Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven
My review
2/5 stars
The premise of the book was interesting enough - the idea that the simpler tasks, such as making your bed every morning, are the things that keep your life on track. Sadly, I didn't engage with the delivery of that content well.
The life lessons discussed in this book are the same basic fundamentals that are talked about in most self-help books - ask for help, be resilient, persevere, etc. If you are new to the topic, it might written in a format that works for you, and gives you some inspiration to get going, but that person is not me.
What I struggled with the most was the way that his Navy Seal background was woven through the story. Obviously, I expected some of this, given that it's the basis for some of the marketing material around the book, but it was so prevalent in the writing that it ended up feeling more like a memoir with some token self-help advice rather than the inspirational guidebook that it was sold as. It's a hard background for most readers to relate to, so to have it be so front-and-centre seems an odd editorial choice.
Book blurb
Struggling to find structure? Finding yourself lacking motivation?
Start by making your bed.
Maintaining routine and structure is more important than ever in the age of home working, flexi-time and the general chaos of life.
In Make Your Bed, Admiral William H. McRaven shares 10 life lessons he learned during his Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his long Naval career, but also throughout his life.
He will teach you how to . . .
· Master the essential daily habits for staying grounded
· Learn how to keep your mind calm and ready for the day ahead
· Find solace and companionship in the people around you
· Cope with setbacks and keep moving forward
· Stray beyond your comfort zone and take risks
Written with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple and universal wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire every reader.
More...
You can buy the book here now. It was published by Penguin.
For more on the author, you can check out his Goodreads page.
