Fatti il Letto

by William H. McRaven, Sara Puggioni

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.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Audiobook, Leadership, Psychology, Business

135 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired) served with great distinction in the Navy. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. He is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Reviews

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT a book on how to make your beds.

"Start Your Day with a Task Complete"

MAKE YOUR BED is one of those strange titles that makes one quickly become curious about what's inside. At least that's what happened with me. Upon noticing this book, I remembered coming across the importance of 'making the bed' in Duhigg's Power of Habit, where he explains how a such a simple task, when complemented with a set of other similarly simple yet consistent tasks, could alter one's behavior through the day. However, the author of this book does not explore such a complex phenomenon. On the contrary, McRaven uses the example of making the bed, to begin an interesting series of events a soldier is expected to master during his field training.

"Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the say, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task."

This is a very quick read, which wouldn't take most readers more than a couple of hours. The author has divided the contents to a series of chapters according to various training elements related to a Navy SEAL, from entry to graduation, though not in a single continuous timeline. I did find most of the field experiences interesting since I had very little background the aforementioned program. However, whether this books is for you or not, is completely dependent on two things in my opinion. If you're a hardcore non-fiction reader, already familiar with a lot of self-improvement books, there's very little new to be found here. Secondly, if you're a connoisseur in aspects of military training already, again this might not be the book for you. However, if you're neither of these, this quick read could provide a good, and simple, framework to organize your life. Rounding up what felt like a 3.5-stars to 4.

"The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life's unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and-Moki Martin."

"I sometimes fell short of being the best, but I never fell short of giving it my best."

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, fun and motivational read filled with life lessons. Written in a friendly conversational style, the practical advice can be applied by anyone. Highly recommended!

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and—Moki Martin. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World ~~ William H. McRaven



This is a gem of a book. Packed full of wisdom and big lessons in 130 pages. I read it slowly and took a different lesson in daily. This is a book I will return over and over again. Rather than go on and on about it, I will share McRaven's lessons with you, but trust me, you will want to read this book to get the full impact of the lessons.

[Liong · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you want to change the world, start by making your bed,” the author said. 😅

I agree with this idea. When I was young, my mom always told me to make my bed.

Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t, but now I make my bed every day.

Of course, this book is not really about making beds. It shares many important life lessons.

It’s a small book, but full of meaningful lessons. 👍

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can a simple act of making your bed change your life? How can something so simple alter your life? Those who are familiar with the Japanese concept of Kaizen can easily understand this concept.

William H. McRaven tells us some simple, practical methods to solve life's complex problems.

"Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task."

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[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I requested this book, I thought maybe it'll inspire me to make my bed or inspire me to accomplish stuff.

I should have checked the blurb and the author. Thank goodness it was a very short book. The author is an admiral, former SEAL, etc - I would like to say that these accolades impress me, but that would be a lie. After reading the preface, I remembered seeing his commencement speech given at some American university. While it makes sense to make your bed if anything to start your day accomplishing something - it is simplistic, and depending on your personality, it may not mean much to you anyway.

The rest of the book has some SEAL training examples and personal snippets, but nothing groundbreaking or enlighting, it's the usual trite - don't give up, you'll have difficulties, you need a team etc - most of them go in the "duh/you think so?" category.
To save yourself 20 mins or so, watch the youtube video.

If you're after great (according to me) inspirational speeches - here's one of my favourites, given by the very talented and very intelligent Tim Minchin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoEez... Enjoy!

[The Lion's Share · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is very Team America in parts with some mixed blessings.

He means well, but saying at the start "God bless all the american citizens who died in 9/11", but erm what about all the other people who died who weren't american citizens ay?

Make your bed dammit!

[Starjustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 well earned stars for this motivational story of Admiral William H. McRavens journey to becoming a navy seal. This book was written and narrated in 2017 by the Admiral himself. The book also includes his famous commencement speech, which took place on May 21st, 2014, for the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin.
Admiral McRaven speaks of 10 steps to follow "if you want to change your life or maybe the world."
I won't list the steps here however, I will say that I was very 'taken' by this book and the Admirals experiences, as well as those who served with him, to make the USA and the world a safer place.
The book is only 12 short chapters but is loaded with life-changing information that can lead 'any' individual to find purpose and self-worth in improving their life and the lives of others.
I recommend this book to all my GR friends and to all others as well.

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 3 out of 5]

نویسنده یک دریاسالاره که از تجربه‌های شغلیش به عنوان فرمول‌هایی که میشه در زندگی روزمره هم به کار برد حرف میزنه. من تیتروار می‌نویسمشون که مرور کنم گاهی و یادم نره، اما خوندن فقط فرمول هاش بدون دونستن داستانی که بعد از هرکدوم روایت میکنه, خالی از لطف و مثل فرمول‌های زرد و عامیانه "چگونه در سه سوت موفق شویم" خواهد بود.
داستان‌هاش باعث میشن که هر کدوم از تیترها رو به شکل تجربه ولو از طریق فرد دیگر بهتر درک کنیم. مخصوصا اونجایی که داستانی مشترک با نویسنده پیدا می‌کنیم و سرمونو تند تند به نشونه تایید تکون و به خوندن ادامه می‌دیم :)


روزتان را با به انجام رساندن یک کار شروع کنید

که مثال مرتب کردن تخت رو میزنه با این نتیجه‌گیری که حتی بعد از داشتن یک روز سخت, وقتی به خونه برمی‌گردین و با تخت مرتب مواجه میشین به یاد میارید که تمام چیزی که احتیاج دارین ایجاد و پیگیری همین دیسیپلین حتی در ابعاد کوچیکه


نمی‌توانید به تنهایی از پس کارهایتان برآیید

مثال قایقی رو میزنه که چندین نفر باید با هم و هماهنگ پارو بزنن اگر میخوان به ساحل برسند. و میگه گاهی قوی‌ها جور ضعیف‌ها رو میکشن چون در غیر این صورت مهم نیست که تقسیم کارها یکسان نیست: به هر حال قایق به ساحل نخواهد رسید اگه کسی که میتونه ضعف هم‌تیمی‌شو جبران کنه اینکارو نکنه. یه نکته اینکه به نظرم این موضوع مطلق نیست. الان در روانکاوی بهای خوشبختانه منصفانه‌ای به افراد درون‌گرا داده میشه و سعی در شناخت و درک بیشترشون و شناسوندنشون به دیگران هم هست. افراد درون‌گرا خیلی جاها به تنهایی عملکرد قوی‌تر و سریع‌تری دارن که لزوم حتمی و قطعی تیم‌ورک رو میشه به این شکل تعدیل کرد. با این همه باز هم به عنوان یه درون‌گرا, همیشه به نظرم با هم پارو زدن چیز قشنگی اومده


فقط بزرگی دلتان مهم است

که خب نیازی به توضیح نداره. اینکه مهم نیست ظاهر, تحصیلات, وضعیت مالی آدما در چه حالیه. اگه دلشون به اندازه کافی بزرگه اونا رو دست کم نگیرید و گیو دم عه شات :)


زندگی عادلانه نیست - ادامه دهید

داستان این فصل رو دوست داشتم. گاهی فرمانده‌هاشون بیخودی بهشون گیر میدن و مجازات هم اینه که با یونیفرم کامل باید برن توی آب و بعد روی ساحل بغلتن تا سر تا پاشون ماسه‌ای بشه و تا آخر روز همونجور خیس و ماسه‌ای باید بمونن. اسم مجازات رو گذاشتن "بیسکوییت شکری" :)) میخواسته بگه گاهی تو از هر نظر تلاشت رو کردی که پرفکت باشی و حتی هستی ولی اوضاع جوری که میخوای پیش نمیره که خب زندگی همینه و هرچی زودتر اینو یاد بگیری به نفعته


شکست, انسان را قوی‌تر‌ میکند

شخصا اگه در همون لحظه شکست کسی اینو بهم بگه, میتونه بلافاصله دندوناشو در یک پکیج از من تحویل بگیره. به نظرم بهتر بود میگفت نحوه‌ی گذار از شکست به ثبات بعدش هست که انسان رو قوی‌تر میکنه. یکی میتونه شکست بخوره و بعد خودشو بکشه. مسلما قوی‌تر نشده که این تصمیم رو گرفته. ضمن اینکه در کنار اون گذار, همیشه حضور یک منتور/حامی مناسب نقش بی‌اندازه مهمی داره


باید جسارت زیادی داشته باشید

توضیح نمیخواد دیگه, هوم؟ چون واسه خودم صرف زنده بودن و زندگی کردن و در دل تاریکی‌ها همچنان به امید داشتن ادامه دادن, همه اینا خودش جسارت میخواد. ماها آدمای جسوری هستیم که در هر شرایطی بلند میشیم و ادامه میدیم :)


جلوی زورگوها بایستید

خب بستگی داره به نظرم. ایستادگی باید همراه با هوشمندی باشه, نه به هر قیمتی. داستانش بهم نچسبید واسه همین. هوشمندی رو که حذف کنیم، اون ایستادگی یجورایی رنگ حماقت میگیره گاهی


در شرایط سخت, بیشتر تلاش کنید

خیلی سخته. خیلی خیلی سخته. اما ممکنه. تمام کاری که در کنار این تلاش کردن باید انجام بدیم اینه که از یاد نبریم که هیچ راهی نیست کان را نیست پایان
و البته یادم به حرفای یه استاد برنامه‌نویسی میشیگان افتاد که میگفت دونت ورک هارد! ورک اسمارت!


به دیگران امید بدهید

کیف کردم از این فصل. اونجایی که تا گردن در گل سرد فرو رفته بودن و فرمانده از قصد تشویق به تسلیم شدن و جا زدن میکرد و زمانی که یکی شون نزدیک بود جا بزنه و بره بیرون, یک نفر شروع میکنه آواز خوندن و بقیه باهاش همراه میشن و روحیه می‌گیرن و ادامه میدن. اینکه حتی در بدترین شرایط چقد یک نفر میتونه روی یک گروه اثر خوبی بذاره و نیرو بده بهشون. و این آدم لزوما کسی نیست که در وضعیت خوبی به سر میبره; لزوما کسی نیست که حتی اون تجربه رو پشت سر گذاشته; میتونه یکی باشه دقیقا در شرایط مشابه, که هنوز امید داره, هنوز آواز می‌خونه. فکر می‌کنم آخرین کاری که در زندگی باید ازش دست بکشیم, آواز خوندنه :)


هرگز تسلیم نشوید

حرف جدیدی ندارم :)) بریم آواز بخونیم یه کم


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چهار سال بعد نوشت
...من هنوز هم دارم آواز می‌خونم

[Kaveh · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book is all that was useful to me; the rest is cliche and macho crap.

[Mildred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight talk from a former Navy SEAL

There are many "self-help" books on the market that contain solid information. However, General McRaven's Make Your Bed comes across as refreshingly different from those books by well known self-help gurus like Dr. Phil or Tony Robbins mainly because the anecdotes he uses to illustrate his ten key points are gleaned from his experiences as a Navy SEAL. I read this little book in one sitting and plan to buy copies for my children. In a nutshell, McRaven says that life is tough, but meeting challenges with discipline, determination, a positive attitude and the support of others will most often lead an individual to a meaningful life that will inspire others.

[Gypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

اولاً ممنون از شادی عزیز (اگه اسمشونو درست نوشته باشم، چون انگلیسی نوشتن و فکر نمی‌کنم چادی خونده شه) که سرفصل‌هاشو توی ریویوشون آوردن که دم دست‌مون باشه کتاب دربارۀ چیه.

عنوان کتاب منو جذب نمی‌کرد و خیلی در برابر خوندنش جنگیدم. پرفروش شدنش هم مازاد بر علت شد. هم می‌تونی یه کتاب زرد ببینیش همم یه کتابِ صرفاً کمک‌کننده. تازگی می‌خوام دیگه خیلی راحت عنوان زرد بودن به کتاب‌ها ندم، به‌خصوص این‌طور کتاب‌ها که ممکنه برا هرکس فرق کنه و عمیقاً روی یه نفر تأثیر بذاره و زندگیش رو تغییر بده. بعد من کی باشم بگم کتاب پیش‌پاافتاده‌ایه.

بعضی از چیزهایی که گفت واقعاً خوب بودن. مثل همین مرتب کردن تخت‌خواب. من از وقتی خوندمش سعی می‌کنم هرروز انجام بدم. یا چندتا مورد آخر. باز ارجاع می‌دم به ریویوی این دوست خوب‌مون که گفت با دونستن داستان پشت گزینه‌هایی که مطرح می‌کنه، برامون می‌تونه با کتاب‌های زرد فرق کنه. درکل یه کتاب سبک و کوچیک برا وقتی می‌خوای زود حالتو خوب کنی!

[Pardis · Rating 5 out of 5]

وظایف هر روز را کامل کنید. فردی را بیابید که در زندگی به شما کمک کند. به همه احترام بگذارید. بدانید که زندگی عادل نیست و اغلب با شکست مواجه می شوید ولی اگر ریسک کنید، در سختترین لحظات بایستید، با زورگوها مقابله کنید، دست شکست خورده ها را بگیرید و هرگز و هرگز دست از تلاش نکشید...
اگر این کارها را انجام دهید، در این صورت نسل بعدی و نسل های بعد از آن در دنیایی بسیار بهتر از دنیای امروز زندگی خواهند کرد. کاری که در اینجا آغاز شود، در حقیقت دنیا را به جایی بهتر تغییر خواهد داد.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple things change a life.

While the rules are simple, the more critical among us say too simple, listening to the captivating stories Admiral McRaven shares, anecdotes from his Navy SEAL training, should leave you in awe. He shares the fundamental life lessons he acquired through harrowing circumstances that are simple truths which anyone can apply to face the challenges of life. And don’t we all make life way more complicated than it already is?

McRaven spent 37 years as a Navy SEAL, became Commander of all U.S. Special Forces and led the operation that vanquished Osama Bin Laden. This book, an expansion of a 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, is inspiring with its succinct, yet powerful messages. I recommend listening to this reserved, accomplished man reveal the values that have shaped his life and that can be guiding principles in yours.

[Mehrsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure. It's good advice if you want to be SEAL or if you're just graduating college. But there isn't really nuance. Make your bed. Saddam Hussein didn't. Never quit. Really?

[Pouri · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book doesn’t contain any tip that would improve your life quality. I would only recommend this to the ones who are currently in a rut and are seeking motivation...

On second thought, the YouTube video does a better job as a motivation. So I guess I don’t recommend this book to anyone at all. Just watch the YouTube video instead!
Video title: University of texas at austin 2014 commencement address - admiral william h. Mcraven

[Maziyar Yf · Rating 2 out of 5]

چرا نکاتی که این کتاب یا کتابهای مشابه روش زوم میکنن اصلا به درد ایران و زندگی در ایران نمی خوره ؟
چرا جنس چالشها تو ایران با همه جا متفاوته ؟

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm trying to get into the habit of making my bed so I was intrigued to see what other advice would be here.

However, I hadn't realized that this book would be an army book full of what I fondly refer to as army BS. Army BS is all the things soldiers are told in order to do their job. “Never give up”, “sometimes life is terrible and that’s it”, “don’t back down from challenges”, etc.

It’s not that this is necessarily bad advice, it’s just that it is manipulative and simplistic. You tell this to soldiers because you want to create obedient and brave soldiers, you are trying to create people who will run into danger, who will be good teammates, who will fight to achieve the state’s goals.

This is incredibly damaging. The individual is constantly brushed aside. There is never any room to ask, to challenge the system itself. You are fighting against human nature. I truly believe the concept of an army goes against the truest forms of personhood- curiosity, doubt, thoughtfulness. Above all, I have pity towards any person serving in any military.

I do believe there's a conversation to be had about whether such an education is necessary for soldiers. However, it is most definitely not necessary for civilians, thank you very much.

So this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I rolled my eyes a lot. I've learned a valuable lesson about looking at the cover more carefully. I don’t have much else to say about this book, other than my lack of recommendation. I'm really not sure why so many people like this book.

What I’m Taking With Me
- I will say this- my army friends are all amazing, like the army system put you through so much nonsense that you end up with people who just love you for you. My army friends (who would despise being referred to as such) make me feel seen as myself and are all the most genuine and kindest people around.
- And he shows remarkably little sympathy for Iraqis??
- He also implies Saddam Hussein lost because he didn’t make his bed???
- Seriously, this book did not contribute much to my life, I even didn’t make my bed today. Clearly I'm a lost cause. Next thing you know, I'll become Saddam Hussein.

--------------------

I would have never predicted that I'm basically writing my bachelor thesis on why we should defund the police. The fact that this could easily be seen as a criminology paper is jolting. And it's quantitative research.

what happened to me??? who have I become???

Also, this book is obnoxious and I only read it because I started already and it was short. Review to come!

[Samira Fadaei · Rating 2 out of 5]

از نويسنده بسيار ممنونم كه سعى نكرده نگاهى تجارى به كتابش داشته باشه
و خيلى مختصر و مفيد در مورد اين نكاتى كه حالا از نظر خودش ميتونه زندگى رو تغيير بده ، نوشته
اگه اين نويسنده هاى انگيزشى نويس ميخواستن اين كتاب رو بنويسن احتمالا از هر نكته اى كه جناب مك ريون در ٣،٤ صفحه بيان كرده ، يك كتاب ٥٠٠ صفحه اى بيرون ميدادن .
.
نكاتى كه درياسالار مك ريون اينجا نوشته به نظر من ديگه خدايى خيلى كليشه اى شده
من خودم علاقه اى به كتاب هاى انگيزشى ندارم
و اين كتاب رو فقط بخاطر نويسنده اش خريدم
چون هميشه نظامى ها و زندگيشون رو خيلى دوست دارم
و انتظار داشتم يه نكات بهتر و مفيدتر و يا حداقل جالب ترى اينجا گفته مى شد
ولى خب انتظاراتم رو برآورده نكرد 😥
فقط خوبيش اين بود كه خيلى كوتاه بود و نويسنده سريع رفته بود سر اصل مطلب و حاشيه نرفته بود
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البته اينم بگم نكاتى رو كه ميگه خب واقعا درسته
يعنى در هر كارى ادم بايد اين نكات رو رعايت كنه
نكاتى مثل جسور و منظم باش ، به ديگر افراد گروه كمك كن و از شكست خوردن نترس و ...
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در كل از نظر من يه كتاب ِ معمولى بود و من اصلا نپسنديدم

[SaRa Hajj · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be clear this is not a book, this is kind of a guideline written by a U.S. navy retired , so it is unfair to rate it the same way you rate a book. McRaven wrote this book after his commencement speech in the university of Texas in 2014. He listed the 10 lessons he learned from the Navy SEAL training. I give it 5 stars. Many people may know those 10 lessons he listed, but few really take them into consideration. This book is kind of a reminder for those. University and college students should also read it to be inspired. And in my opinion, if every person can implement those 10 lessons his/her life will be better and by teaching it to their kids the world would be definitely a better place. I recommend at least to listen to his speech on YouTube it summarizes everything in the book.

[Braeden Udy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like unoriginal advice from a privileged white dude, then this book is for you.

[Matt Lillywhite · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task.”

Wow. I loved this book. I went into it with fairly mild expectations since it's short and appeared to be centered around one topic. But WOAH. The writing style was awesome. And don't even get me started on the quality of each story that Admiral William McRaven featured in each chapter.

The book is about Navy SEALs. But a lot of the advice can be applied to work, relationships, and many other aspects of life.

Read this book as soon as possible!

[Sergiu Floroaia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Making your bed first thing in the morning traps in this moisture, allowing your bed to be a home for up to 1.5 million dust mites. And those little things can indeed change your life! Because mites can produce allergens that are problematic for people with asthma or allergies. But if you leave your bed messy, however, the mites are exposed to air and sunlight, which causes them to become dehydrated and die out. This is a conspiracy by the military to get us all killed by mites! Don't make your bed! Dehydrate the mites! Don't make your bed great again! #fightthemite

[Brina · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband is not a big reader. He has a job where he’s on his feet from eight to ten hours a day, and once he gets home, it’s supper, maybe a quick errand with the kids, and family movie night. Yes, he participates, and, as I’ve mentioned a few times, it de-stresses all of us and has been deemed necessary. After that it’s YouTube clips until bed. My husband loves military history so once a short came up on his recommended list about a retired navy admiral encouraging everyone to start their day by making their bed. He showed me, and I was hooked. Granted, I do make my bed most days if the cats haven’t captured it, but this video motivated me to make my bed every time. Fast forward, Admiral McRaven wrote a recommendation on the back of James Patterson’s memoir that I just completed. I told my husband that by the way, Make Your Bed is now a book, and would he want to read it over our winter break trip. Answering in the affirmative, I picked it up from the library and couldn’t resist pre-reading it myself.

Admiral William McRaven served in the navy for thirty seven years and has picked up much life knowledge along the way. Make Your Bed was originally a commencement speech that he gave to his Alma mater the University of Texas in 2014. When he saw that his speech about making your bed went viral on YouTube, he was encourage to craft the twelve lessons he gave at the speech into a book. All of the lessons focus on his service in the navy and what he learned along the way. Civilians from all walks of life can learn from these lessons even if they are not fit or otherwise want to join the navy. The navy seals are among the most physically fit people in the world. They go through hell week as part of their basic training and many in the platoon quit. The average person, myself included, is not fit to join the navy seals, much less swim with sharks and walk up to their shoulders in mud. Not quitting when a task seems to be too much because the reward is that much greater is a universal lesson that can be taken to heart. I know it makes me pause when I complain about mundane tasks like balancing work and errands. I think I can withstand it.

Many of these lessons do include vignettes about the navy seals. Having been drawn into being obsessed with the navy thanks to Top Gun (story for another time, see family movie night reference), I found most of these stories to be engaging and eye opening. I can sleep safely at night due to the sacrifices that these brave men and women make every day. Yet, that is not the message that McRaven makes here. He says that if you make your bed in the morning, you can feel like you accomplished something that day. And even if your day turned out not so good, you can come home at night and lie down on a clean, well made bed that you made on your own. That was the gist of the viral YouTube video, commencement speech, and book. I gleaned much and left encouraged from it. Even though it is short, the message is large, and I have a feeling my husband will enjoy it as well.

3.5 stars

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Remember...start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is fair and you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when times are toughest, face down bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never, ever, give up - if you do these things, then you can change your life for the better...and maybe the world!" (103-104)

It was in an op-ed written in the Washington Post that introduced a man to the forefront of attention, who, through service, dedication, and sacrifice had protected and defended the United States for close to four decades mostly behind the scenes. That man, Admiral William McRaven, would go on to offer much in the way of comfort and clear-headed thinking the country may have lost over the past few years with regards to U.S. leadership by stating such things as: "I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the nation together in challenging times." McRaven went on to write, "Trump has "embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation." The full article to those statements can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/18/politi...

Arguably, Admiral McRaven represents the cream of the crop when it comes to understanding leadership in accordance with American values, much like recently ousted Secretary of Defense James Mattis. In this short-but-sweet book entitled Make Your Own Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World, McRaven recounts his triumphs and tribulations through the intense training he undertook to become a Navy Seal, and how these universally applied ideas can be translated in accordance with anyone one wants to achieve something higher in life. Admittedly gems like "never give up" sound comically generic to any self-help book, but the way McRaven presents himself allows for this fact to be overlooked. It's generally heart-felt and sympathetic, and interestingly McRaven is able to realise the lessons learned here aren't exclusive to the more demanding of military professions. He is someone who through openness and realisation can see the forest through the trees, which sadly is quite refreshing in the current culture of tribalism and hotly contested ideas. The book also has little tidbits of interesting information, regarding the culture of SEAL training and membership, alongside his interactions and observations with Saddam Hussain, who was guarded directly after capture under McRaven's leadership. Although not a ground-breaking book in the art of self-help, it was a pleasant and soothing reminder of the benefits of hard-work overcoming all the struggles we face in life, and how sweet that can really be.

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a short inspiring book that has so many good one lines and an incredible message!

Some of my favorite quotes:

“If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed”

“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your Life”

[Truman32 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admiral William H. McRaven’s book, Make Your Bed- Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe The World is another one of those really small self-help books that you can stack on a really small shelf, maybe in your really small tiny-house right between Maria Shriver’s Just Who Will You Be? And Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture.

The retired Admiral’s book of levelheaded insights was originally a commencement speech to the graduating class of the University of Texas in 2014. These common sense perceptions are the kind of things most folks have been taught by their parents, but seeing as this is in Texas, their parents were probably too busy marching with the NRA for expanding gun rights or working to impugn the value of women’s reproductive rights to be bothered with advice.

Start the day with a task completed. You can’t go it alone. Failure can make you stronger. The lessons should not be new to anyone, yet like most of these things, what we know and what we actually do are often completely different things.

For instance, chapter three speaks to it’s only the size of your heart that matters. Though to a large section of people there would be the caveat that the size of your heart matters just a little less then your sexual orientation or how brown your skin is.

Chapter seven states we must: stand up to the bullies yet last I checked, the White House is home to possibly one of the bulliest bullies to ever make you do his homework and still get your brown-bagged lunch stepped on while Congress is working hard to take away the health insurance from millions of people.

Sigh.

I do like books like these—even thought there is nothing really new to be learned, I find them centering. They focus me on what is important and remind me that we all go through periods of tough times and failure.

McRaven writes well and the book is a strong compass, pointing to what should be important in our lives. Plus, I now know what the Navy Seals mean by becoming a: sugar cookie, something I have experienced without knowing the definition for many years.

[Nima · Rating 1 out of 5]

این کتابو با هدیه‌ی یک هفته‌ای کتابخانه‌ی همگانی طاقچه گرفتم. جزو محبوبای اونجا بود. ولی وقتی میخوندمش کاملا حس میکردم که این مدل نتیجه گیری و نصیحت کردن از پایه اشتباهه. تو این اوضاع عجیب غریب کاغذ، خیلی باید حواسمون به کتابایی که ترجمه می‌شه باشه. من چند وقته که یه وسواسی گرفتم که ببینم آیا کتابی که چاپ شده ارزش کاغذی که براش مصرف شده رو داره و خب نظر من راجع به این کتاب اینه که جواب یه نه‌ی بزرگه.
خیلی هم ناراحتم که این کتاب باید جزو قفسه‌ی محبوب باشه. خیلی ناامید میشم از آدما اینجور موقع‌ها.

[Haniyeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

"تختخوابت را مرتب کن" نوشته ویلیام هری مک‌ریون، بازنشسته نیروی دریایی و رئیس سامانه دانشگاه تگزاس هست. این کتاب در دسته کتابهای موفقیت و خودیاری قرار میگیره که از ۱۰ بخش تشکیل شده. در اون با مفاهیمی مانند کمک گرفتن از دیگران، امید به زندگی، تسلیم نشدن دربرابر سختی ها و... آشنا میشیم که در قالب خاطراتی از دوران کاراموزی و فرماندهی این فرد در نیروی دریایی بیان میشن.
⇦ نقاط قوت:
↜ کوتاه بودن کتاب: شما در زمان کوتاهی میتونید کتابو تموم کنید.
↜ متن روان: علاوه بر روان بودن متن اصلی، ترجمه خوبی هم توسط نشر کوله‌پشتی ارائه شده.
↜ جذابیت خاطرات: اگر به گوش کردن به خاطرات دیگران، مخصوصا خاطرات جنگ و سربازی یا دیدن فیلمها و خواندن کتابهایی با محوریت جنگ علاقه دارید، از این کتاب خوشتون میاد. چون از تمرینات، مشقت ها و روش انجام عملیات‌های دریایی صحبت میشه.
⇦ نقاط ضعف:
↜ عنوان فصلها گاهی ربط زیادی به محتوای اون بخش نداره!
درواقع در چند قسمت احساس میکردم بعد از تموم شدن اون بخش، به چیزی که عنوانش میخواست بهم یاد بده نرسیدم. مثل بخش "در موقعیت درست قرار بگیرید".
↜ ظلم ستیزی دروغین
دیگه اینو همه میدونن که نیروهای نظامی آمریکا به دنبال ایجاد صلح نیستن بلکه بیشتر جنگ افروزی کردن. با اینحال، در اینجا یک فرمانده نیروی دریایی کتابی نوشته تا به همه بگه که ما فقط برای برقراری صلح همه جای دنیا نیروهای مسلح میفرستیم!

خوب بود ولی عالی نبود. سریع خونده میشه و بخش تمرینات جالبه اما اگر نخونیدش هم چیزی از دست ندادید.

لینک کتاب در طاقچه:
https://taaghche.com/book/26627