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Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds Paperback – Illustrated, December 10, 2018
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Over 4 million copies sold
For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare -- poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him "The Fittest (Real) Man in America."
In Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.
- Print length364 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateDecember 10, 2018
- Dimensions6 x 0.91 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101544512279
- ISBN-13978-1544512273
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Everything in life is a mind game! Whenever we get swept under by life’s dramas, large and small, we are forgetting that no matter how bad the pain gets, no matter how harrowing the torture, all bad things end.Highlighted by 26,612 Kindle readers
If you want to master the mind and remove your governor, you’ll have to become addicted to hard work. Because passion and obsession, even talent, are only useful tools if you have the work ethic to back them up.Highlighted by 23,671 Kindle readers
The reason it’s important to push hardest when you want to quit the most is because it helps you callous your mind. It’s the same reason why you have to do your best work when you are the least motivated. That’s why I loved PT in BUD/S and why I still love it today. Physical challenges strengthen my mind so I’m ready for whatever life throws at me, and it will do the same for you.Highlighted by 17,869 Kindle readers
By the time I graduated, I knew that the confidence I’d managed to develop didn’t come from a perfect family or God-given talent. It came from personal accountability which brought me self respect, and self respect will always light a way forward.Highlighted by 16,258 Kindle readers
Editorial Reviews
Review
--Joe Rogan, Standup Comedian and Host of the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast "David Goggins lives out every goal, every dream no matter what. PERIOD. He's unstoppable. There's no limit to him because he doesn't live in a comfort zone. His mental and physical capacity are equal. Goggins proves that your body can handle anything if you let your mind keep up. There's no way to stop something or someone that doesn't understand the concept of being beat."
--Marcus Luttrell, Retired Navy SEAL, Author of New York Times Best Seller Lone Survivor
"Modern neuroscience is teaching us that the path to courage and success arrives through embracing pain and fear, not by avoiding them. If ever there was a real-life example of this, it is the story of David Goggins. In his unrelenting pursuit to self-conquer, Goggins taught himself how to tap into that elusive holy grail of human existence: the ability to rewire one's own brain in order to continually do better and actually become better, regardless of feelings, external conditions, or motivational state. Can't Hurt Me is the remarkable description of that journey and the capacity to leverage and better the mind. More importantly, it also teaches you how."
--Andrew D. Huberman, PhD, Professor of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine "David Goggins throws the door open on pain, evil, darkness, the worst and yes, the best of humanity, and the strength of the human soul...and that's just in chapter one. If you are looking for a book that will heal, stretch, inspire, and dig into the corners of what it takes to persevere and overcome in a messed-up world, this is your book."
--Taya Kyle, Widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle, Author of New York Times Best Seller American Wife "By the time you finish David Goggins's new book, you'll have kicked your victim mentality in the butt. Where you go from there is entirely up to you--as Goggins makes clear in this entertaining and poignant memoir cum inspirational how-to. As the man with a hole in his heart tells you, there are no excuses in life, only reasons to try harder."
--Jim DeFelice, Author of American Sniper "David Goggins's book is not the first about overcoming severe hardships to achieve success, but it is certainly one of the most compelling. His story of beating the odds, of achieving athletic greatness, of serving his country and his charities, and of mastering his own destiny will inspire all of us to reach a little higher and give a little more. 'I will never quit' is a tenet of the Navy SEAL ethos, and one that David Goggins applies to everything he does."
--Admiral Eric Olson, U.S. Navy (Retired); Former Commander, United States Special Operations Command; Chairman, Special Operations Warrior Foundation "I'm inspired that people like this guy exist. Not everyone will live a life like David Goggins, but he is proof that anyone could if given the right headspace within."
--Kelly Slater, Eleven-Time World Champion Surfer
"Guaranteed to galvanize more than a few couch potatoes into action." -- Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Lioncrest Publishing; Illustrated edition (December 10, 2018)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 364 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1544512279
- ISBN-13 : 978-1544512273
- Item Weight : 1.12 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.91 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Success Self-Help
- #10 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
- #11 in Motivational Self-Help (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

David Goggins is a Retired Navy SEAL and the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training, Army Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training. Goggins has completed more than seventy ultra-distance races, often placing in the top five, and is a former Guinness World Record holder for completing 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours. A sought-after public speaker, he’s traveled the world sharing his philosophy on how to master the mind. When he’s not speaking, he works as an Advanced Emergency Technician in a big city Emergency Room and, during the summer, as a wildland firefighter in British Columbia.
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One of the most captivating aspects of "Can't Hurt Me" is Goggins' relentless determination to overcome his personal demons. He shares his harrowing experiences growing up in an abusive household, his battle with obesity, and the enduring struggles he faced throughout his life. With each setback and challenge, Goggins demonstrates an unwavering commitment to self-improvement and personal growth. His story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit's capacity to triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds.
Goggins' relentless pursuit of mental and physical toughness is another compelling theme throughout the book. He shares his experiences as a Navy SEAL, ultra-endurance athlete, and overcoming physical limitations through extreme training and sheer willpower. His mindset of embracing pain and discomfort as a catalyst for growth is both awe-inspiring and thought-provoking. Goggins' unapologetic honesty about his own shortcomings and the grueling journey to self-mastery forces readers to confront their own self-imposed limitations and question their true potential.
Beyond the remarkable personal story, "Can't Hurt Me" provides a wealth of practical strategies and principles for personal development. Goggins introduces concepts such as "The 40% Rule," emphasizing that we often underestimate our capabilities and that true growth lies in pushing beyond our perceived limits. He also delves into the importance of self-discipline, accountability, and the necessity of embracing discomfort to unlock personal transformation. Goggins' advice and insights serve as a blueprint for those seeking to break free from mediocrity and unlock their full potential.
In conclusion, "Can't Hurt Me" is a life-altering book that challenges readers to step outside their comfort zones and embrace a life of relentless pursuit. David Goggins' extraordinary journey, combined with his unwavering resilience and practical advice, creates an unparalleled reading experience. This book has the power to ignite a fire within its readers, empowering them to confront their fears, overcome adversity, and unleash their unbreakable spirit. If you're ready to embark on a journey of personal growth and tap into your limitless potential, "Can't Hurt Me" is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be inspired, transformed, and forever changed by David Goggins' extraordinary story of triumph.
I look forward to purchasing his other book but it definitely won’t be through the seller I purchased through. Typos throughout the entire book. I had to compare my sons book to mine to see if I was tripping but nope..my sons book was fine and mine was like a 5 year old typed it on their IPad. Definitely watch what seller your purchase this book through. First picture is the book I purchased through Amazon then second picture is my sons book he purchased at a Book Store. Needless to say I’ll be returning mine!
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
I look forward to purchasing his other book but it definitely won’t be through the seller I purchased through. Typos throughout the entire book. I had to compare my sons book to mine to see if I was tripping but nope..my sons book was fine and mine was like a 5 year old typed it on their IPad. Definitely watch what seller your purchase this book through. First picture is the book I purchased through Amazon then second picture is my sons book he purchased at a Book Store. Needless to say I’ll be returning mine!
David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL who is legendary for his determination, will-power and ability to edure pain. Now, before you throw up your hands, adopt an English accent, and exclaim, "Och, not another bloody book by a bloody SEAL!" let me assure you that CAN'T HURT ME is most definitely n o t like all the others you may have read. The Chris Kyles and Marcus Lattrells and what-not were telling war stories and to some extent, making extended commercials for their own branch of the military. Goggins is not. In fact, when it comes to his deployed-in-a-war-zone days, he doesn't write enough to fill out a paragraph, much less a page. He talks about his military training extensively, but only with the larger focus of the book in mind. Which is as follows.
Goggins grew up in an abusive family. His dad was a physically and emotionally abusive hustler who treated him like a slave. He ended up living with his mom and taking comfort in food -- lots of food, so that he eventually became grossly and immensely fat. As one of the only blacks in an all-white school, he was also subjected to terrible racism. By the time he was in his late teens, early 20s, his life was a kind of morbid joke, with his job being to empty traps left in restaurants which were full of dead rats. He had no self-respect and no future. To compress a very complicated story into a few sentences, Goggins eventually came to the conclusion that he must stop seeking out the easy path in life, must "find comfort in being uncomfortable," and constantly seek to challenge himself in every aspect of life. This led him to the SEALs, whose training he had to go through several times due to injuries and illness -- a remarkable feat in itself given the mental and physical brutality of the training. Once a SEAL, however, Goggins continued to find ways to become uncomfortable by seeking out the toughest trainings he could sign up for, including the Rangers and the Delta Force, and by entering marathons and later, the masochistic enterprise known as the ultra-marathon. Eventually he competed in even more punishing activities such as trying to become the Guinness Book of World Records holder in the category of chin-ups (which sounds like my idea of hell.) But the thing which distinguishes him from everyone else is the fact that he did most of this with some severe congenital defects he didn't even know he had at the time. This discovery truly blew his mind and got him asking, "What if -- ?" He began to realize that we are largely prisoners of our own perceptions, and are capable of so much more than we think, but we habitually underestimate our potential and settle for what he calls "the 40%." His goal for himself, and his goal for you, is to reach 100%. The fact that this may not be possible is irrelevant to him. It's the striving, the discomfort, the pain that he seeks, not because it will get him to the goal but because it is the goal. Seeing what one can endure expands what one can achieve. As writers from Marcus Aurelius to Ernst Jünger have noted, "the obstacle is the way."
CAN'T HURT ME is important not for its recitation of all the blisters and sweat and torn ligaments Goggins has endured, or for his achievements as a sailor or an athlete, but for the way he approaches the central questions regarding the difficulties we all face in life. Goggins has plenty of reason to play the vicitim, but chose another path, the path of self-ownership. It really is very simple. For example, when he discusses his obesity, he does not blame his father, racism or society: he blames himself. His mantra in every aspect of his life is that we own our own skin and our own decisions and too often, we use our traumas to justify things like laziness, apathy, cowardice, drug abuse, and alcoholism. Overcoming this self-sabotage requires being brutally honest with oneself. "Don't call yourself overweight," he all but shouts at the reader. "Say what you really are -- a fat f***!"" Carl von Clausewitz called this, "The appreciation of the situation." Goggins calls it a self-audit. He audits himself regularly, especially when he fails at something, but also when he is successful, too. He encourages a mind-set of brutal honesty with an emphasis on the brutal. He is very frank that he "gets his strength from a very dark place," and his ethos illustrates that, as does this book. He isn't a shiny, happy person. He isn't interested in fame. He doesn't have many friends. Even when he writes about the SEALs, he offers criticism -- something you won't see much if any of in other books by former members. Some readers may be offput by this very darkness, especially in an era in which whining and entitlement (something he especially despises) are now rampant everywhere. But that is why I consider this book important. It comes at a time when many are beginning to suspect that the victim mentality they've been told to sharpen their entire lives is actually an albatross, weighing them down, stranding them in weakness, unhappiness, and failure.
CAN'T HURT ME is a fast and brutal read. It's inspiring, but it's not a feel-good memoir, and one can't help but wonder if Goggins takes any real pleasure out of life. He's sort of the Mace Windu of inspirational writers, a grim-faced warrior monk who is going to poke you in your love-handle and ask if you think that is the best you can do. But should you sweat it off, don't look to him for a pat on the back. Look to him to ask if you couldn't have done it more efficiently...and then to ask you what's next on your list of challenges. And why you aren't working on them yet.
Also, do 75 Hard!! I never would’ve even picked up this book if it weren’t for the program.
Top reviews from other countries
must endure burning” – Viktor Frankl
David Goggins is supposed to end up as a statistic, let alone write this book. He had everything going against him...born as an African American kid, poverty, domestic abuse, bullied at school, a stutter and he also had a severe learning disability. He was all set to end up in a job, spraying for cockroaches at night and earning $1000 per month. He was pretty much resigned to this way of life, plonking on the couch, stuffing himself with junk food and being an overweight man...but destiny had something else planned for him.
In this no-holds-barred memoir, CAN’T HURT ME, David Goggins takes us through his traumatic childhood, being abused by his father physically, being taunted by his school friends in Mexico and racism that he had to go through as a kid. Given the hard childhood he went through; it wouldn’t be surprising if he had ended up in a prison for drugs or any other crime as a juvenile. Luckily, David didn’t tread that path and the rest is history...
The day that changed his life for the better: The day he began to take charge of his destiny started out like any other day.One night, after coming from his night shift, he switched on TV and saw Navy SEALs getting their ass kicked during that gruesome hell week...where the officers will try their best to test your limits and break your soul. While watching those images, something clicked and he just knew that is exactly what he wanted to do in his life. Throughout his life, he kept taking the easy way out and becoming a Navy SEAL is exactly what he wanted to do...so he can face himself and be proud of himself. That’s when he gave up his job and started working towards this ephemeral dream of becoming a Navy SEAL.
“My life was devoid of any drive and passion, but I knew
if I continued to surrender to my fear and my
feelings of inadequacy, I would be allowing them to
dictate my future forever. My only other choice was
to try to find the power in the emotions that had
laid me low, harness and use them to empower
me to rise up, which is what I did.”
However, the road to becoming a Navy SEAL was not easy. At that time, he weighed a whopping 297lbs. He had less than 3 months to lose 109lbs and also get through the ASVAB test in 5 weeks. Most of the recruiters took one look at him and politely said he didn’t have any chance. Schaljo, seemed to find some spark in him and gave him a chance. That is all David needed at that time. Someone who believed in him and his latent potential. After 3 months of working hard on himself ...he finally passed that test and made it to Navy SEALs.
He not only became a Navy SEAL, but he also ended up going through hell week thrice and is probably the only person to go through Hell week thrice and lived to tell the tale!!!
“The reason its important to push hardest
when you want to quit the most is because
it helps you callous your mind. It’s the same
reason why you have to do your best work
when you are the least motivated.”
One gift that David had was the gift of visualisation. He could always see himself walking through those hallowed halls of Navy SEALs building and that is exactly how he achieved that dream. In 2001, he became the 36th African American BUD/S graduate in Navy SEAL history!!!
Becoming a Navy SEAL (2001) has opened up more avenues for him and not one to rest on laurels, he also enrolled into US Air Force Tactical Air Control Party Traffic and also graduated from Army Ranger School (2004) with the distinction of enlisted “Top Honor Man”. He was also part of many international covert operations.
In this book, he also refers to the ‘40% rule’, his belief that most of us only tap into 40% of our capabilities. According to him, we only tap into 40% of our potential and our mind gives up, once we reach 40% of our ability. This is where champions like David are made. He believes we need to push past our mind’s chatter to achieve excellence in life...physically and mentally.
“Sadly, most of us give up when we’ve only given
around 40% of our maximum effort. Even when
we feel like we’ve reached our absolute limit,
we still have 60% more to give! It's simply a
matter of stretching your pain intolerance,
letting go of your identity and all your self-limiting stories,
so you can get to 60%, then 80% and beyond without giving up.”
David also mentions the ‘Cookie Jar’ method, to push himself to greater glory. Whenever we set ambitious goals and go after them...there comes a time where boredom, pain and self doubt kicks in and we are almost ready to hang up our boots...thinking ‘it can’t be done’, ‘its far-fetched’ and ‘too hard to achieve’ etc. That’s when we can use this “Cookie jar method” where you can either write in a list of all things you have overcome in the past or remember those incidents to fuel you further in life and succeed in the heat of battle!
“Include life’s obstacles you’ve overcome as well,
like quitting smoking, overcoming depression or a stutter.
Add in those minor tasks you failed earlier in life,
but tried again a 2nd or 3rd time and ultimately
succeeded at. Feel what it was like to overcome
those struggles, those opponents, and win”
Another turning point came in Goggins life when he lost several of his friends in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2005, he started running as a way to support severely wounded warriors and their families. Since 2005, he has helped raise funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation(SOWF), which provides scholarships and grants to the children of the fallen special operations soldiers.
So far, he has raised more than 2 million for this foundation(and counting). And he has been running in marathons ever since ...to raise money for this noble cause.
When you are in a dark place, you have two options to choose from. First option - you can let that darkness consume you and be stuck in that hell hole forever. The other option - take that darkness, hurt and everything that is going against you and FLIP THAT NARRATIVE!!! Use that pain as a fuel to propel you forward.
And that is exactly what David has done. He used that angst to push him to greater heights, to achieve things no one has ever achieved. It is this fighting spirit that made him one of the most decorated men in the USA and was also honoured with 2018 Americanism Award by VFW.
As a child, he used to stutter (common among kids who come from abusive childhood) and now, he has become one of the major recruiters for NAVY, visiting different parts of the USA and sharing his story and encouraging kids to dream a bigger dream. He has become a role model not only for African Americans but for people across the world.
After retiring from the Army, he has become an active speaker and is a source of inspiration to countless people across the world!
He is also one of the greatest endurance athletes in the world. He has completed 60 ultra-marathons, triathlons, setting new records and regularly placing in the top 5. He also set a Guinness world record with 4,030 pull-ups in 17hours. No wonder he is referred as “the toughest man on the planet”
“We each have a lot more in us than we know, and
when it comes to endurance sports like ultra running,
everyone can achieve feats they once
thought impossible. In order to do that we must
change our minds, be willing to scrap our identity,
and make the extra effort to always find
more in order to become more.”
It is very easy to live with “victim’s mentality” and hide behind excuses and blame someone else for the way your life is. What is hard is to take responsibility for your life and work towards a better life and David has shown us by the way he had changed his life narrative.
Just as in Bible, we have David, who slew Goliath with a swing and a few stones...here David slew many Goliath’s in his life, such as ignorance, awkwardness, obesity, weak mind, being a quitter, not being accountable, his stutter, abusive childhood, racism and flipped all these issues and used them as a springboard to launch him into greatness and become invincible.
David’s work ethic is the single most important factor in all of his impressive accomplishments. David has achieved some incredible physical feats because he believed he could and also backed it up by putting in the work. He didn’t achieve all these feats on his first attempt. He failed his way to success.
That is one of the biggest takeaways from this memoir. He wasn’t offered all these glorious titles on a platter. He worked his way to success and always looked to the next impossible task to take on.
“You cant let a simple failure derail your mission,
or let it worm up so far up your ass it takes over your
brain and sabotages your relationships with people
who are close to you. Everyone fails sometimes and
life isn’t supposed to be fair, much less bend to your every whim.”
I firmly believe, everyone will go through something that shatters them to their very core and we can either let those incidents in life to paralyse us or we can use these experiences to fuel us and propel us forward. The choice is always with us.
And David didn’t succumb to this negativity that the world has thrown at him. Instead, he turned these things and used them to his advantage to propel him forward...to a better life filled with passion, drive, meaning and purpose.
David always wanted to become ‘Uncommon amongst uncommon crowd’ and he ended up becoming a trailblazer!!!
I’ve been hesitating to review this one because I cannot possibly write objectively about what is decidedly my most favourite memoir ever. I have loved other books, I will love others, but this will have a special place in my heart as its none other than (The)David Goggins memoir. What elevates it from great to one of my absolute favourites, is the actionable steps that he lays out at the end of each chapter. He distills down the lessons he learnt as a list of questionnaire/exercises for you to work with.
There are many books out there that expand your mind, educate you, show you the way forward and inspire you. This book is special, because it not only does all the above but also compels you to take ACTION! Reading this book makes you want to run up a mountain and sign up for Marathons. It pushes you to become the best version of yourself and live your grandest dreams and also inspire people around you.
Strength comes in many forms. While David’s story not only shows us an incredible display of strength, it is also Herculean mental strength! That fortitude to do, to overcome, to be more than what others think you are capable of. That is the rarest and most powerful of strengths to train.
Thank You David Goggins for showing us the way forward and for being an inspiration for millions across the world. You have inspired a generation of people to live their best life and to keep pushing harder and further in life!!!
Read it!!! It’s one of the most transformative books I've ever read!!!📖🙏💥
Reviewed in India on July 16, 2021
must endure burning” – Viktor Frankl
David Goggins is supposed to end up as a statistic, let alone write this book. He had everything going against him...born as an African American kid, poverty, domestic abuse, bullied at school, a stutter and he also had a severe learning disability. He was all set to end up in a job, spraying for cockroaches at night and earning $1000 per month. He was pretty much resigned to this way of life, plonking on the couch, stuffing himself with junk food and being an overweight man...but destiny had something else planned for him.
In this no-holds-barred memoir, CAN’T HURT ME, David Goggins takes us through his traumatic childhood, being abused by his father physically, being taunted by his school friends in Mexico and racism that he had to go through as a kid. Given the hard childhood he went through; it wouldn’t be surprising if he had ended up in a prison for drugs or any other crime as a juvenile. Luckily, David didn’t tread that path and the rest is history...
The day that changed his life for the better: The day he began to take charge of his destiny started out like any other day.One night, after coming from his night shift, he switched on TV and saw Navy SEALs getting their ass kicked during that gruesome hell week...where the officers will try their best to test your limits and break your soul. While watching those images, something clicked and he just knew that is exactly what he wanted to do in his life. Throughout his life, he kept taking the easy way out and becoming a Navy SEAL is exactly what he wanted to do...so he can face himself and be proud of himself. That’s when he gave up his job and started working towards this ephemeral dream of becoming a Navy SEAL.
“My life was devoid of any drive and passion, but I knew
if I continued to surrender to my fear and my
feelings of inadequacy, I would be allowing them to
dictate my future forever. My only other choice was
to try to find the power in the emotions that had
laid me low, harness and use them to empower
me to rise up, which is what I did.”
However, the road to becoming a Navy SEAL was not easy. At that time, he weighed a whopping 297lbs. He had less than 3 months to lose 109lbs and also get through the ASVAB test in 5 weeks. Most of the recruiters took one look at him and politely said he didn’t have any chance. Schaljo, seemed to find some spark in him and gave him a chance. That is all David needed at that time. Someone who believed in him and his latent potential. After 3 months of working hard on himself ...he finally passed that test and made it to Navy SEALs.
He not only became a Navy SEAL, but he also ended up going through hell week thrice and is probably the only person to go through Hell week thrice and lived to tell the tale!!!
“The reason its important to push hardest
when you want to quit the most is because
it helps you callous your mind. It’s the same
reason why you have to do your best work
when you are the least motivated.”
One gift that David had was the gift of visualisation. He could always see himself walking through those hallowed halls of Navy SEALs building and that is exactly how he achieved that dream. In 2001, he became the 36th African American BUD/S graduate in Navy SEAL history!!!
Becoming a Navy SEAL (2001) has opened up more avenues for him and not one to rest on laurels, he also enrolled into US Air Force Tactical Air Control Party Traffic and also graduated from Army Ranger School (2004) with the distinction of enlisted “Top Honor Man”. He was also part of many international covert operations.
In this book, he also refers to the ‘40% rule’, his belief that most of us only tap into 40% of our capabilities. According to him, we only tap into 40% of our potential and our mind gives up, once we reach 40% of our ability. This is where champions like David are made. He believes we need to push past our mind’s chatter to achieve excellence in life...physically and mentally.
“Sadly, most of us give up when we’ve only given
around 40% of our maximum effort. Even when
we feel like we’ve reached our absolute limit,
we still have 60% more to give! It's simply a
matter of stretching your pain intolerance,
letting go of your identity and all your self-limiting stories,
so you can get to 60%, then 80% and beyond without giving up.”
David also mentions the ‘Cookie Jar’ method, to push himself to greater glory. Whenever we set ambitious goals and go after them...there comes a time where boredom, pain and self doubt kicks in and we are almost ready to hang up our boots...thinking ‘it can’t be done’, ‘its far-fetched’ and ‘too hard to achieve’ etc. That’s when we can use this “Cookie jar method” where you can either write in a list of all things you have overcome in the past or remember those incidents to fuel you further in life and succeed in the heat of battle!
“Include life’s obstacles you’ve overcome as well,
like quitting smoking, overcoming depression or a stutter.
Add in those minor tasks you failed earlier in life,
but tried again a 2nd or 3rd time and ultimately
succeeded at. Feel what it was like to overcome
those struggles, those opponents, and win”
Another turning point came in Goggins life when he lost several of his friends in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2005, he started running as a way to support severely wounded warriors and their families. Since 2005, he has helped raise funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation(SOWF), which provides scholarships and grants to the children of the fallen special operations soldiers.
So far, he has raised more than 2 million for this foundation(and counting). And he has been running in marathons ever since ...to raise money for this noble cause.
When you are in a dark place, you have two options to choose from. First option - you can let that darkness consume you and be stuck in that hell hole forever. The other option - take that darkness, hurt and everything that is going against you and FLIP THAT NARRATIVE!!! Use that pain as a fuel to propel you forward.
And that is exactly what David has done. He used that angst to push him to greater heights, to achieve things no one has ever achieved. It is this fighting spirit that made him one of the most decorated men in the USA and was also honoured with 2018 Americanism Award by VFW.
As a child, he used to stutter (common among kids who come from abusive childhood) and now, he has become one of the major recruiters for NAVY, visiting different parts of the USA and sharing his story and encouraging kids to dream a bigger dream. He has become a role model not only for African Americans but for people across the world.
After retiring from the Army, he has become an active speaker and is a source of inspiration to countless people across the world!
He is also one of the greatest endurance athletes in the world. He has completed 60 ultra-marathons, triathlons, setting new records and regularly placing in the top 5. He also set a Guinness world record with 4,030 pull-ups in 17hours. No wonder he is referred as “the toughest man on the planet”
“We each have a lot more in us than we know, and
when it comes to endurance sports like ultra running,
everyone can achieve feats they once
thought impossible. In order to do that we must
change our minds, be willing to scrap our identity,
and make the extra effort to always find
more in order to become more.”
It is very easy to live with “victim’s mentality” and hide behind excuses and blame someone else for the way your life is. What is hard is to take responsibility for your life and work towards a better life and David has shown us by the way he had changed his life narrative.
Just as in Bible, we have David, who slew Goliath with a swing and a few stones...here David slew many Goliath’s in his life, such as ignorance, awkwardness, obesity, weak mind, being a quitter, not being accountable, his stutter, abusive childhood, racism and flipped all these issues and used them as a springboard to launch him into greatness and become invincible.
David’s work ethic is the single most important factor in all of his impressive accomplishments. David has achieved some incredible physical feats because he believed he could and also backed it up by putting in the work. He didn’t achieve all these feats on his first attempt. He failed his way to success.
That is one of the biggest takeaways from this memoir. He wasn’t offered all these glorious titles on a platter. He worked his way to success and always looked to the next impossible task to take on.
“You cant let a simple failure derail your mission,
or let it worm up so far up your ass it takes over your
brain and sabotages your relationships with people
who are close to you. Everyone fails sometimes and
life isn’t supposed to be fair, much less bend to your every whim.”
I firmly believe, everyone will go through something that shatters them to their very core and we can either let those incidents in life to paralyse us or we can use these experiences to fuel us and propel us forward. The choice is always with us.
And David didn’t succumb to this negativity that the world has thrown at him. Instead, he turned these things and used them to his advantage to propel him forward...to a better life filled with passion, drive, meaning and purpose.
David always wanted to become ‘Uncommon amongst uncommon crowd’ and he ended up becoming a trailblazer!!!
I’ve been hesitating to review this one because I cannot possibly write objectively about what is decidedly my most favourite memoir ever. I have loved other books, I will love others, but this will have a special place in my heart as its none other than (The)David Goggins memoir. What elevates it from great to one of my absolute favourites, is the actionable steps that he lays out at the end of each chapter. He distills down the lessons he learnt as a list of questionnaire/exercises for you to work with.
There are many books out there that expand your mind, educate you, show you the way forward and inspire you. This book is special, because it not only does all the above but also compels you to take ACTION! Reading this book makes you want to run up a mountain and sign up for Marathons. It pushes you to become the best version of yourself and live your grandest dreams and also inspire people around you.
Strength comes in many forms. While David’s story not only shows us an incredible display of strength, it is also Herculean mental strength! That fortitude to do, to overcome, to be more than what others think you are capable of. That is the rarest and most powerful of strengths to train.
Thank You David Goggins for showing us the way forward and for being an inspiration for millions across the world. You have inspired a generation of people to live their best life and to keep pushing harder and further in life!!!
Read it!!! It’s one of the most transformative books I've ever read!!!📖🙏💥
David Goggins hat eine der bemerkenswertesten und am meisten inspirierenden Geschichten zu bieten, die ich von einer einzelnen Person je gehört habe.
Zurecht trägt der ehemalige Navy SEAL und Ultratriathlet, den Titel “toughest man alive”. Ganz nebenbei inspiriert er durch seine sture und authentische Art und Weise Millionen von Menschen.
Bevor wir in die Buchkritik eintauchen, möchte ich euch noch ein paar Eckdaten zu ihm geben:
- 47 Jahre alt (Baujahr 1975)
- schwierige Kindheit wäre noch untertrieben
- gewalttätiger Vater auf psychischer und physischer Ebene
- floh später mit der Mutter in eine kleine Stadt namens Brazil, in der Nähe von Indianapolis im Bundesstaat Indiana
- der Ku-Klux-Klan marschierte in seiner Kindheit noch durch die Straßen
- rassistische Anfeindungen gehörten zur Tagesordnung
Das erste Mal bekam er sein Leben in den Griff, als er der Air Force beitrat. Dort versuchte er das Auswahlverfahren zum Parajumper (PJ), doch scheiterte . Offiziell aus medizinischen Gründen, doch inoffiziell gab er auf, weil er Angst vor dem Wasser hatte und diesen Abschnitt im Prozess noch einmal wiederholen wollte. Nach seiner Dienstzeit in der Air Force wurde er fett, faul und absolut unmotiviert. Durch eine Navy SEAL Dokumentation im Fernsehen, schöpfte er neue Hoffnung für seinen großen Traum.
Innerhalb von 3 bis 6 Monaten nahm er dann 106 Pounds, sprich 48 kg ab. Er trainierte 3 bis 4 mal am Tag und aß viel weniger als zuvor. Er schwamm täglich, radelte auf dem Fahrrad zu Hause vor dem Fernseher, steigerte seine Jogging-Einheiten und verpasste keinen Tag mehr im Fitnessstudio. Auf all seinen Fotos sieht man bei ihm nie Hautlappen hängen, was normalerweise bei vielen Menschen der Fall ist. Er erklärt das durch hunderte von Wiederholungen mit geringen Gewichten. So verbrannte er schneller Fett und straffte gleichzeitig die Haut wieder. Seine Ernährung war von nun an gesund, doch arbeitete er permanent in einem Kaloriendefizit.
Um ein Navy SEAL zu werden, musste er aufgrund von Verletzungen insgesamt dreimal das BUDs Auswahlverfahren inklusive der Höllenwoche in einem Jahr durchlaufen. Bisher ist er der einzige US-Staatsbürger, der das gemacht und beim dritten Mal auch geschafft hat.
Später, nach seinem Einsatz, absolvierte er noch die Army Ranger School als Jahrgangsbester und bewarb sich zum einen beim SEAL Team SIX sowie bei der Army Delta Force. Er selbst sagt, dass er Teil der Teams bei den SEALs war, doch nie Teil der Bruderschaft wurde. Durch seine wettbewerbsorientierte Art, immer weiter zu machen und immer nach der nächsten Herausforderung zu streben, eckte er auch permanent bei den SEALs an.
Als seine Kameraden bei der Operation Redwings ums Leben kamen, das ist das, was wir als Verfilmung von "Lone Survivor” mit Mark Wahlberg kennen, wollte er Geld für die Hinterbliebenen sammeln. Also googelte er stumpf nach den 10 härtesten Rennen der Welt. Diese Art von Laufveranstaltungen setzt eine Qualifikation oder gewisse Referenzen voraus. So sollte er doch erstmal in 24 Stunden, 100 Meilen (161 km) oder mehr joggen. Seine Physik entsprach mehr eines Bodybuilders oder Powerlifters, doch definitiv nicht die eines Triathletes. Tatsächlich schaffte er die 100 Meilen in knapp unter 24 Stunden, doch beschrieb er die letzten 30 Meilen als die schlimmsten Schmerzen in seinem gesamten Leben. Etwa einen Monat später trat er schon beim Las Vegas Marathon an und lief diesen in einer Zeit von 3 h 8 min. Für meinen ersten Marathon habe ich 4 ½ Stunden benötigt und war nicht einem Monat davor die 100 Meilen unterwegs am Stück.^^
Von dort an hatte er Blut geleckt und war nicht mehr zu stoppen. Ihr könnt die meisten seiner Läufe googeln unter "Race Calendar David Goggins". Wenn das nicht durch den Rennveranstaltungen festgehalten worden wäre, könnte man es nicht glauben. Sein persönlicher Rekord liegt bei acht aufeinanderfolgenden Wochenenden jeweils einen 100 Meilen Lauf zu absolvieren.
Ganz nebenbei hatte er damals noch einen Weltrekord in Klimmzügen aufgestellt mit 4.030 Klimmzügen in 17 Stunden. Im dritten Anlauf klappte es dann. Seine Einstellung nie aufzugeben, ist das, was Millionen von Menschen inspiriert. Für Menschen wie ihn wurde das Wort "Resilienz" = Widerstandsfähigkeit erschaffen. Was umso bemerkenswerter ist, dass er von Geburt an mit einem Loch im Herzen geboren wurde und demnach nie eine uneingeschränkte Eignung von den Ärzten bekommen hätte. Wieder einmal ein Beispiel, was der Geist leisten kann, wenn Dritte ihm nicht einreden, was man kann oder nicht kann. Des Weiteren leidet er unter dem Raynaud's Phenomenon, bei dem durch kalte Temperaturen die Blutzirkulation in seinen Fingern nicht mehr funktioniert und diese farblich eher nach Absterben aussehen. Doch nichts davon stoppt ihn. Auch Ermüdungsbrüche und Kniee, die komplett im Arsch sind, halten ihn nicht auf.
Eine seiner Regeln lautet jeden Tag, am besten gleich am Morgen zu machen, was absolut keinen Spaß macht. Er trainiert nicht für spezielle Events, sondern für das Leben.
Anstatt sich nach seinem Bucherfolg auf den Lorbeeren auszuruhen und von den guten alten Tagen zu erzählen, arbeitet David mittlerweile, wenn er nicht gerade als Speaker auftritt oder tagelang läuft, als Wildland Firefighter. Das sind die tapferen Männer, die bei Waldbränden, kilometerlange Schneisen per Hand graben, kleine Gegenfeuer starten und so die unkontrollierbaren Brände nach und nach zähmen.
Der Typ ist eine lebende Legende. Für seine Geschichte wollte ihm ein Verlag in der ersten Runde maximal 30.000 $ bieten, wenig später dann ein anderer Verlag 300.000 $. Doch er entschied sich, mit einem Bekannten zusammen seinen eigenen Mini-Verlag zu gründen und so auch unternehmerisch voll ins Schwarze zu treffen. Bis heute hat er schon mehrere Millionen Bücher in unterschiedlichen Sprachen verkauft (New York Times Bestseller).
Vergesst diese YouTube-Motivations-Bühnen-Speaker, lest sein Buch. Noch besser hört euch seine Biografie als Buch / Podcast / Interview an. Für die visuellen Menschen, schaut euch auch gerne die beiden Joe Rogan Podcasts (#1080 und #1212) oder mit Tom Bilyeu an. Wer danach keine Hummeln unterm Arsch vor Tatendrang hat, dem kann ich auch nicht mehr helfen.
6 / 5 Sterne
#buchrezension #davidgoggins #canthurtme #endurance #livinglegend #bookreview #bookstagram #stayhard
Reviewed in Germany on February 24, 2023
David Goggins hat eine der bemerkenswertesten und am meisten inspirierenden Geschichten zu bieten, die ich von einer einzelnen Person je gehört habe.
Zurecht trägt der ehemalige Navy SEAL und Ultratriathlet, den Titel “toughest man alive”. Ganz nebenbei inspiriert er durch seine sture und authentische Art und Weise Millionen von Menschen.
Bevor wir in die Buchkritik eintauchen, möchte ich euch noch ein paar Eckdaten zu ihm geben:
- 47 Jahre alt (Baujahr 1975)
- schwierige Kindheit wäre noch untertrieben
- gewalttätiger Vater auf psychischer und physischer Ebene
- floh später mit der Mutter in eine kleine Stadt namens Brazil, in der Nähe von Indianapolis im Bundesstaat Indiana
- der Ku-Klux-Klan marschierte in seiner Kindheit noch durch die Straßen
- rassistische Anfeindungen gehörten zur Tagesordnung
Das erste Mal bekam er sein Leben in den Griff, als er der Air Force beitrat. Dort versuchte er das Auswahlverfahren zum Parajumper (PJ), doch scheiterte . Offiziell aus medizinischen Gründen, doch inoffiziell gab er auf, weil er Angst vor dem Wasser hatte und diesen Abschnitt im Prozess noch einmal wiederholen wollte. Nach seiner Dienstzeit in der Air Force wurde er fett, faul und absolut unmotiviert. Durch eine Navy SEAL Dokumentation im Fernsehen, schöpfte er neue Hoffnung für seinen großen Traum.
Innerhalb von 3 bis 6 Monaten nahm er dann 106 Pounds, sprich 48 kg ab. Er trainierte 3 bis 4 mal am Tag und aß viel weniger als zuvor. Er schwamm täglich, radelte auf dem Fahrrad zu Hause vor dem Fernseher, steigerte seine Jogging-Einheiten und verpasste keinen Tag mehr im Fitnessstudio. Auf all seinen Fotos sieht man bei ihm nie Hautlappen hängen, was normalerweise bei vielen Menschen der Fall ist. Er erklärt das durch hunderte von Wiederholungen mit geringen Gewichten. So verbrannte er schneller Fett und straffte gleichzeitig die Haut wieder. Seine Ernährung war von nun an gesund, doch arbeitete er permanent in einem Kaloriendefizit.
Um ein Navy SEAL zu werden, musste er aufgrund von Verletzungen insgesamt dreimal das BUDs Auswahlverfahren inklusive der Höllenwoche in einem Jahr durchlaufen. Bisher ist er der einzige US-Staatsbürger, der das gemacht und beim dritten Mal auch geschafft hat.
Später, nach seinem Einsatz, absolvierte er noch die Army Ranger School als Jahrgangsbester und bewarb sich zum einen beim SEAL Team SIX sowie bei der Army Delta Force. Er selbst sagt, dass er Teil der Teams bei den SEALs war, doch nie Teil der Bruderschaft wurde. Durch seine wettbewerbsorientierte Art, immer weiter zu machen und immer nach der nächsten Herausforderung zu streben, eckte er auch permanent bei den SEALs an.
Als seine Kameraden bei der Operation Redwings ums Leben kamen, das ist das, was wir als Verfilmung von "Lone Survivor” mit Mark Wahlberg kennen, wollte er Geld für die Hinterbliebenen sammeln. Also googelte er stumpf nach den 10 härtesten Rennen der Welt. Diese Art von Laufveranstaltungen setzt eine Qualifikation oder gewisse Referenzen voraus. So sollte er doch erstmal in 24 Stunden, 100 Meilen (161 km) oder mehr joggen. Seine Physik entsprach mehr eines Bodybuilders oder Powerlifters, doch definitiv nicht die eines Triathletes. Tatsächlich schaffte er die 100 Meilen in knapp unter 24 Stunden, doch beschrieb er die letzten 30 Meilen als die schlimmsten Schmerzen in seinem gesamten Leben. Etwa einen Monat später trat er schon beim Las Vegas Marathon an und lief diesen in einer Zeit von 3 h 8 min. Für meinen ersten Marathon habe ich 4 ½ Stunden benötigt und war nicht einem Monat davor die 100 Meilen unterwegs am Stück.^^
Von dort an hatte er Blut geleckt und war nicht mehr zu stoppen. Ihr könnt die meisten seiner Läufe googeln unter "Race Calendar David Goggins". Wenn das nicht durch den Rennveranstaltungen festgehalten worden wäre, könnte man es nicht glauben. Sein persönlicher Rekord liegt bei acht aufeinanderfolgenden Wochenenden jeweils einen 100 Meilen Lauf zu absolvieren.
Ganz nebenbei hatte er damals noch einen Weltrekord in Klimmzügen aufgestellt mit 4.030 Klimmzügen in 17 Stunden. Im dritten Anlauf klappte es dann. Seine Einstellung nie aufzugeben, ist das, was Millionen von Menschen inspiriert. Für Menschen wie ihn wurde das Wort "Resilienz" = Widerstandsfähigkeit erschaffen. Was umso bemerkenswerter ist, dass er von Geburt an mit einem Loch im Herzen geboren wurde und demnach nie eine uneingeschränkte Eignung von den Ärzten bekommen hätte. Wieder einmal ein Beispiel, was der Geist leisten kann, wenn Dritte ihm nicht einreden, was man kann oder nicht kann. Des Weiteren leidet er unter dem Raynaud's Phenomenon, bei dem durch kalte Temperaturen die Blutzirkulation in seinen Fingern nicht mehr funktioniert und diese farblich eher nach Absterben aussehen. Doch nichts davon stoppt ihn. Auch Ermüdungsbrüche und Kniee, die komplett im Arsch sind, halten ihn nicht auf.
Eine seiner Regeln lautet jeden Tag, am besten gleich am Morgen zu machen, was absolut keinen Spaß macht. Er trainiert nicht für spezielle Events, sondern für das Leben.
Anstatt sich nach seinem Bucherfolg auf den Lorbeeren auszuruhen und von den guten alten Tagen zu erzählen, arbeitet David mittlerweile, wenn er nicht gerade als Speaker auftritt oder tagelang läuft, als Wildland Firefighter. Das sind die tapferen Männer, die bei Waldbränden, kilometerlange Schneisen per Hand graben, kleine Gegenfeuer starten und so die unkontrollierbaren Brände nach und nach zähmen.
Der Typ ist eine lebende Legende. Für seine Geschichte wollte ihm ein Verlag in der ersten Runde maximal 30.000 $ bieten, wenig später dann ein anderer Verlag 300.000 $. Doch er entschied sich, mit einem Bekannten zusammen seinen eigenen Mini-Verlag zu gründen und so auch unternehmerisch voll ins Schwarze zu treffen. Bis heute hat er schon mehrere Millionen Bücher in unterschiedlichen Sprachen verkauft (New York Times Bestseller).
Vergesst diese YouTube-Motivations-Bühnen-Speaker, lest sein Buch. Noch besser hört euch seine Biografie als Buch / Podcast / Interview an. Für die visuellen Menschen, schaut euch auch gerne die beiden Joe Rogan Podcasts (#1080 und #1212) oder mit Tom Bilyeu an. Wer danach keine Hummeln unterm Arsch vor Tatendrang hat, dem kann ich auch nicht mehr helfen.
6 / 5 Sterne
#buchrezension #davidgoggins #canthurtme #endurance #livinglegend #bookreview #bookstagram #stayhard
It's a story of a man who refused to bend, who refused to accept the 'normal'.
However, it talks excessively about conquering the mind over physical pains, it talks to great lengths about how athletic capabilities can be shaped and developed. But it didn't talk much on mental capabilities.
If I would've been an athlete or a gym freak for that matter of fact, I would have drawn immense inspiration for this read.
I am not too much into physical training but this book has still motivated me to go running every single day. But I am working full time and I am also a student with ambitions of sharpening my mind to optimise my mental/learning potential. There were times when I was lost while reading about the physical injuries in details because I couldn't relate to it much. Also, there were times when it felt that this book isn't for me. But overall I enjoyed the story of a man achieving impossibles.
This book wasn't the absolute one for me but it has still motivated me in a lot of ways and there's nothing more that I expected.
So, you can go ahead and read it because even if you may not get the techniques and process knowledge of how-to train the brain but for the very least you will get inspired to work out and to get in your best shape.
2) too much military drill yelling
3) his background was rough but he there are far far worse than that who absolutely can't function because of childhood abuse as it cripples them with depression/ anxiety and schizophrenia/CPTSD. He got out i think when by his teenage years and had one loving parent - that makes a big difference.
Because of this i just felt it was in a way shaming those who are in bad shape from their childhoods...as he only just realizes by the end - self perfecting/ over working actually stems from abuse so it seems to me he hasn't really gotten over it.




































