Captain Sam Brown's Alive Day is a raw, luminous memoir about sacrifice, resilience, and the bonds that carry us home.
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How long does it take to burn to death?
This question raced through Sam Brown's mind as he burned alive alongside a dirt road in Afghanistan. At 24, he was pursuing his lifelong ambition of serving in the US military when his vehicle detonated one of the Taliban's bombs. Sam was desperate for death to end his pain. Instead, a fellow soldier extinguished the blaze.
Sam's life had been saved, but for what purpose?
Sustained by his newfound faith, Sam endured a long, painful recovery as he grappled with losing his physical identity, his military career, and his dreams of making an impact. Yet he also discovered the power of serving others and embarked on a seemingly impossible love story. In Alive Day, Sam shares his inspiring story of perseverance, hope, and faith, taking readers from the ashes of a life lost to the freedom of an identity that cannot be shaken.
Moments that remade a life.
"Sam's life had been saved, but for what purpose?"
"From the ashes of a life lost to the freedom of an identity that cannot be shaken."
Sam Brown before deployment
Vehicle after IED blast
Only seconds prior, I had accepted death as a fact. The certainty of it went beyond knowing; I was waiting for it. The question hadn't been "if" but "when," and death promised to bring relief—it would be my escape from the pain. But as Kevin's words shattered my sense of isolation and despair, they also shattered my certainty of dying. My position completely changed. I didn't want to die. In fact, I knew I wasn't going to die. Even if I had continued wanting to die—I wasn't about to. I was going to live. I was certain I was supposed to live. And I knew I was meant to live for a reason. With the same clarity that shaped my final three thoughts—or, what I assumed would be my final thoughts—a new conclusion formed. My life has been spared for a purpose. I didn't know what that purpose might be, or why, or what God might have in mind. All I knew was that this was a day that would be defined by living, not dying, and that life on the other side would look forever different than how it had before. But that didn't mean surviving was about to be easy.
"In surviving the fire of an 'Alive Day,' those moments can become the genesis of an extremely meaningful and powerful life."
Author
Sam Brown is a retired U.S. Army Captain who served in Afghanistan, where he sustained life-threatening injuries from a roadside bomb. After years of rehabilitation and personal growth, Sam earned his MBA and started a Nevada small business helping veterans get access to critical medications. Sam lives in Reno, Nevada with his wife Amy, their three children, and 2 dogs. He currently serves as the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Co-Author
Amy Brown is a former Captain in the U.S. Army, and an advocate and supporter of military families. As a dietitian, Amy Brown worked in the Army ICU at the DOD burn unit in San Antonio, Texas and served one deployment to Iraq. She met Sam at the burn unit and was his dietitian during his recovery. Today, she is a public speaker, an avid hiker, and a homeschool mom. Her insights and experiences bring depth and compassion to Alive Day, making it a joint narrative of hope, love, and perseverance.
Sam and Amy Brown with their three children, Reno, Nevada
"If you need encouragement, if you need hope, if you need inspiration this read is for you…"
"I am amazed at his resilience but I am forever grateful to Amy for her unwavering love and devotion… There is no doubt in my mind that God had his hands all over every moment…
"Very well written… I feel like Sam Brown has told his story in such a way that I am moved beyond what I had expected… I think his story should absolutely be made into a movie.
"If you need encouragement, if you need hope, if you need inspiration this read is for you… their story offers hope that life can be beautiful even when it is far from what we may have planned.
"Worth the read… gut-wrenching and uplifting at the same time… not just another GWOT Iraq-Afghanistan Memoir, it's much more gripping—but somehow inspiring too.
"Alive Day is one of the most amazing, powerful books I have ever read… The story of Amy loving Sam—always seeing who he was inside instead of the burns and scars…
"Not only is the story powerful and draws you in, but it is also very well written… it was amazing to read about how intense suffering has the potential to reveal our true purpose…
"You learn about Sam's life, his military career, the attack in Kandahar, his injuries and meeting Amy… It's a love story and also how Sam turned to faith when he had no hope.
"An incredibly raw and inspiring account of resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity… This is more than a military memoir; it's a story of hope and determination.
"This book is the definition of what it means to be American… To find hope in the middle of despair. You can't fake a man like Sam Brown.
Captain Sam Brown reads from Alive Day and answers audience questions about the blast, recovery, faith, and finding purpose.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library — Reading & Q&A
Short reflections on sacrifice, faith, and the will to rise again.
