The inspirational story of David Goggins and his road to becoming a Navy Seal rising out of poverty.

Can´t Hurt Me by David Goggins is an autobiography detailing the arduous journey that David Goggins overcame to become a Navy Seal. The first several chapters are an account of David Goggins on the trauma and abuse he encountered in his early childhood in Buffalo, the son of Trunnius and Jackie. Trunnius was the owner of a rollerskating rink called Skateland, from the age of five David was forced to work long nights along with his Mother who received no pay despite her work from the alcoholic Trunnis.

Whenever David would get tired or say anything back to his father, Trunnius would whoop him for minutes upon minutes, so much so that David grew numb to these beatings. Jackie David´s mother was also abused and constantly was in danger of Trunnius snapping at her.

One day Trunnius pointed a Gun at David after school, threatening his life, when David was only 7. Due to the incomprehensible amounts of trauma that David faced as a child, his time at school was a struggle, causing him to miss out on much learning. The constant abuse drove David´s mother to scheme a plan to Escape Buffalo with David and his brother. The escape was successful despite Trunnius following their car for hours.

David his mom and his Brother ended up in the rural Indiana town of Brazil, where Jackie´s Parents lived Being a single Mother Jackie was suffering in Extreme poverty in Brazil, even after finally getting a place of her own they still struggled. In Brazil, David was the subject of constant racist harassment from his peers as the only black kid in the entire small town. Jackie eventually dated a man with whom David became extremely close, the nearest thing he ever had to a proper father, Until he was murdered. All this trauma throughout childhood compelled David to look for an escape, the airforce was his preferred option, as David´s grandfather had served in this branch

. Before Freshman Year David took an introductory class for Air Force pararescue, which remained his ambition throughout high school. During His high school years, David a long failed student had a spark in him to try harder in school to support his military career. David ended up enlisting in Air Force pararescue, and at first, everything was going well and he was flying through training.

During a water training session though David almost drowned and eventually he was diagnosed with sickle cell, leading him with the options of getting a different role in the airforce or taking buds again. David chose the former option and served for 5 years in the airforce, despite this he never truly felt a purpose in his tenure.

After being discharged from the Airforce David took a new job working for a company called Eco Lab, installing mouse traps in kitchens. During this time David began to put on massive amounts of weight, peaking at 300 pounds, in both in muscle and fat. After working the night shift David would drink a milkshake and eat massive amounts of fruit loops and other unhealthy foods. At this point David was drifting through life, going through a divorce and lacking any true purpose or inspiration, One day David overheard a t.v excerpt on Navy seals, Inspired by what he had heard,

David contacted recruiters, however, David had to lose 110 pounds in 3 months in order to become eligible. David ate healthy, threw away all his junk, and began to work out up to 10 hours a day, and study for 4. The weight soon began to drop, but the next hurdle was staring directly at him, It was the test needed to pass to be allowed into Sea. training. David dedicated himself to studying for this test, and when he finally took it he passed by the skin of his teeth.

David finally was able to start Navy Seal training in San Diego, with hell week, the week of pure torture. Seals are required to perform incredibly difficult physical tasks for up to 20 hours a day on little sleep,, challenging them not only physically but mentally. David faced hell week , and passed the top of his class. However, in post-hell week training, David developed a broken leg forcing him to get rolled back into the next seal class. Barely being able to walk David once again defied all the odds and passed his third hell week.

Navy Seal training continued and David overcame all the obstacles and finally graduated, on his 2nd attempt after a year of training, many broken bones, grief, and frustrations, David Goggins had at last achieved his goal. David credits his transformation to the change of mindset he had, away from laziness and towards accountability, He would always accomplish what he forced himself to do in a day no matter how tough he would not sell short. After completing Navy Seal training David was sent on deployment to Iraq, when David returned, he learned of the death of 4 of his fellow Navy seals in a helicopter crash David decided to honor his fallen brothers by running the badwater 135 race, one of the hardest on earth, despite his feet being broken, and puking blood, David finished the race. To this day David ultramarathons and is a motivational speaker.

Reaction

Can´t hurt me left me having an extreme feeling of admiration towards the mental and physical toughness that David Goggins gained from surpassing the obstacles he has faced and persevered to surmount throughout his treacherous life It amazes me how an extremely out of shape fat 300 pound, uneducated 29 year old was able to transform himself in less than half a year into a navy seal able to complete hell week. This shows me the reality that nothing is impossible no matter how far fetched things may seem on the surface.

This motivates me to exert my fullest effort to achieve the fullest potential I can. Hearing David write about his routine of biking for 2 hours on an exercise bike, doing pull ups, deadlifts, squats for another 2 hours, running 10 miles, and biking another 2, pushes me to do more than just the minimum as an athlete. I feel inspiration from everything that David achieved, but even more so from the workhe put in, which can apply to any goal I have, such as getting into u.c schools, and becoming a better water polo player.

Striving for becoming something great as only the few can, vs becoming good as so many can helps me with mindset. Even more so the message of self-accountability that David writes about compels me to start to hold myself accountable towards the goals I set, to the highest degree. I can not sell myself short when striving for greatness, missing one lap on a swimset may not impact my performence, but it is so much deeper than that. That 1 lap is selling myself short, no matter how unimportant it may seem. In so many ways can´t hurt me is the most compelling and transformational book I have ever read. I have learned new way of looking at work, from reading this book. The inspiration that I gained from this book runs deep, as does my admiration for David. I recommend reading this book to anyone who is working towards achieving a goal, whether it be graduating college, or finishing a mile, This book is going to inspire and compel you.