makeyourbedreview2024

[makeyourbedreview2024]

Reflection

What did you, the reader, take away from this book? Did you learn anything new while reading it or gain a new perspective on the topics covered?

When first reading the book I thought it was just another self-help book, but, reading further in I realized this was from the perspective of a man who has completed one of the world's hardest challenges, and has real experience to convey. I learned about how simple things in life can make the most difference. Everyone has the tools to change the world from making you bed to being a Navy Admiral, it all just depends on how you use the tools.

If you were to give this book a score, from 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best), what score would you give it and why?

I would score this book a 5/5! I thoroughly enjoy books about the military or service, but this one not only had that aspect, but much more. I liked how it gave the lesson of the chapter right at the beginning and then proceeded to explain it to you from the perspective of McRaven and his seal training, to then translating into terms that the average person could comprehend!

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Theme

A theme I perceived from the story is "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." In Chapter 4 we see how McRaven was forced to jump into freezing water and then roll around and get fully covered in sand for the rest of the day for no apparent reason. Having to complete the remainder of the day covered head-to-toe in sand was one of the most uncomfortable situations McRaven claims he was in, but he end with, "I no longer feel uncomfortable as easy no matter where I am." Additionally we hear about "The Circus" in Chapter 5 which is an additional two hours of workout that is designed to make you quit after the already rigorous standard training day. Being granted "The Circus" is a punishment for finishing in the lower end of class that day. McRaven claims those were some of the moments he truly considered quitting. As he kept getting more circus sessions under his belt as punishment, he began seeing improvement as his body and mind became stronger from the additional workout. Both of these chapters have situations where the odds are against McRaven, but, no matter what he comes out stronger.

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Summary of Book

Make Your Bed is a self-help book written from the point of view of Navy Admiral William H. McRaven. The book is a testament to his time in the infamous BUDS Training, as a Navy Seal Operator, and his promotion climb as Admiral of the Pacific Fleet. Through short chapters of his career, he explains simple life lessons and practices, such as making your bed, that can make you a better person and give you the tools to change the world. The story goes in chronological order all leading up to his highly-regarded commencement speech at the 2014 University of Texas - Austin graduation.

We see throughout the story McRaven going through Basic Underwater Demolition / Seals (BUDS) training. He recounts the biggest moments of training that led to him forming the lessons conveyed in the story and gives a translation into everyday life. Some moments include the bell (the quit option), sugar cookies (long-term communicability), and the circus (additional training designed to provoke quitting). Each chapter opens with a quote or phrase that is repeated somewhere in the chapter at the peak moment of understanding of the phrase and how it correlates to Navy Seal Training and everyday life. The overarching idea of the book is that the smallest changes to daily life and practices can cause ten-fold in positive outcomes.

[makeyourbedreview2024]

Character and Topic Development

Character: William H. McRaven - In the beginning of the story we get an overview of Navy Seal Training and McRaven's fears going in as a "tadpole" (Navy Seal Recruit). We see how his fears and doubts cripple him in the earlier lessons of the story earning him more berating and punishments from his instructors. As the story progresses we see how his mind shifts from being fearful of punishment, but welcoming it as he came to realize physically and mentally that the more he took on, the stronger he became.

Topic: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - As mentioned, we see throughout the story different punishments and ridiculous tasks instructors would give to McRaven. A few to mention include "The Circus" which was an additional two hours of calisthenics after the regular training day and becoming a "Sugar Cookie" where you would jump into the ocean and then roll on the beach until you were covered in sand which would be your state for the whole day. We see McRaven's mindset changing throughout the story of him becoming thankful as opposed to resentful for the punishments because overtime he goes from a projected failure to the top performer which according to McRaven he has the punishments to thank for.

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Setting of the Story

Majority of the story took place in Coronado, California; where the infamous Navy Seal BUDS Training took place. Throughout the story we see him in various settings in Coronado and the Western Coastline including his bunkhouse, the beach, deep water swims, and Tijuana, Mexico. Each of these locations had an effect on the story by being ground zero for the lessons being conveyed. All of the lessons and corresponding settings lead up to the 2014 University of Texas - Austin graduation where McRaven delivered the Commencement Speech where he described the lessons displayed in the story.

The settings of the story convey the harsh conditions and location of the training itself. The story describes the harshness of the water being very cold, choppy, and shark infested. As well as the mud flats in Tijuana, Mexico that were freezing, clumpy, and breathing restrictive. Of course, being on a Military training base added the effect of aggressive instructors making McRaven's time in Coronado "Hell." But, all settings lead to University of Texas - Austin Commencement Speech adding the concept that all road lead to success.

[makeyourbedreview2024]

Released in April of 2017, the self-help book "Make Your Bed" was written by Navy Admiral William H. McRaven.