First Man In: Leading from the Front

Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you make your next move that counts .....

“People might think I'm an arrogant twat, but that doesn't bother me because I've looked in the mirror and I know that I'm not.”

Anthony Middleton is an English former soldier, adventurer and television presenter. He is best known as the Chief Instructor on the Channel 4 television series SAS: Who Dares Wins a reality quasi-military training television programme produced by Channel 4, which was first broadcast in 2015. The show propelled Middleton into celebrity limelight, and since its screening Middleton's popularity has increased significantly, allowing him more TV opportunities. Middleton also appeared as the captain in the adventure/reality-show Mutiny.

This was an adventure/reality crossover show, screened on UK television in February 2017, with Middleton starring as boat captain alongside eight volunteering participants. The show was a re-enactment of the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty and Middleton described the experience as, “... mentally speaking, the hardest thing I've ever done.” He also starred in the survival show Escape. In 2018 he climbed Everest for the TV show Extreme Everest with Ant Middleton.

Middleton joined the army in 1997 at the age of 16 where he served in the 9 Parachute Squadron RE and served tours of duty in Northern Ireland in 1999 and Macedonia in 2001. After leaving the army he later enlisted in the Royal Marines in 2005. He passed out of his commando course in January 2006, winning the King's Badge, and was posted to B Company, 40 Commando. In 2007, he did his first tour in Afghanistan. In 2008 joined the Special Boat Service, serving for four years as a point man and sniper, in this time he completed two further tours in Afghanistan.

With this background it would have been good for Ant to elaborate more on his military career. Especially his two Afghanistan tours. However, the book is mostly an account of his struggles with his personal demons. And we get a full chapter on the aforementioned Mutiny TV show too. There is nothing about why or how he ended up on TV.

But saying this, the lessons after each chapter are positive, and uplifting. And these valuable lessons are ones that we can all use in our daily lives. It's a book to gain strength from, hence the four star rating. And for the most part it's a fascinating, exhilarating and revealing book.

All in all a decent read written by a charismatic aan who has channelled his explosive character traits in a positive way.