related to First Man In

    Related audiobooks

    Military Biographies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Why I Quit My Prison Gang

      Feb 1, 2019

      “The whole experience, I realized, was like a strange mix between junior high school and the Roman Senate.”

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Convict

      Jul 10, 2020

      The Convict
      5 min read

    • Article

      Performance

      Nov 10, 2022

      “Wait here,” the guard said as he shut the door behind him, leaving me by myself. The floor inside the lab was polished, and the air smelled of disinfectant, and yet the room felt unclean. Leaves shook on a tree outside the window, making shadows on

      18 min read

    • Article

      The Final Truth

      Jan 21, 2020

      The Final Truth
      5 min read

    • Article

      I’ve Been Stabbed!

      Jun 30, 2022

      I’ve Been Stabbed!
      5 min read

    • Article

      From the Inside Looking Out

      Feb 7, 2020

      Nine a.m. Shots ring out. Pop, pop pop. No one stirs. No one bothers. Staccatos from the gun range outside our prison. All day long. Life Inside Perspectives from those who work and live in the criminal justice system. Sign up to receive

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Bullet in My Arm

      Sep 6, 2018

      The Bullet in My Arm
      13 min read

    • Article

      The Wolf And The Dog

      Sep 1, 2020

      EVERY TIME I talk about the shooting, I dream my dog is murdered. I am standing in a field in the twilight, high grass painted black against the glowing, lavender-gold sky. My dog has run away. A man is calling her by her name, and she’s running towa

      7 min read

    • Article

      Suffer The Little Children

      Dec 24, 2019

      Suffer The Little Children
      4 min read

    • Article

      Game of Phones

      Jan 31, 2020

      In a prison where 200 men share eight phones, making back-to-back calls is like challenging the guy behind you to a duel.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Oh, Lonely What A Boy

      Mar 12, 2021

      Oh, Lonely What A Boy
      8 min read

    • Article

      Oh, What A Lonely Boy

      Mar 12, 2021

      Oh, What A Lonely Boy
      8 min read

    • Article

      Being a Prison Firefighter Taught Me to Save Lives

      Oct 2, 2020

      I first joined the San Quentin fire department to get my own room, eat well and train dogs. It ended up being the most important experience of my life.

      3 min read

    • Article

      KILL A STRANGER Chapter 2

      Dec 31, 2020

      If you’ve never been in a situation like this before, you just can’t understand it. I’ll be blunt. It was absolutely terrifying. The nightmare started just like that. Bang. I literally woke with a start, and realised that I was being flung around in

      5 min read

    • Article

      Running Scared

      Dec 22, 2020

      Running Scared
      4 min read

    • Article

      Robert C. Koehler: The Cynic's Monkey Wrench

      Jul 28, 2022

      If you depart from an “us vs. them” philosophy of life, your first confrontation is likely to be with the cynics. Last week, for instance, I wrote about the weekend I spent, a decade ago, getting handgun training from the NRA — and what I learned, wh

      4 min read

    • Article

      Killing Everyone In Hitman

      Dec 28, 2021

      Killing Everyone In Hitman
      7 min read

    • Article

      Do I Die Today?

      Apr 21, 2022

      Do I Die Today?
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Edge of Everything

      May 2, 2019

      The Edge of Everything
      3 min read

    • Article

      Shame Is Ever-Present When You’re Sitting in a Cell

      Oct 23, 2020

      Between a strained relationship with my family and the death of a good friend, I’ve struggled to feel like I’m worth something.

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Penalty

      Nov 5, 2020

      The Penalty
      8 min read

    • Article

      Joshua Mohr: The Time I Robbed a Liquor Store

      Mar 10, 2017

      Our alibi was a sandy blanket in the back of my truck, an acoustic guitar, a knockout brunette in the passenger seat. Our alibi was a night picnic at the beach. When we got pulled over—if we got pulled over—the cop would peer in the cab and he’d thin

      6 min read

    • Article

      Freedom Rings

      Nov 25, 2019

      Freedom Rings
      6 min read

    • Article

      An Infinite Game

      Oct 10, 2021

      Our executioner combined the qualities of a wag and libertine, parading his sociopathy as an out-sized clown. The bayonet attached to his rifle was exceptionally long, a sawback with a broad, flat blade. The press catch was at the nine o’clock positi

      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for First Man In

    4.5/5

    246 ratings26 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Phenomenal insight in to one hugely eventful life. Inspiring.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Excellent 'life coaching' advice for maintaining positive mindset - truly empowering. Love having Ant Middleton's steady optimistic voice in my ear (audio book version) sharing the courage of his life adventures and cheering me on in mine. Thank you
    • 5/5
      Very inspiration and eye opening book. Middleton narrating it himself makes it very authentic. Definatlely reccomend it.
    • 5/5
      Honest. Unflinching. Reflective. A title that I couldn’t stop listening to over the course of 3 days.
    • 5/5
      This book has changed me! I want to be a better man. Thank you Mr Middleton!!!
    • 5/5
      Love it from start to finish. It was my first time listening to an audio book after this I’m hooked. Really good book I’ll definitely be listening to his other books. Well done Ant what a guy.
    • 5/5
      Awesome audio! Never thought i would love it. True leadership starter pack all in one book
    • 5/5
      Great book. Even better in Ant's own words. 5 stars.. awsome
    • 5/5
      Loved it ! Fast action and good lessons in it.
    • 5/5
      Captivating, enjoyable reading listening to someone who’s been there and done that
    • 5/5
      this book has completely changed my outlook on life and has altered my mindset in so many ways im still finding out new things
    • 5/5
      Not what I was expecting. Short, thoughtful in a special forces way, it was much more about character building than about toughness. The front cover is misleading.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed reading this! If you’re interested in the military or you’re simply a fan of Any Middleton, I highly recommend. :)
    • 5/5
      The best from a soldier. Life changing. Eye opening. Period.
    • 5/5
      Wicked mate!! Really great read ! It’s now compulsory reading for my teenager ! Thanks!
    • 5/5
      Honestly one of the most interesting perspectives on leadership I've ever seen!....told through a truly unique and inspiring lens.
    • 5/5
      Great book, thoroughly enjoyed listening to it, and looking forward to reading Ant Middleton other books.

      Also highly recommend anything by Ross Edgely.
    • 5/5
      What a fantastic book and a few choice insights! Thanks mate.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant self help book. Would recommend to everyone it’s a must read !!
    • 5/5
      This is a phenomenal book. Loved hearing Ant reading the audio and really provoked thought. In all honesty, I didn't want it to end!
    • 5/5
      Loved it and highly recommend nice having a bit of an insight to the man from the tele. Much respect to him for achieving his goals given his story.
    • 5/5
      The lessons in the audiobook can be used in your everyday life, would recommend if you’re trying to better yourself.
    • 5/5
      Honestly one of the best books I have read / Listened to!
    • 5/5
      Love it , is a wake up call. A+++++ .
    • 4/5
      Anthony Middleton is best known for his work in television. He can be seen as the Chief instructor in SAS:Who Dares Win, as a captain in he reality show, Mutiny, and the survival show, Escape. He has also been in the British Army from 1998-2002; in 1999 he was in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. and the Royal Marines from 2005-2012. In 2008, he was a Royal Marine, 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers and the SBS (Special Boat Serivce), SAS and fought in the War in Afghanistan. He has been marries twice, has 5 children;Remarkable in itself, Ant has used his military training, and television career to imagine, and then share, to wide and popular opinion, his life lessons. This is a self-help type of book, helping the reader to learn to face their fears, fight through oppressive powers and to succeed in life on their own terms. It is very persuasive, and straight-forward. While the lessons themselves may not be to original, what makes this unique is his use of adversity to empower him. If your looking for a book to inspire you, or for encouragement, I would recommend this. It is strong and bold and gets right to the point.
    • 5/5
      A highly readable biography of an undoubtedly resolved, charismatic man, who mainly wins your respect. He's later decisions may be more reckless Han he'd care to admit, but he writes very well and engagingly. Intriguing about what he can and can't say, this is not just for Special Forces nerds, this is a self help book, that feels as though it has something to say. Interesting and worth a look.