What am I reading this week? Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven. Here’s my review of this inspirational book of life lessons learned in Navy SEAL training.
Maybe you remember the commencement speech? Back in the spring of 2014, Admiral McRaven gave a speech to the graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin that made headlines.
I remember watching the news in the breakroom at work during one of my many snack breaks (being 6 months pregnant is hungry business) and watching it discussed. And even though I was only giving it half an ear, I remembered this advice: Always make your bed.
Years later, I saw this on the shelf at my local library. I picked it up because I actually always make my bed… since around 2014.
Make Your Bed is born out of that commencement speech. In fact, it’s at the end of the book. But what’s before that is a series of inspirational and anecdotal chapters with advice to help you live a better life, and maybe make the world a better place, too.
My honest opinion about Make Your Bed…
Make Your Bed is an easy read, making the wisdom inside easily accessible. Each chapter is full of life lessons that the Admiral learned while in SEAL training. He follows them with stories of how that lesson was actually applied in his life and work. And then he offers some advice.
I really enjoyed this book for its ideas and its stories. The wisdom is practical and applicable, whether you’re a Navy SEAL or a work-at-home mom. The author often humbled himself by showing his own misjudgements and failures. Because embracing your mistakes is one of the lessons.
My favorite? “Don’t be afraid of the Circus.” Embrace the repercussions of failure because they can make you stronger.
My recommendations
This is a self-improvement book that will appeal to a lot of the people who don’t read self-improvement books. Make Your Bed is very no-nonsense and gets to the heart of the matter.
That being said, I’d recommend it to anyone. I even find myself discussing some of the chapters with my older children because you’re never too young to learn how to handle fear, failure, and unfairness. And we’re never too old either.
Other recommendations on this topic
Here are a few inspirational books that might strike a similar note with you:
- Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Mindset: the New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
I really do make my bed every day because of a 2-minute news clip I saw 6 years ago. I’m curious to see what reading the entire book and speech will do for the rest of my life…
Happy reading!
(Make Your Bed is available for FREE in audiobook form. Just sign up for the FREE AUDIBLE trial and cancel whenever you want!)
So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions for me?
Interested in more on books? Then check out these posts:
What I’m Reading… The Man I Never Met
How to Encourage Variety in Your Reading Life
How to Save Money as a Dedicated Book Lover
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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