Physical abuse, discrimination, and poverty marred David Goggins’ early years, tainting his days and plaguing his nights. But by exercising self-control, mental toughness, and dedicated effort, Goggins went from being a hopeless, overweight young man to being a legendary member of the U.S. Armed Forces and one of the best endurance athletes in the world.
In addition to setting records in several endurance sports, he became the only man in history to complete elite training as an Army Ranger, Navy SEAL, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller. Outside magazine named him “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.”
He tells his incredible life experience in Can’t Hurt Me and shows that most of us only use 40% of our potential. Goggins refers to this as The 40% Rule, and his narrative shows how anybody can overcome suffering, overcome fear, and realize their greatest potential.
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About the Author
David Goggins is the only person in the U.S. Armed Forces to have successfully completed Army Ranger School, Air Force Tactical Air Controller training, and SEAL training and is a retired Navy SEAL. Goggins has the previous Guinness World Record for performing 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours, and he has participated in over seventy ultra-distance events, frequently finishing in the top five.
He is a highly sought-after public speaker who has shared his ideas on mind mastery all over the world. He works as an Advanced Emergency Technician in a large metropolitan emergency room when he’s not talking, and he fights fires in British Columbia’s wildlands during the summer.
Review
“David Goggins is a being of pure will and inspiration. Just listening to this guy talk makes you want to run up a mountain. I firmly believe people like him can change the course of the world just by inspiring us to push harder and dig deeper in everything we do. His goal to be ‘uncommon amongst uncommon people’ is something we can all use to propel ourselves to fulfill our true potential. I’m a better man having met him.”
–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 capacities 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
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“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, the book also teaches you how to leverage and improve your mind.
–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 seek a book that will heal, stretch, inspire, and explore the depths of what it takes to persevere and overcome in a complex world, this is the one for you.
–Taya Kyle, Widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle, Author of New York Times bestseller 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. David Goggins’s inspiring story of overcoming challenges, achieving athletic greatness, serving his country and charities, and mastering his own destiny will motivate us all to strive for greater heights and give 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
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Summary
“Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins is a powerful exploration of human potential, focusing on the power of mental toughness and the transformative potential of adversity. The book highlights the importance of self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work in overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.
Goggins’s belief in the mind as the most powerful tool encapsulates his belief in the transformative potential of adversity. He introduces the concept of the ‘40% Rule,’ which suggests that when our minds tell us we’re done, we’re only 40% done.
He also offers practical advice on building mental toughness, including the ‘Accountability Mirror’ concept, setting high goals, embracing discomfort, and maintaining a relentless work ethic.
Goggins’ experiences in endurance events, such as ultramarathons, demonstrate the power of the mind in enduring extreme physical pain and exhaustion. The book serves as a testament to the power of mental toughness and the belief that with the right mindset, we are all capable of far more than we think.
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