Can't Hurt Me
For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare--poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force tactical air controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him the Fittest (Real) Man in America. In Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40 percent of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.
Stats for nerds
29recommend
39mentions
37people
2018–2026years
79% recommend18% neutral3% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Feeling like a tough-love self-help kick? Try Can't Hurt Me. Want something research-backed instead? Try Thinking, Fast and Slow.
That's what Book Finder by Dialogue does - you specify a mood, we tell you the book that matches it.
Every book is scored across 11 reading dimensions (tone, depth, pace, evidence style). You can also just describe your situation in plain language and it'll set the sliders for you.
Free, no sign-up, book data from Open Library.
Built by the team behind Dialogue
- I got into audiobooks this year and so have “read” a lot more than usual. Here are some of the most memorable:
Outlive by Attia - wouldn’t take everything he says as gospel but he helped me focus on what is really important in health and fitness and why
I am a Strange Loop by Hofstadter - trying to get a grasp on Gödels incompleteness theorem, but this book is a lot more. I particularly enjoyed the bits about Albert Schweitzer, and the chapter on his late wife, how we host the souls of others crudely on our own hardware. Helpful book in the age of AI.
The Man from the Future by Bhattacharya, a Von Neumann biography. Really helped understand the context of this great man’s achievements.
On the Edge by Silver. The signal and the noise was a lot better (which I read last year)
Benjamin Franklin by Isaacson. Fascinating renaissance man, interesting tour through US history
Can’t Hurt Me by Goggins. This book helped me through some emotionally difficult times and has some really great life advice (mixed with some really self-destructive behavior)
The Misbehavior of Markets by Mandelbrot, Hudson. Currently reading this, so far pretty fascinating
- I’m glad to hear they were helpful! David Goggins two books are great as well, and probably in line with your current themes. Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished. Highly recommend the audiobooks for those too.
- Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41721428-can-t-hurt-me)
Also see my sibling comment above.
- Not a single advice, but David Goggins "Can't hurt me" was a game changer for me.
- Hey mate, as it takes courage to open up like that, I congratulate you for taking that step.
Because you said you are losing the drive, I strongly recommend to work from within so that you regain your drive, confidence, mojo, whatever the inner thing that will make you wake up with the desire of conquering the world.
Before spending those 50k, what do you think about joining a gym, maybe hire a coach to help you lose some weight and get into a better shape?
Regular workout will boost key hormones in your body, ultimately leading to increase in your drive.
I think you can do it man.
Don’t give up and stay strong!
Book recommendation:
You Can’t Hurt Me - David Goggins
