On Combat cover art

On Combat

The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for £0.00
£8.99/mo thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Offer ends 31 July 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

On Combat

By: Dave Grossman, Loren W. Christensen
Narrated by: Dave Grossman
Try for £0.00

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 31 July 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

On Combat looks at what happens to the human body under the stresses of deadly battle and the impact on the nervous system, heart, breathing, visual and auditory perception, memory - then discusses new research findings as to what measure warriors can take to prevent such debilitations, so they can stay in the fight, survive, and win. A brief but insightful look at history shows the evolution of combat, the development of the physical and psychological leverage that enables humans to kill other humans, followed by an objective examination of domestic violence in America. The authors reveal the nature of the warrior, brave men and women who train their minds and bodies to go to that place from which others flee.

After examining the incredible impact of a few true warriors in battle, On Combat presents new and exciting research as to how to train the mind to become inoculated to stress, fear, and even pain. Expanding on Lt. Col. Grossman's popular "bulletproof mind" presentation, the audiobook explores what really happens to the warrior after the battle, and shows how emotions, such as relief and self-blame, are natural and healthy ways to feel about having survived combat. A fresh and highly informative look at post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) details how to prevent it, how to survive it should it happen, how to come out of it stronger, and how to help others who are experiencing it.

On Combat is easy to understand and powerful in scope. It is a true classic that will be listened to by new and veteran warriors for years to come.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2013 Dave Grossman and Loren W. Christensen (P)2013 Hachette Audio
Military Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Warrior Survival Combat Medicine Combat Trauma

Listeners also enjoyed...

Violence of Mind cover art
What Have We Done cover art
Left of Bang cover art
The Gift of Fear cover art
Un-American cover art
The Love Stories of the Bible Speak cover art
Can I See Your Hands cover art
Six-Minute X-Ray cover art
Strategy cover art
I Can Make You Confident cover art
Living with Honor cover art
Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan cover art
Facing Violence cover art
Extreme Ownership cover art
The Warrior Ethos cover art
How to Be a 3% Man cover art
All stars
Most relevant  
A must read for anyone in the armed forces, police or a frontline job. A must read for any civilian who has experienced, or is likely to experience, a traumatic or stressful encounter when the wolf came to your door. For those who don't feel i've included you in any of the above, this is a must read for you too.

It saddens me to think how many lives could have been saved if we were all taught this during basic training.

A must read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Where does On Combat rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The best factual book I have listened to thus far.

What did you like best about this story?

There is so much detail. Most other books skirt round some of the 'harder' topics, but not this one. Col Grossman leaves nothing out and if you are the sort of person that enjoys analysis, then this book is for you.

What does Dave Grossman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I listen on the way to and from work. You cannot do that with a book (legally, anyway).

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I think it would be too long for a film - generic review question?!

Any additional comments?

After finishing this audiobook, I felt compelled to e-mail Lt Col Grossman to congratulate him. Fantastic. His reading of 'Into Battle' at the start makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck.

Extremely useful and informative.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Alot of case study evidence and when you know these are individuals that have lived and breathed in the gauntlet of danger- it influences your mindset and changes how you prepare for conflict.

As the ancient Greek Archilochus stated, "we don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training". That quote I've selected, I think sums up the basic of this book's hypothesis.

Changes your mindset

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Amazing, Amazing book, a must listen for everyone, beautifully written and narrated by Dave Grossman :)

Totally Brilliant From Start To Finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Educationally a must for all who professionally deal with conflict and those who live with, work with or support those who do.

The fact this audiobook is delivered by the author LT. Col. Grossman is priceless it is delivered in the way in which it was truly intended. Reading is fine, having it read to you is also fine, but having the author deliver his message direct to your ears is as good as it gets.

Educationally a must for all who professionally deal with conflict

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

One of the best books I have ever read. As a lifelong student of Self-Protection, the learnings from this book are wide and deep. Not recommended reading, but essential!

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Insights into the before, during and after of combat - read by the author, so no nuance is lost. As close to perfection as a book on this growing and developing field can be.

Highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

very informative and eye opening. arguably essential information for every one not just our warriors.

excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I’m joining the British Military, it offer a fantastic insight into how soldiers face their own mental hurdles before direct combat. Colonel Grossman shows the failings in the previous military teaching methodologies and the recent corrections that have revolutionised combat training.

Great insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I have struggled with severe C-PTSD for about a decade and this book has done wonders for me. I now understand that there is great wisdom and power in the lessons I learned in surviving, and while I am scarred and always will be, I now have a duty to serve both as a guide to those who are newly wounded and as a defender of those who are at risk of harm. Thank you, Lt.Col Grossman, you have helped me to make sense of who I am and how I can live a good, healthy and meaningful life standing fast against the evils of this world, unwavering until I inevitably fall, but equipped with fresh wisdom on how to get back up and do it all over again with renewed courage, strength and determination. I never asked to be a sheepdog, and whether I was born like this or was a sheep that had my wool cut from me against my will, I now understand and accept who I am, and where I fit into society. I may have paid to access your book, but such is the magnitude of what you have done for me—what you have liberated me from—it is only right and proper that I thank you for giving me the greatest gift one person can bestow upon another: congruence between my mind, body and soul.

If you’ve read this far and you’re still undecided as to whether to give this book a try, I would simply ask if you or anyone you know has ever come to know pain, suffering or fear; if you or anyone you know has ever faced evil in its most direct and personal form? If your answer is yes, then I have no doubt you will benefit from this book. If your answer is no, then I still have no doubt you will one day benefit from this book, and I’d suggest buying a copy to keep in your home so that you have a route out of the Wilderness. That said, this is a book that can equip you with the skills to prevent or recover more quickly from PTSD, so should be read by everyone, including those yet to face evil. It only takes a few seconds of bad luck, bad people, or even bad weather, and everything changes forever—it can improve, and for those who survive themselves after they have survived evil, it almost certainly will. But you must never quit, never let evil take over, and never compromise your values, morals or principles.

In a world of fear, evil and darkness, be a beacon of light for those also suffering from the storm, and live with truth, justice and compassion in your heart; it will only make your light shine brighter. And if your light has gone out? Well, that’s all the more reason to honour truth in your acts and words, to spread justice through your deeds and works, and to always hold onto love for your neighbours, whether they live next door or thousands of miles away—loving everyone through your compassion, even those who would do you harm, will keep your vision clear and your soul light. Evil seeks to breed evil, but you must not let it seduce you; fight for goodness, fight for justice, and fight for life. Each of us is capable of this in our own way, and whether you’re a fighter, a friend, or both, you must stand against evil, stand against hate, and stand against those who would do harm out of pleasure rather than as an undesirable but necessary last resort to protect the innocent.

On Combat is the best book I’ve ever read, or listened to as the case may be, although I have a feeling that Lt.Col Grossman’s other works will be strong contenders for that top spot. They’re certainly next on my reading list!

Changed my life—seriously!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews