Book Review: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Every now and then when I’m listening to podcasts I hear people mentioning David Goggins’ name. He has quite the reputation. He’s a retired Navy SEAL and ultramarathon runner. People describe him as the most hardcore, ultra-disciplined person they know. And his book, it’s said, is supposed to give readers the inspiration to be just like him. So I was curious to dig into it.
I found the book disappointing.
It’s largely an autobiography of his life. He describes his childhood of abuse, his difficulties joining and staying in the Navy, and the challenges he faced in several of his athletic performances. For example, part of his Navy SEAL training involved intense amounts of running. Unfortunately for him, he had stress fractures in both his shins and a fractured kneecap. Unfortunately for his legs, he really wanted to be a Navy SEAL, so he duct taped his legs and kept going.
In another episode of his life, during his first ultramarathon he overexerted his body so much that he shit himself while he was running. And afterwards, he had dark brown urine from kidney failure.
This, apparently, is the man that people want to emulate.
I do understand the appeal of having such a disciplined mind that nothing can stop you, even fractured legs and kidney failure. But I see Goggins as more of a cautionary tale than an inspiration. This is not the mind of someone who’s mentally healthy. There are ways of living successful, fulfilling lives that don’t require that you punish yourself every day. Yes, discipline can sometimes be helpful. But it’s also possible to live a life that’s motivated by love, joy, and curiosity instead.
As for the strategies he recommends, they might be useful to some, but they’re not especially original. And they’re not so life-changing that it’s worth reading the whole book just to find them. Here are a few below:
1. Create an accountability mirror: Post notes on your mirror to remind yourself of what your goals are.
2. Write down things that make you uncomfortable and do those things.
3. If you’re in a competition, write down who your competitor is. Do so much better than them that you break their spirit.
4. Visualize your successes and the potential challenges that might arise on the path to success.
5. Write up “after action reports”: After facing a challenge, write about the things that went well, things that could have been improved, and how you handled your failure.
That’s basically it. A 5-second prompt on ChatGPT could probably get you a better list.
That said, I think this book would be valuable for some. There are people who believe their childhood trauma is an overwhelming barrier to their success. So they coast through life with chronic mental illness, never really exerting themselves or aspiring to anything greater. David Goggins can serve as a counter-example. Goggins had a truly miserable childhood with a father who regularly beat him. And he was a poor performing student who valorized the thug life. His background genuinely does make his accomplishments all the more remarkable, and they can serve as an inspiration to others who feel held back by a troubled past.