Living with a SEAL

Review:

Life is all about staying out of your comfort zone.

The quote itself defines and redefines the entirety of the book. Jesse Itzler has provided a candid story of living a month with the toughest man, a Navy SEAL. And what a description it has been. Not for a single moment, a reader feel bored and deprived, and that is saying something considering this is a biography/memoir. The narrative style is very simple, easy and straightforward and it helps the reader in emphatising with pain of a gruelling fitness regimen that Jesse undertakes under the tutleage of a Navy SEAL. At the same time, the readers are given a candid glimpse into the lifestyle of one of the most dedicated and elite soldier os the world.

I'd have to bet I'm the only guy on the Upper West Side of NYC with an inflatable raft, an oxygen deprivation tank, a tent, and a SEAL in his apartment.

The book is not only about the physical transformation that takes place after such a gruelling session spanning over a month. It's literally a nugget of wisdom that one can implement in their own lofe; we trnd to make our life complicated, as Jesse himself describes, but the simplicity of life is when you actually live it with dignity, honor and dedication. Its a book that may seem superficial considering who has written it, but it has a lesson that definitely will leave an impression behind.


I hired SEAL because I wanted to get in the best shape of my life. I also hired him because I liked the unexpected, and what better way to take a risk than having a Navy SEAL live with me for a month to train me? Finally, I hired him tonget out if my routinr, to shock the system, to mix things up so I could approach opportunities and challenges differently.

But I got much more than what I paid for.

"Its about protecting what you have," he said to me about bring a SEAL. He might have been talking about defending democracy or freedom or saving us from terrorism. But I think he was talking about protecting something closer to home.

Now that SEAL is gone, I realize I don't need a lot of the crazy stuff in my life. These challenges I keep putting in front of myself to fulfill me. I am not going to do any more of that. I'm staying put and focusing on the little things. I don't beer manufactured adventures in my life to change me.

But maybe the most important thing I learned from SEAL was the level of appreciation he has for difficulty. The harder the training, the more courage it took to do and the more satisfaction was derived from it. SEAL taught me that you only get one shot at life and you should find out what's in your reserve tank.


My favourite quotes:

If you want to be pushed to your limits, you have to train to your limits. If you get hurt, you will recover. What the fuck is the problem?

Every day is a challenge, otherwise it's not a regular day.

Whatever you got going on, someone else has more pain. You gotta learn how to fight through it. No matter what it is... Think about someone else and take a suck-shit pill.

You get pulled in a lot of directions. I know it sounds cliche, but the journey really is more important than the destination. Once you get where you're going, most of the magic drains out.

My opinion: Simply brilliant!!! Definitely recommending it loud and clear.

My rating: 5 out of 5

I loved this book it was very funny and inspired me to exercise more. I would highly recommend this book.

Easy to read and hilarious, this book is great after a stressful day. I particularly enjoyed how the author's wife reacted to SEAL and his antics with easy nonchalance.
*I got a free copy in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley