Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life

by Mark Divine

From former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, father, and New York Times bestselling author Mark Divine comes Uncommon – an inspirational book following Mark Divine's trademark warrior monk philosophy that will lead you to the summit of personal development.

To be common is to be an everyday person. It's to do the things that you are expected to do, whether that's what your parents want for you, or your employer, or your spouse, et cetera. But if you want to be more than you are, more than you think you can be, then you need to recognize and learn from your mistakes to lead a life of excellence.

As an elite Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, author, speaker, professor of leadership, and philanthropist, as well as the creator of SEALFIT, Kokoro Yoga, and Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine uses years of wisdom, business development, martial arts, eastern philosophy and military experience to take you through life's most important principles for finding your pursuit of excellence--so that you or anyone with the proper motivation can become uncommon.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Personal Development

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 16, 2024

About the author

MARK DIVINE is a former Navy SEAL and has trained thousands of aspiring Navy SEALs. He owns and runs the SEALFIT Training Center in San Diego, California where he trains thousands of professional athletes, military professionals, SWAT, First Responders, SOF candidates and everyday people looking to build strength and character.

Reviews

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life” by Navy SEAL and entrepreneur Mark Divine, is a non-fiction examination of how to live your life to the fullest and reach your full potential.

For those readers who aren’t familiar with the traditional therapeutic methods like journaling, meditation and mindfulness, this book will provide you with some strategies to try that will help you focus on the here and now, and will help you determine your true self, so you can fulfill your potential and live your truth. I am not one of those readers. I have first-hand experience with cognitive behavioural therapy (through my own education, work life and personal life) and many of its methods are unsuccessful to me, including meditation. So, if you are like me in that way, be prepared- Divine won’t offer anything you haven’t already heard before.

That being said, Divine has some useful information to pass on. Divine uses his own concept of “mountains” as an ideology in this book, providing readers with ways to overcome their own hurdles in order to succeed. For example, Divine uses his Navy SEALS training to offer tips on how to get over your “physical mountains” and be the healthiest and fittest you can possibly be. Using his training as a yogi, he suggests mindfulness and encourage meditation to encourage readers to surpass their “mental mountain” and identifies his connection with his religion as a method to overcoming his “spiritual mountain”. I found this concept helpful when it came to visualizing, and it is very generalizable.

Although nothing was new to me within Divine’s pages, he has a really interesting personal background and I enjoyed hearing him talk about it. He provides anecdotes and personal stories and even ends each section with an uncomplicated activity for readers to help them fully understand the process. Divine is definitely convinced that his method will help everyone become “uncommon” (lead a life of excellence based on your own personal truth) and it seems extremely easy and practical on paper. I can see Divine’s “Uncommon” method reaching a large audience, and the book itself does not inundate the reader with hard to digest language, nor does Divine patronize readers. He simply reaches out to the masses directly and personally, and it’s easy to connect with Divine and his theories through his writing.

“Uncommon” is a book for anyone looking for that little extra push to try something new or to take a chance in life. Divine just may provide the needed motivation to help you become the person you are truly meant to be.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I got a copy of Uncommon, simple principles for an extraordinary life by Mark Divine for @stmartinspress and I was immediately intrigued.

I don’t spend much time taking care of my mental wellbeing and this book lays it out in a way even my brand new brain could handle. There were exercises to do. Simple things like drinking fresh water all day, get enough sleep. The obvious things a lot of us overlook.

My favorite parts were the visualization practice exercises to do. There were some great parts about intuition and the whole book was a real game changer for me.

Exercise 10 -end the regret. This section about regret is probably the most humbling for me. It’s one of my biggest problems in my life and I am making steps towards that destiny I keep hearing about.

It is a solid self help book and I think if you are looking to step into a better you… this book should be at the top of your pile.

You have to wait a little while for it to be published but July will be here before you know it!

4.5 stars @realmarkdivine your book has aligned my path back to where it needs to be 🙏

#beuncommon #uncommonbook #markdivine #selfhelp #bookishreview #bookloverreview #igreview #bookcommunity #mentalhealth #mindbodywellness #readersoftheworld #readingtoday

[Amberleigh Million • a.millionbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺."

I actually don't read a lot of self help books because many of the ones I've picked up in the past come off as a bit preachy for me. But I really enjoyed this! So much so that I went to put it in my ARC pile for my next giveaway but took it out because I think I'll reference back to it. So I'm sorry but y'all will have to find your own copy 😂

The author is a former Navy SEAL, but don't let that intimidate you. The full title is true in that his principles are rather simple. I didn't feel overwhelmed by suggestions and/or ways to improve myself. Everything I read actually felt realistic and doable. His principles are about "climbing the five mountains of consciousness to self-mastery in service to others" with your mountains being the following: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Intuitional, and Spiritual.

I went back and forth between my physical copy and listening to the audio. While I did enjoy listening, there are a few graphs and lists that I preferred to see on paper. But either way you choose, I think you'll find something in the book that you can apply to your daily or long-term life that will help you to be uncommon.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a practical self help book. Divine covers five areas he calls mountains: physical, mental, emotional, intuitive and spiritual. He draws from his own experiences as well as a number of studies. He encourages readers to do the work of accessing our untapped potential, breaking free from limiting conditioning. He has a contract early on to encouragement a commitment to the process.

He has good tips and plenty of practical exercises as well as reviews of the major points at the end of each chapter. Much of the information may not be new to those who frequent self help books. I do like his addressing potential objections to taking on his exercises. I also like his suggesting reflective journaling. My favorite teaching was on BOO (background of obviousness), hidden mental issues and energy that can trigger reactionary behavior. He has a practical plan to recognize the roots and then deal with them, such as forgiving ones self.

This is a good self help book for anyone who would like a framework to address limiting beliefs and start on the journey to being someone uncommon.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to preview it to decide if it would be a good gift. I think it is.

I believe it is a book that should be read and then reread carefully to get the most of the text.

[sammi_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sure Mark Divine has a great many fans who will enjoy this book, however I didn't feel like I gained anything from it. The advice and exercises were incredibly generic. I usually hope to gain a few small practices from any self-help book but didn't find a single item here to adopt. I think the issue was how broad it went, spouting off cliches.

The book at one point said there was no fluff but without having something detailed for me to sink my teeth into, the whole thing felt like regurgitated fluff from other self-help books and articles. The new thing for me was calling fears "boos" which is adorable and something I might do with my toddler.

I did find the author a bit egotistical, but that can be good when trying to get people to listen to what you say. There were elements of personality that were more fit SEAL exercise buff, spiritualist meditative dude and part fratboy telling you to just f*ing go for it (although he said it nicer). The writing reflected these three perspectives, which I found to be a unique mix in one person. I think it kept the book from being one note and is a big positive for it .

I'd like to thank both St. Martin's Press and Mark Divine for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own. I didn't care for it, but that doesn't mean you won't. This book releases mid-July, so keep an eye out!

#BeUncommon #UncommonBook

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am used to reading books by Navy SEALs who tell me that I am a loser and I need to toughen up and get my life together, which I guess I kind of like because I rolled my eyes when Mark said, "Speak my truth".

I am really glad I kept reading though and gave this book a chance. For anyone who does not like that typical ex-military attitude, you should try reading this book. Even stories from his SEAL days were a great addition. They weren’t just typical war stories. They actually helped explain his points about teamwork, perseverance, and leadership.

Mark shares a lot of practical advice and lessons about pushing yourself to be better, stronger, and more focused that really make you think about how you approach life and personal growth. He breaks down ideas like mental toughness and discipline into actionable steps that are actually doable. Not easy but simple.

It’s not just about physical strength; it’s about building mental clarity, emotional strength, and a mindset that helps you tackle any challenge. He even covers situational awareness which is not common for this genre and something I want to focus on more.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Arc!

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to laugh a little bit as I was winding down my time with Mark Divine's "Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life."

After all, if everyone becomes uncommon doesn't that make them common?

Seriously, though, "Uncommon" furthers the efforts of Divine to inspire people toward reaching the summit of personal development. A New York Times bestselling author, Divine is also a formr Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, father, philanthropist, and creator of SEALFIT, Kokoro Yoga, and Unbeatable Mind.

"Uncommon" reveals simple principles to move toward an extraordinary life. Divine stresses this isn't a "perfect" life, which doesn't actually exist, but instead a life where one recognizes and learns from mistakes and moves toward a life of excellence.

To be clear, Divine refers to being common as being "an everyday person" guided less by oneself and more by the expectations of others - parents, employers, spouses, etc. Divine, on some level, understands this as he started out studying economics at Colgate University before obtaining his MBA at NYU and becoming a CPA. It was after this occurred that Divine began to realize a sense of call toward a different life that became expressed through Zen meditation, Seido Karate, and finally by his moving away from being a CPA and entering Navy SEAL training.

"Uncommon" is a weaving together of Divine's life - wisdom, business leadership, eastern philosophy, martial arts, and military experience are all pieces of the puzzle put together by Divine in "Uncommon." Divine has a passionate belief that anyone with the proper motivation can become uncommon and live the extraordinary life.

I must confess that as I began my time with "Uncommon," I struggled mightily. I struggled with, and still struggle with, Divine's views on "common" and I couldn't help but feel like there's a certain amount of privilege that radiates throughout "Uncommon." I longed for Divine to cast a wider net in his messaging and to build a stronger bridge for the principles of "Uncommon" to come to life in different ways.

This started to manifest as "Uncommon" unfolded, Divine's military meets meditative personality coming to life as he talked about the necessity of connection, courage, and compassion. The lessons being taught by Divine moved into applicability and this is where "Uncommon" shines as he works through the importance of mental toughness, emotional resilience, intuition, and spirit in living an uncommon life wherever you happen to be in life.

As a 58-year-old with spina bifida who was originally given 3 days to live and no hope of living an independent life, I began to resonate with Divine's messaging for my own life as an activist who has traveled over 6,000 miles in my wheelchair, held dozens of fundraisers, started a 5k event now in its 21st year, and accomplished a myriad of feats most considered impossible.

"Uncommon" is a book that will resonate with those who have grown weary of living for the expectations of others and long to live a different and more extraordinary life. While you may not resonate with everything that Divine writes, and I certainly didn't, it's nearly impossible to not get caught up in his commitment, compassion, and enthusiasm for transforming the lives of others.

[Nathan White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two monks were traveling together when they came to a river with a strong current. They spotted a young woman waiting, unable to cross alone. Despite the sacred vow they’d taken not to touch women, the older monk picked her up, crossed the river successfully, and set her down on the other side.

The younger monk was aghast but kept it to himself. An hour passed, then two hours, then three, until he could no longer take it.

“Why did you carry that woman when we took a vow as monks not to touch women?” he asked, agitated.

The older monk replied, “I set her down hours ago by the side of the river. Why are you still carrying her?”

Mark Divine is best known for his best-sellers “Unbeatable Mind” and “Staring Down The Wolf,” which both address his philosophy for developing the mindset and processes for reaching one's 20x potential. These two books focused on the individual within the framework of a team, which is no surprise, as Divine is a former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander turned entrepreneur. I have read and enjoyed both books immensely, but understand that these titles are squarely aimed at either Navy SEAL recruits or Type A, hard-charging business types who need to reframe their leadership style.

“Uncommon” finds Divine back on familiar ground, but his writing here is aimed at the everyday person who may not have much experience with journaling, meditation, breathing exercises, or visualization practice.

If you’re familiar with Stoicism, he integrates many of its tenets into his work, such as always being present, not dwelling on the past (see opening story), or living in fear of the future.

The reader could be anyone from a college student to a busy parent and find plenty of value within the pages. Divine outlines the book with his “5 Mountains” principle as follows:

Mastering Your Physical Mountain
Mastering Your Mental Mountain
Mastering Your Emotional Mountain
Mastering Your Intuitional Mountain
Mastering Your Spiritual Mountain

Each part contains personal stories, research, and lessons that build up to exercises the reader can use as part of their personal development. The book is fairly short, but it contains A LOT of great information that is actionable right away.

In my opinion, the best books in this category always have a contract page. I love that because the lessons resonate more powerfully once you actually sign your name on the dotted line. (Make a copy for yourself in case you ever loan out the book!)

The personal growth / self-help category is completely saturated with titles. So why read this one?

Divine is a straight shooter who refuses to patronize the reader with his long list of professional accomplishments and successes. He uses practical examples, many of which were his own personal screw ups, and gives the reader immediatley actionable exercises. He also expects you to have skin in the game and do the work!

I respect that and will continue to enthusiastically share his inspiring teaching.

5 stars

[Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Divine's "Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life" presents a holistic framework for personal development by guiding readers through five metaphorical mountains: physical, mental, emotional, intuitional, and spiritual. Each mountain represents a different aspect of growth, and by mastering each one, individuals can transcend the ordinary and achieve an extraordinary life.

The physical mountain is the starting point, emphasizing the importance of an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. Regular exercise, hydration, and mindful nutrition lay the foundation for vitality, longevity, and brain health. Building social connections further supports physical health, highlighting the importance of community in overall well-being.

Moving to the mental mountain, readers are encouraged to cultivate focus, metacognition, and clarity of purpose. Practices like breathwork and concentration meditation enhance cognitive function, while journaling and visualization help individuals discover and manifest their true calling, aligning their actions with their values and goals.

The emotional mountain addresses the integral role emotions play in our thoughts and behaviors. By managing thought-driven emotions, individuals can transform fear into courage, fostering emotional resilience. Positive thinking, reinforced by morning mantras and conscious emotional regulation, can significantly impact one's mental and physical health.

The intuitional mountain focuses on developing intuition, a form of intelligence that is often overlooked. Mindfulness practices, right-brained activities, and a deeper connection with one's inner and outer awareness help unlock intuitive abilities. This heightened intuition enables quicker, more accurate responses to challenges and opportunities.

Finally, the spiritual mountain encourages alignment between the heart and mind, a concept known as kokoro in Japanese philosophy. By balancing inner reflection with outward action, individuals can achieve spiritual fulfillment. The journey is underscored by virtues like simplicity, boldness, courage, and commitment, guiding individuals toward a harmonious life.

Through these five mountains, Divine offers a comprehensive path to becoming uncommon, emphasizing that greatness is attainable for anyone willing to commit to the journey. The process is demanding but leads to a life of fulfillment and impact, transforming not just the individual but also their world.

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah yes a former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, father, and New York Times bestselling author who says nothing new but hey I suppose it's good for beginners who know nothing of basic wellbeing strategies like journalling, meditiation and mindfulness. Less of a personal philosophy and more of a 'hey I wrote a book' moment. Gets some credit for the personal anecdotes, and not using fancy language to patronise readers, it's simply an attempt to personally connect with the masses, unfortunately I didn't gain anything from reading the book myself

Notes:
- Strong relationships have been found to be more critical for longevity than genetics or willpower, and they play a significant role in overall well-being – surpassing even smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure as risk factors.
- By consciously and consistently feeding courage and starving fear, you can reverse the direction of your thought and feeling spirals from downward to up. For instance, viewing fear simply as a signal from your nervous system can help you remain poised and see the trigger as an opportunity to unlock an untapped reserve of your potential.

Things I know about but could try again:
- yoga
- Reflect on questions such as: What do I dislike? What do I suffer doing? What do I enjoy? When do I thrive? What am I passionate about? Evaluate whether your current pursuits align with these core interests and values.
- Lastly, consider engaging in a right-brained activity such as music, movement, literature, or a visual or martial art, all of which can develop and refine intuitive awareness.
- From here, adopting the “one day, one life” mindset will encourage you to live mindfully in the present as you enjoy the view from the peaks of personal development. Treat each day as if it were your first and only, making the most of every second.

Quotes:
- "𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺."

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult to objectively rate a self-help book. What provides incredible insights for one person may not click for someone else, so it's great for the first person and less so for the second. Therefore, I'm going with overall writing quality and structure for the star rating - the author is clearly an experienced presenter on this topic, and his narration reflects his podcast experience. While everyone's mileage will vary, in general I think this would be most helpful to people with the following qualities:

*You are financially secure and/or have few dependents and are considering a career change.
*Physical fitness is an important part of your life, or you want it to be.
*You are outdoorsy and/or live somewhere that is safe and pleasant to spend time outside.
*You are open to a small dose of new age concepts but aren't quite at the point of breaking out the crystals and incense.
*You are part of (or at least closely adjacent to) the dominant culture where you live, so you are likely to be graced with the benefit of the doubt and second/third chances in trying new things.

If that sounds like you and you're looking for some inspiration, give this one a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Susan]

Do you think of yourself as common? According to the author to be common is being an everyday person. Being common is to do that you what is expected to do, whoever wants you to do it — for example your employer, your spouse or even your parents. However if you want to be more than common, then you must recognize the mistakes you have made and recognize your mistakes to lead a life to excellence.” The author takes you through life’s most important principles for finding your pursuit of excellence. If one get the motivation due to finding life’s most importance principles for finding your pursuit of excellence so that you can be uncommon. The author gives tips on how to become an uncommon person.

What I liked about this book, was his understanding and knowledge he shared with the reader. He has a statement that he asks you to commit to his way to become uncommon. His writing is clear and easy to read/follow. It’s potential to make a person uncommon is definitely there…

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life by Mark Divine is an interesting entry in the self-development inspiration field. The author has a unique perspective or methodology in combining elements from his Seal Team days, Zen training and personal experience. This has all been done before so it’s not new information. His personal story is inspiring and honestly is he’d just told that and how he motivated himself apart from what he’s trying to build and package here that alone would be great. I’m always wary of programs that require lots of new kitschy acronyms and strive to generate that we’re an elite club feel. I don’t think he goes deep enough to help anyone understand how to get there in any of the point. It’s a worth read as a starting point and then you build from it.

#Uncommon #Netgalley

[Jill Paulson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Divine's Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life presents a collection of motivational principles drawn from his experiences as a Navy SEAL and business leader. The book offers practical advice and actionable steps for personal growth and leadership, making it a useful read for those seeking inspiration and structure in their lives.

However, the book's simplicity is both its strength and its weakness. While the principles are straightforward and easy to grasp, some readers might find the content somewhat repetitive and lacking in depth. The anecdotes and examples, though inspiring, sometimes feel a bit generic and could benefit from more detailed exploration.

Overall, Uncommon is a solid read for anyone looking for a boost in motivation and discipline, but it may not provide the profound insights that more seasoned self-help readers might be seeking.

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blinkist app book of the day excerpts:

1-Physical inactivity is now recognized as a global pandemic, contributing significantly to preventable deaths. As a result, becoming physically active is the first step in your personal development journey.

2-Every human has been allocated a svadharma, but it’s on us to individually identify and commit to it.

To uncover what yours might be, engage in contemplative journaling to identify your likes and dislikes. This process clarifies your purpose and helps you understand your archetypal energies. Reflect on questions such as: What do I dislike? What do I suffer doing? What do I enjoy? When do I thrive? What am I passionate about? Evaluate whether your current pursuits align with these core interests and values.

[MacKayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some great tips for anyone looking to improve their mental, physical, and spiritual health, especially if you're new to things like mindfulness and self-care. If you've already tried things like meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy, you might not find anything super new, but the author's idea of using "mountains" as a way to think about life's challenges is pretty cool. The exercises, especially the ones on visualization and letting go of regret, are easy to follow and can really help. Each chapter has practical examples of hands on activities that can be done to practice each of the mountains and reach your goals of being more balanced in all areas of life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but all opinions expressed are my own.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book argues that to achieve excellence, you must break free from societal expectations and embrace your unique potential. Drawing on his experiences in the military, business, and Eastern philosophy, the author provides practical tools and principles to help you overcome obstacles, find your purpose, and live a life of uncommon achievement.

The introduction of this book feels very “motivational speaker-y,” but the rest of the book is filled with practical advice. It’s entertaining, informative, and fun to read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Kapiolani · Rating 1 out of 5]

He says in the introduction "Some you may think I'm just another Navy seal loser telling you to toughen up but nothing could be further from the truth." He then proceeds to spend the rest of the book basically telling you to toughen up. At the start of the next chapter he says 'I'm making you sign a contract' He proceeds to talk about how obesity is a number one killer yet obesity is a made up term created by internalized fatphobic people who believe that the 'BMI' is a true indictation of health and have never believed in or listened to the research behind Health At Every Size.
What a terrible excuse for a book. If I could give it 0 stars I would.

Thanks so much for the arc NetGalley

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

. I absolutely loved reading Uncommon by Mark Divine. He outlines easy to digest and implement strategies to help improve life. I found his communication style to be down to earth and the advice given to be understandable and realistic. I am glad to have been introduced to this author and I will definitely be seeking out more of his material. Uncommon was positive, uplifting and outlined strategies for success that I was able to put in to place in my life without difficulty. Although I had heard some of the information presented before, the clear and concise presentation found in this book was just right for my brain to process and implement.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧: 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲’𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞!

From therapeutic activities to accepting your mistakes and learning from them, Mark uses his own life experiences and ways of coping to give you some much needed advice and tips. Of course most of these have been done before, but it’s never a bad thing to be reminded of ways to make yourself happy and extraordinary.

Thanks to @stmartinspress and @realmarkdevine for my copy of this book. It’ll proudly be displayed on my nonfiction shelves!

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is common and what is uncommon in our lives? Check out this motivational book with guidance on how to achieve more and learn more about your inner self. This book is a path towards your uncommon goal because many things the likes of dreaming to become an entrepreneur and continue doing nine to five job without devoting some time to work towards your dream. Becoming true you and going after your true dreams and goals is the uncommon of today. There are self exploring practices and exercuses, stories and advice shared.

[Phil Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatively simple advice on a holistic approach to self improvement. Taking it seriously and actually following through, I have seen a positive shift in my metacognition and the ability to be less reactive in my relationships and toward my self. While many people will say it's nothing new, I felt like that reinforced just how seriously I should commit myself to the structure as a way to achieve greater potential. Actually do what you know you should do. Paired with Mindset by Carol Dweck, I have really enjoyed these back to back.

I'm planning to reread this one often.

[Joe Rafter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and thorough guide to personal transformation

This book is a helpful and thorough guide to personal transformation. I am a big fan of Mark’s work in the world. I love seeing a SEAL talking about the inner work of being a better human being. In this book, Mark explains parallel concepts to Integral Theory and his own personal practices to be uncommon - which include the physical, and are more focused on the internal, the spirit, the energy. I highly recommend his other books, specifically Staring Down the Wolf and Unbeatable Mind.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the advance reading copy. My review opinions are my own..

New to the self help field this author has penned a motivating book based on his many experiences. I did find it self motivating and helpful . The suggestions he makes are atypical however he approaches the motivation in a differing format that is enticing to the reader. I did find the book helpful and do recommend it.

[Trina M. Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of overlapping concepts and verbiage from other authors, but I feel that these are consistent with discipline and the basic fundamentals of Navy Seals. This is broken down into easy-to-understand sections, which helps to take good notes and maintain a journal throughout. I definitely had some major takeaways throughout the book that I plan to continue putting into action in my daily life.

[Red Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uncommon: Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life is a self help book that is helpful. In this book there is plenty of tips and exercises. I liked reading and learning how to become Uncommon and doing this journey. The author wrote this well and I would recommend it to any reader who likes self-help books or nonfiction reads. Thank you to St. Martins Press for this read in exchange of my honest review of Uncommon by Mark Divine.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncommon by Mark Divine. If you want to make changes in your life this is a good book! Highly motivating with specific items to do. He includes stories from his college, career and Navy Seal days. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Adam Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divine brings a set of tools for anyone looking to set themselves apart and get to the next level! Full of great insights and applicable exercises to help your master different areas of your life. I made a lot of notes and have highlights all throughout the book...I will be referencing back to this one often. Highly recommend!

[John SmallMtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better personal development books I’ve read recently.

I’m always concerned that these books will be filled with a lot of rah rah try hard stuff without actually bringing anything actionable.

This has really deep stuff and talks about how to start.

This would have saved me 3-5 years of coaching from various mentors if I’d found it earlier.