Unlike my last review, this book actually gives a realistic depiction of a life in the chaos of Africa and elsewhere. From his childhood of being disregarded leading to his military career and strict schooling, to the various setbacks and consequences undergone, this is by far the better book of the two to read.
Neal Ellis writes of his experience as an air force pilot for Rhodesia and South Africa, during various wars in the 70s and 80s. During this time, he gathers experience and is mostly faced with the issue of high-ranking officers and politicals not understanding the on-the-ground situation in the combat he is facing - with various fun stories interspersed.
However, upon his retirement from the armed forces of South Africa at the age of 40 and rank of colonel, he begins working with private military contractors worldwide as a pilot. He never claims to be a tough guy, just somebody who flies well. His stories are told from a vulnerable standpoint and are a lot of fun to listen to.
It's also worth noting that various aspects of geopolitics, avionics, project management, human relations and much else are expanded upon without ever going into the nitty-gritty. The stories themselves are told in such a way that the reader can intuit what each of the terms means and how they fit together. I'm very happy with this read.
8/10