Mark Donaldson is one of the most inspiring Aussies of our generation and his biography The Crossroads is his story about how he survived a rough upbringing in rural Australia to become one of the most recent recipients of the highly prestigious Victoria Cross. Donaldson could very easily have gone down the wrong path into a life of crime, drugs and laziness, especially after he lost his parents early in life (his mother was murdered and her case is still unsolved) however a pivotal turning point led him instead to life as a SAS soldier and on the path to becoming a true Australian hero fighting for his country overseas. Donaldsons no nonsense, straightforward approach to just about everything in life is reflected throughout the book and the drive and determination he shows will leave even the most ambitious of us considering our motivation in life. Its hard not to be inspired by this guy. A must read for teenage boys and Aussie dads plus anyone who is the tiniest bit patriotic about this great country of ours. It also gives us an insight behind the closed door ranks of the SAS including the awe-inspiring selection process. Pretty incredible stuff.

There's no beating about the bush in Donaldson's account of how he came to be the first Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross in 40 years.

The first part is a look at his early life, including his troublesome adolescence, which on its own is an interesting story for any who enjoy a good biography. The second part, as he grows older, is taken up mainly by training for the army, then the SAS, and finally seeing action over 7 or so years in Afghanistan. He talks of being two separate people: the husband and father, living an everyday home life; and the SAS soldier, detached and with a job to do. This also comes across in his writing, where his depictions of early and family life seem more relaxed and people focused, whereas descriptions of fighting in Afghanistan are highly observant and detailed, conveying an immediacy and urgency, and for the main part less emotive.

Mainly this book is about how Mark came to be a hero - a combination of his upbringing and his training which led him to do what he felt was the right thing to do at the time. He also acknowledges his mates and other soldiers, and how every one risks their life to do their job, and gripes a bit about some of the red tape and administration.

Throughout Mark tells it like it is in a very straightforward and matter of fact way, often with self deprecating humour. All in all this seems to be a very honest and open biography, and one that many will enjoy.

The VC was awarded to Donaldson for showing exceptional courage in circumstances of great peril in an incident in Afghanistan in 2008, for something he simply says felt like the right thing to do at the time.

How did he come to choose that action? He argues that it was a combination of his upbringing, events in his childhood, and his military training. This book takes us through from the start of his life to what may be his final tour in Afghanistan so that we can see for ourselves what took him to that "crossroad" moment, and choose the path he did. Basically he says he was just doing his job, like so many other soldiers putting their lives on the line every day.

Another key theme throughout is everyone has the ability to overcome anything, if you really want it.

Stories about his youth and mates display his larrikin (and somewhat wild) nature, while his acute observation skills add urgency to descriptions of military action. There's some unexpectedly funny moments - who knew that American pilots liked dressing up as Roman centurions when on a mission?

This is a great story. Well-told and pacy, a picture of the boy and then the man really comes through, as well as the life of an SAS soldier and something of what it is like in Afghanistan.