"[I]n a word, riveting [...A]n insightful, hard-hitting memoir of his experiences as a member of a Force Reconnaissance platoon during combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan."

—Major Bruce H. Norton, USMC (Ret), author of Force Recon Diary, 1969; Force Recon Diary, 1970; and others

“Many stories about soldiering lack the literary touch of an artist. In his memoir, Tough Rugged Bastards, John Dailey shows that he did not stop at being a great Marine—he is one of those rare literary talents who writes beautifully—with clarity and wisdom. This first book promises literary gifts to come.”    

—Clyde Edgerton, author of The Floatplane Notebooks

“Part elegy, part homage, John A. Dailey’s memoir is a powerful work of art, an exploration of a life lived in service, in peace and in war, filled with memories and reflections of that 'beautiful, horrible thing.’ It is unforgettable. ” 

– May-lee Chai, American Book Award-winning author of Useful Phrases for Immigrants and Tomorrow in Shanghai

"This memoir is the closest most of us will ever get to the inside of the Marine Corps’ most dangerous command. Beautifully written and brutally honest, Tough Rugged Bastards is a reflective and unapologetic tour of the complexities of combat. Just as John Dailey joined an elite American fighting force in 2003, he now joins elite American writers—Anthony Swofford, Tobias Wolff, and Tim O’Brien—with this unflinching chronicle of war."

—Nina De Gramont, New York Times best-selling author of The Christie Affair

“A frontline memoir coarse with the harshest truths of combat, Tough Rugged Bastards is not for the faint of heart. Where this book finds weight, however, is in its thoughtful, honest reflections, an invaluable perspective that could only be earned with distance and time. Neither vain nor sentimental, John Dailey has delivered a must-read on the backside of America’s twenty-year war.” 

—David Joy, author of Those We Thought We Knew

“Writers and Marines are not as dissimilar as one might imagine. Both are called to pursuits demanding discipline; courage, be it moral or physical; and the willingness to expose oneself, to become vulnerable. John Dailey is a writer and a Marine in the fullness of both. With Tough Rugged Bastards he gives us the truth of a life lived between domestic normalcy and the ragged edge of experience. [...] Read Tough Rugged Bastards to learn what it is to commit oneself to living beyond accepted limitations as part of a story offered in the voice of a man who has committed himself to telling it in a voice far more thoughtful than that of most military memoir.”

—Russel Worth Parker, Marine Raider and Bestselling Writer

“As someone who has never served in the military, it is wonderful to read a book that opens a door to the life of special operations personnel in a way that is fascinating and accessible. John does so much more than tell the story of a pivotal time in the Global War on Terrorism, he offers the reader an unapologetic look into his heart and his mind.” 

—Joe McCormack, Bestselling author of Brief and Noise

“John Dailey’s personal reflections puts the reader right by his side during the early days of Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC)…this book provides an insider’s account and historical framework you won’t find anywhere else. His attention to every detail and authentic storytelling style makes this book the premiere source for the chronology of Marines into SOCOM.” 

—Amy Forsythe, Marine veteran and author of Heroes Live Here

“Travel with Marine Raider, John Dailey, into the unpredictable and brutal world that exists only behind enemy lines. For the first time, Dailey shares his personal experiences following 9/11 of nerve-wracking desert patrols, midnight firefights, and missions where he and his team were often on their own. This is a page turner and burner— a must-read for anyone who is interested in our military and what they do.”  

– Carole Avriett, Author of Marine Raiders: The true story of the legendary WWII battalions