In my humble opinion, if you are struggling with overcoming obstacles to success, are interested in mindset, and want to see firsthand how the capabilities of the mind can completely transform a life, you need to read this book. It is empowering, inspiring, motivating, and interesting! I mean, seriously, this guy is a complete badass! Without giving away the contents, allow me to provide a short Can’t Hurt Me book review.
David Goggins Bio
I became aware of this book because of several videos I had watched where David Goggins was a guest. If you haven’t seen any of those videos, I recommend you search his name on YouTube and watch a few of those. Prepare to be both amazed and ashamed.
This guy is extreme. I mean, he’s a Navy Seal so really, need I say more? Oh, but I will. I have read and listened to content on mindset for at least 25 years and I’m telling you, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across more of a badass than David Goggins. I can’t even describe it to you without giving away the stories in the book.
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Mind Control
What I found most valuable about the book was his continual quest to control his mind. And if his mind was in the right place, he was unstoppable. He proved this to himself and others over and over and over again. While most people want to lose 10 or 20 lbs, David Goggins loses 100 lbs in less than 3 months, just to prove to himself that he can. While other people spend six months training for a 5K, David Goggins trains for a 100-mile race without ever even attempting a 5K, and then runs the majority of it on fractured feet. It’s amazing because he didn’t start out as a Navy Seal. He started out in a low-paying pest control job where he spent his days spraying bugs. And his nights were spent eating crap and watching TV, all 290 lbs of him. If you look at him now, yeah, not the same guy.
You might think reading about someone this extreme would be intimidating – like it would make you feel even less capable. And since many of my followers are women, I’ll speak directly to you. You might be tempted to think, “Yeah, but he’s a man.” I hope you realize how self-limiting that sounds as soon as it comes out of your mouth.
I felt he was continually playing this mind game with himself to see just how much he could do. And it made me want to play too! When he failed, he didn’t cry in his embarrassment, he got right back to trying again. And believe me, he had some embarrassing moments! Reading the book made me think “well, shit, if he can run a race on fractured feet surely I can get my ass up and get a workout in.” It reminds you of just how powerful your mind is in accomplishing goals.
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If You Get Offended . . .
One final warning about this book. It is written completely in David Goggin’s voice, with all the colorful language he would use while having a conversation with a friend. If you are offended by that kind of language, well, you’re going to be offended. I personally think it adds to his overall badassness.
Summary
I don’t think we all need to be as extreme as David Goggins. He’s living his purpose in life and that doesn’t have to be yours or mine. But if you want a reminder of just how powerful your mindset is to accomplishing your goals, if you want a little motivation to overcome that next hurdle, if you are ready for someone to throw your self-limiting beliefs right in your face, this is an excellent book for you!
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I loved this book. Great review, and I’ve found his audiobook to have even more added value, since it’s like a podcast more than a book. And yes, we don’t need to be like him, but we can all benefit from challenging our minds every day, with the cards we’re dealt with. Anyway, thanks for this post!
Thanks for the comment! He is definitely impressive. Sounds like you’re a like-minded person. I hope you’ll consider following as I’m trying to find more of my “tribe.”