Keep Calm - We Are Coming by Ron Crosby

This book is one of those that quietly gets under your skin — not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it’s honest. Crosby takes you into the world of the New Zealand SAS in Afghanistan, and he does it with the same values we try to teach all our young people who join the services:  courage, calm thinking under pressure, and looking after the people beside you.

The stories in this book aren’t Hollywood. They’re real accounts from men and women who were asked to do incredibly tough jobs in incredibly tough places. Crosby explains the missions clearly — from working alongside the Afghan Crisis Response Unit to the intense Inter Continental Hotel siege — but he never forgets the human side. You get a sense of the professionalism, the restraint, and the emotional weight that comes with serving in conflict zones.

What I appreciate most is that the book doesn’t glorify anything. It respects the service, acknowledges the cost, and gives readers a better understanding of what our people were actually doing over there. The fact that the royalties support the NZ SAS Trust speaks volumes about the kaupapa behind it.

A solid, meaningful read that honours those who stepped forward when it counted and upheld the finest traditions of the New Zealand SAS. The incredible stories and some of the great photos in the book show the brutal conditions the troops face and why they (and indeed we) should be very proud of their service. 5/5

Reviewer: Bryan Ward

Oratia Media