Listen to a sample
Built for This
- Author
- Brad Poulter
- Narrator
- Gareth Reeves
- Publisher
- W. F. Howes Ltd
- Publish Date
- 2 June 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 55 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Raised among strong women, butcher's benches and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it.
But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform fits. Silence feels like part of the job.
But passing as straight comes at a cost. As deployments stack up, including service in Afghanistan during the War on Terror, the pressure of pretending collides with trauma, grief and the struggle for identity, and something gives way. From ship's galleys to combat zones, investigation rooms to leadership tables, Built For This charts a life shaped by discipline, loyalty and unspoken rules – and explores what happens when you stop accepting them.
Honest, sharp and often funny, this is a memoir about masculinity – how it's built, inherited and performed – and what it takes to rebuild it on your own terms.
‘Inspiring, funny and moving… a must-read.’ DR PAUL WOOD, author of How to Escape from Prison
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Brad Poulter
- Narrator
- Gareth Reeves
- Duration
- 9 hours 55 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 June 2026
- ISBN
- 9781004258024
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- W. F. Howes Ltd
Synopsis
This honest, funny and at times heartbreaking memoir follows Brad Poulter, with his almost 20 years in the New Zealand Navy. From small-town New Zealand to serving in Afghanistan, his own journey being comfortable with his sexuality mirrors that of the navy itself: from a time of 'don't ask, don't tell' through to being named the most inclusive defence force in the world.Raised among strong women, butcher's benches and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform fits. Silence feels like part of the job.But passing as straight comes at a cost. As deployments stack up, including service in Afghanistan during the War on Terror, the pressure of pretending collides with trauma, grief and the struggle for identity, and something gives way. From ship's galleys to combat zones, investigation rooms to leadership tables, Built For This charts a life shaped by discipline, loyalty and unspoken rules – and explores what happens when you stop accepting them.Honest, sharp and often funny, this is a memoir about masculinity – how it's built, inherited and performed – and what it takes to rebuild it on your own terms.‘Inspiring, funny and moving… a must-read.’ DR PAUL WOOD, author of How to Escape from Prison
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.