Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds

One of the greatest books I have ever read

Very well written, powerful story with a unique character and attitude, which you can feel very strongly as you read about David's journey. I agree 99% with David, especially his view that "The ticket to victory often comes down to bringing your very best when you feel your worst" (Page 59). I am truly amazed and fascinated with David’s journey and he is no doubt an inspirational individual that everyone can learn from a great deal. However, having said that there is one boxing example in the book, I strongly disagree with on (Page 211-212): “Imagine you’re a boxer, and on your first day in the ring you take one on your chin. It’s gonna hurt like f*****g hell, but at year ten of being a boxer, you won’t be stopped by one punch. You’ll be able to absorb twelve rounds of getting beat the f**k down and come back the very next day and fight again. It’s not that the punch has lost power. Your opponents will be even stronger. The change has happened within your brain. You’ve calloused your mind. Over a period of time, your tolerance for mental and physical suffering will have expanded because your software will have learned that you can take a hell of a lot more than one punch." The problem with this particular example is that there have already been multiple rigorous scientific brain scan studies done investigating the long-term accumulative brain damage from constant concussions sustained over a period of time, especially in boxing. Therefore, continuous punches to the head after 10 years could very likely lead to or significantly increase the risk of serious irreversible consequences such as confusion, headaches, memory loss, social instability, impulsive behavior, dementia, movement disorders, speech impediments, tremors, cognitive disorders and depression. David talks a great deal about his injuries (broken skin & bones, heart surgery) and his incredible ability to be able to persevere with his enormous will power. However, there is a huge difference between braking your skin & bones, which eventually will heal compared to sustaining long-term brain damage, which is simply irreversible! and no amount of will power can regenerate it back to the way it was. Just read about these boxing legends who developed debilitating brain diseases as a direct result of the constant concussions sustained over their boxing career: 1. Sugar Ray Robinson (Developed Alzheimer’s disease) 2. Muhammad Ali (Developed Parkinson’s disease) 3. Jerry Quarry (Developed brain atrophy & dementia) 4. Freddie Roach (Developed Parkinson’s disease) 5. Michael Watson (Sustained serious brain injury, confined to a wheelchair) 6. Meldrick Taylor (Developed dementia) 7. Thomas Hearns (Developed dementia) 8. Riddick Bowe (Sustained brain damage) 9. The list goes on…. My recommendation would be to ignore the ignorant boxing example, because the rest of the book is fantastic and truly inspiring.

The only book that I couldn’t go sleep without finishing another chapter. Very good book and also it inspired me to work more for my goals by simply asking myself. What If?

The self-help, personal improvement genre has grown exponentially in the last few years and some of the books on the matter have become best-sellers. Some of the best known currently are: James Clear's "Atomic Habits", which counts its sales by the millions; and, possibly, the best book on the topic, Dr Julie Smith's "Why has nobody told me this before", which has topped the best-selling books in many languages for well over a year, and it's still selling strongly - and quite deservedly so. "Can't Hurt Me" belongs to that list, even if it's a rather different book - it's much less academic than Dr Smith's opus. It's more of an autobiography, and Mr Goggins uses his shocking life as the background in which he writes his many pieces of advice. It's an uneven book, careless with the prose, very disorganized and the story is full of gaps. And yet it's very, very good. David Goggings is no writer but he knows it and makes no apologies for this. What he lacks in that department he substitutes with spontaneity and warmth (and many, many blasphemies), making it work, so the story reads quite well - so much that in the end the book is as much fun as it contains plenty of sound advice. And in the way, we know of yet another story of a black family in the contemporary America suffering extreme poverty and rampant racism - one can only revolt to read that the KKK was still organizing gatherings - in 1995! In the end, from the almost chaotic style of Mr Goggings, it is impossible not to get at least half a dozen very worthy lessons as simple as they are practical and easy to apply to anyone's everyday life.

Seems like a corny thing to say, but while reading this book I realised I have been living behind self imposed and often imaginary limits. This book encouraged me to test those limits and I am discovering that there is so much more beyond what I thought I could do or even dream. Thanks Dave!

When I hit crossroads in life I always try to see the positive side of things to get me through and invariably I find a book that speaks my language at the time. CAN’T HURT ME by David Goggins is such a book for me at this stage. What this man has endured physically sounds too incredulous to be real and it shows how the body has the ability to heal itself and how the mind has the power to control our fears, our doubts and insecurities, and make us believe we are less than we are - if we ALLOW it! His story and life experiences show us how the mind can become a weapon of self-destruction or the catalyst to our highest level of physical and mental achievement. The ‘10 Challenges’ gets you thinking how we might be using only 40% of our potential, and even though what he says we’ve heard before, he gives it a new spin by telling us to stop wallowing and retreating into our comfort bubbles when it all goes wrong. His approach is to look at ourselves, being unforgiving and owning it so we can move on and try again and keep trying until what we set out to do, no matter what that is, is accomplished. The last chapter really brings home the message because even though when we think we are giving our all, when we are driving ourselves beyond comfort zones, when we believe we are transcending all limitations, taxing our minds and bodies to the limit - we are nowhere near the finish line. We still have so much more within that we’re not even aware of. It’s about being brutally honest about and with ourselves because as he says, “there are countless trails to self-realisation but they all demand discipline “. That teaches us not to focus on what we think we are due or deserving but on having the unwavering courage, determination, discipline and grit to work for what we want to have so we can become the very best version of ourselves. An inspirational read. Highly recommended.

Its a very inspiring book with tons of story about him in the Navy SEAL as well as his personal life. A book that summarise his life with meaningful principles to explain his findings and provide advice for the readers. Although, the stories are very painful to even read, it shows his determination throughout despite going through these painful experiences. My favourite has to be his story about the marathon, which was gruesome but shows the power of willpower through tough times. Overall, I recommend this book for beginners who is getting into these categories of books.

I recently finished reading “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds” and it’s had a profound impact on me. David Goggins’ story is nothing short of extraordinary, and his approach to mental toughness is both eye-opening and motivating. What sets this book apart is its raw honesty. Goggins doesn’t sugarcoat his struggles; instead, he confronts them head-on, sharing powerful lessons learned through adversity. His philosophy on embracing discomfort as a path to growth resonated deeply with me. The practical strategies and challenges presented throughout the book are actionable and effective. They’ve already helped me push through mental barriers I once thought insurmountable. While the book is intense and at times confronting, Goggins’ no-nonsense style is refreshing. His journey from Navy SEAL to ultramarathon runner is a testament to the power of relentless determination and self-discipline. Overall, “Can’t Hurt Me” is a must-read for anyone looking to cultivate resilience and achieve their full potential. It’s not just a book; it’s a blueprint for mastering your mind and embracing life’s challenges.

The only book I keep on re reading and I read in a David Goggings voice this book is not just a book but of this man's journey and I got it in 2020 I am writing now 2026 because book condition is still good and Got this in Hardcover. Should buy this book and read

This book will inspire you to be the best version of yourself. 100% recommend it. No doubts.

Great book

Livraison à temps, colis en bonne état

Es un libro realmente inspirador para cualquier persona en cualquier situación. La forma cruda y real de contar las cosas para mí gusto le da ese toque de cercanía a personas que han pasado por situaciones similares, o que simplemente buscan ser un poco mejores en cualquier área de su vida. Junto a Never Finished, que es el otro libro suyo que también está incluido en la foto porque los pedí juntos, cambiaron mucho mi percepción sobre los límites que tenemos generalmente impuestos como sociedad. Incluso corrí un maratón y en una enorme parte fue gracias a este libro. Lo recomiendo tremendamente!