By Jocko Willink
This book by Jocko Willink is a narrative on self-improvement focusing on removing distractions and internalizing values to foster a personal plan of growth, fitness, and strength. He emphasizes the need to reduce distractions and avoid egoistic and exuberant displays as well as appetites. Minimizing distractions, and focusing on the mindset that eliminates unnecessary activity from one’s routine, creates an inner disposition that places the individual’s health and resiliency above everything else. Sleeping early and waking early, reducing media distractions, high caloric foods, and being mindful of health, strength, fitness, and training is an important theme throughout the book. Everything in the book is framed towards a mindset of growth. The best part I liked about the book was how he describes responding to everything during military exercises as “good.” Even if there was no inherent goodness in what happened, there is always a silver lining to think about when something on the outside may seem as a failure. Many have heard Jocko on different platforms speaking about his ideas on discipline, fitness and growth, and minimizing excuses that prevent one’s journey on fitness. However, reading his well-formatted book, which has lots of one-word lines and blank spaces to make it an easy read, will capture the ideas in a different way and be inspirational for all who want some type of growth. Although not practical for everyone, it is a reminder that focusing on growth and wellness in whichever way that it might resonate with us is important.
Munsif Bhimani 