Losing the Battle, Winning the War cover art

Losing the Battle, Winning the War

The story of the most injured soldier to have survived Afghanistan

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Losing the Battle, Winning the War

By: Ben Parkinson
Narrated by: Gareth Bennett-Ryan
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £14.35

Buy Now for £14.35

About this listen

The story of Ben Parkinson, MBE, the most injured soldier to have survived Afghanistan.

What were you doing when you were 22? Where were you in the world? What did you want to do with your life?

Ben Parkinson was a six-foot-four-inch paratrooper. He was in Afghanistan fighting for his country. He wanted to always be a soldier, to be a father and to get home in one piece. But we don't always get what we want. So the question is: how do we react when that happens? Easy: you find something new to fight for.

Ben Parkinson, MBE, is an inspiration to everyone. He suffered 37 injuries when his Land Rover hit a mine in Helmand in 2006, including brain damage, breaking his back and losing both his legs. This book follows the story of what led him to that moment his life changed forever - and what happened next. Doctors didn't think Ben could survive the trauma - then they didn't think he would wake up, or talk again, or walk again. Time after time, Ben pushed the ceiling on what was possible, going on to carry the Olympic flame in 2012 and receiving an MBE for the enormous feats he has undertaken for charity.

What he has achieved in the face of adversity - for others as well as for himself - is nothing short of a miracle. Nerve-wracking, heart-warming and full of classic soldier's humour, Losing the Battle, Winning the War is a book you'll be thinking about long after the last word.

©2021 Ben Parkinson (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK
Afghan & Iraq Wars Military Military & War People with Disabilities Personal Development Personal Success Solider War Inspiring Heartfelt Feel-Good Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

"A great and inspiring book from Doncaster's bravest son. Read it in a day." (Jeremy Clarkson)

"Ben is the embodiment of positive thinking. What he has achieved, in large part through willpower, is nothing short of miraculous. An inspiration to us all." (Ant Middleton)

"Ben Parkinson is my hero. His story is one of immeasurable courage and character, a testament to the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit." (Dan Jarvis, MP, author of Long Way Home)

All stars
Most relevant
Ben have served with 7 Para RHA in I Bty before your time with Rudy etc I have watched with admiration the true grit and Airborne sprit you have shown on your journey, your book is humbling and gripping for those who have or have not served.
I wish you well on your ongoing journey and hope to join you for a pint at some point. AB

This is a great story from a true Airborne Warrior

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

This book is inspirational, emotional, funny and expertly delivered in equal measure a must listen to

Inspirational and superbly read

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

Ben's story is incredible. For a young man to go through so much and still keep smiling shows what he is made of. His story made me laugh out loud and cry in equal amounts.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Ben in person and I know his mum and Andy quite well.
I would recommend this book to everyone.

Amazing young man

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

This was the best book I’ve ever listened too absolutely fantastic! I’m in awe of Ben ‘Parky’ Parkinson he is an amazing human being and his bravery is both awe inspiring and impressive. I really felt the narrator could have been Ben talking himself. There needs to be a follow up story of all the challenges he did with the pilgrim bandits. Plus maybe a not for mums eyes only edition

Best book ever in the history of books

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

I know of Ben as we're from the same town, sorry now city!! I was interested to know more about how this amazing human keeps of going and smashing expectations, following the most horrendous injuries whilst serving his country. Wow, is how I sum it up! If you think the incident happening and injuries caused, that seems to drift into insignificance against the continued fight of Ben and his family, in getting the support for his care and rehab that you would expect to be offered on a plate. I must say listening to parts of this journey made me embarrassed to be British, if that's how we treat our people up put their lives on the line to protect ours. I'm so pleased that he now has some of the support he more than deserves.

Keep being you Ben, you're truly inspirational and your humour shines throughout!

Excellent account of overcoming adversities repeatedly

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

See more reviews