William H. McRaven

I listened to the audio version of this gem of a book. Since its publication in 2014, it has become a favorite graduation gift, and rightfully so. Admiral McRaven’s book started as a graduation address to the graduates of his alma mater, the University of Texas. The address, and the book, outline a series of lessons about life that McCraven learned while serving as a Navy SEAL, especially during the grueling training to become a SEAL. He begins with his belief that making your bed teaches show more an important lesson about life. I think the most moving part of the book was his description of the fallen soldiers and sailors being brought to Dover AFB to be delivered to their families for burial. He describes the incredible empathy Trump’s Chief of Staff General John Kelly showed to each of the families. That affected McCraven deeply. Kelly was a genuine war hero in his own right who had lost his own son to war and then endured the unbelievable rudeness and thoughtlessness of the man he was serving when both men were planning to attend a cemetery in France. Trump said he didn’t want to go because it was filled with “suckers” and “losers.” This to a man who lost his son defending our country. I can’t imagine the self-control Kelly must have possessed to resist cold cocking the guy. Those are the kinds of heroes Admiral McRaven has and the kinds who inspired him to write this book. I recommend it to everyone, especially young people getting ready to step out into the world. show less

So, there I was, holding my birthday gift from this lovely woman, wondering what I would do with a 'self help' book. My problem was, I did NOT need 'self'' help, I needed people in my life to step up and reach out. And, herein in the pages of this little masterpiece, was what I was looking for! My earlier, innocuous remark to my gift-giver, about how my day always held lots in store for me when I made my bed was explained in glorious detail as to just why that was. And the doctrine of the show more 'self' that so many of these 'advice' books preach, as they are too steeped in "individualism," was pleasantly turned on its head. This writer, a Navy Seal, pushes back against the 'you own this' ethic to stress team work, having a 'buddy' system, communicating, reaching out when in trouble, and watching out for one another ceaselessly: there is none of this "me, me, me!" Bravo! show less

“Sir, I will be fine.” These are not the words of Admiral William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired). They are the words spoken to the Admiral by a wounded United States soldier. They are also a great example of what makes Admiral McRaven’s memoir so powerful. In an environment of leadership infected by the lowest common denominator of our society’s impulses, Sea Stories offers evidence of leadership that aims to our nation’s highest aspirations. More importantly, it tells the stories show more of the men and women whose service under these leaders illuminates the continued hope for the truths we hold to be self-evident. show less

In 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven (US Navy Retired) delivered a commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin. The speech encompassed ten lessons that stuck with him from his time training as a Navy SEAL. MAKE YOUR BED revisits the speech, expanding on Admiral McRaven’s stories as he explains how it’s the “little things that can change your life…and maybe the world.” This was a good book for a quick motivational read.

“And while these lessons were learned during my show more time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform.”

MAKE YOUR BED is accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Despite using many examples from military life, the messages of the book are clear even if the reader knows little about the military. The book is written in a friendly, matter-of-fact tone which I appreciated as compared to some self-help books that come across rather condescending. show less