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Beyond the Trident: A Navy SEAL's Search Through Trauma for Meaning in Life
The Tom Murphy is a retired Navy Captain, a combat veteran, an Olmsted Scholar, and served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for 25 years, rising through the ranks to become Commanding Officer of two different SEAL commands, including the much-publicized SEAL Team Six. This is his story.
The One of the proudest insignia a man can wear in the U.S. Military is the U.S. Navy SEAL Trident. Embark on an extraordinary journey through the life of this U.S. Navy SEAL as he transcends the depths of trauma to explore the essence of spirituality in "Beyond the Trident." Follow the captivating narrative of the author’s evolution from the rigors of military training and combat operations to the profound realms of the human spirit, where the pursuit of purpose and the quest for spiritual understanding converge in a narrative of courage, resilience, and self-discovery.
Drawing upon the metaphor of a three-legged stool representing mind, body, and spirit, this autobiographical memoir delves into the enduring impacts of trauma on each facet of our existence. Through the lenses of religion, science, and metaphysics, the author reflects on his odyssey from skepticism to a profound spiritual understanding, enriched by a wealth of reading culminating in a curated list of insightful books.
Experience the multifaceted world of a Navy SEAL, from the intensity of SEAL training and operations to the vibrant, life-filled camaraderie of individual SEALs as they transition from young men to being the world’s most highly trained commandos.
From the adrenaline-fueled world of SEAL operations to the introspective depths of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this book provides a rare glimpse into the dual nature of the military combat experience. Gain insights into the universal quest for meaning, the interplay between spirituality and science, and the transformative power of self-discovery.
Key Themes
The human Mind, Body, and SpiritTrauma and resilience in lifeThe intersection of science, religion, and spiritualityNavy SEAL training and combat operationsA personal journey towards spiritualityMetaphysics, mysticism, and out-of-body experiencesSelf-help guidance for navigating life's non-fiction, memoir, human trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military, military combat, Navy SEAL, U.S. Naval Academy, self-motivation, spiritual journey, metaphysics, out-of-body experiences, mysticism, enlightenment, self-help, life-path guidance.
The One of the proudest insignia a man can wear in the U.S. Military is the U.S. Navy SEAL Trident. Embark on an extraordinary journey through the life of this U.S. Navy SEAL as he transcends the depths of trauma to explore the essence of spirituality in "Beyond the Trident." Follow the captivating narrative of the author’s evolution from the rigors of military training and combat operations to the profound realms of the human spirit, where the pursuit of purpose and the quest for spiritual understanding converge in a narrative of courage, resilience, and self-discovery.
Drawing upon the metaphor of a three-legged stool representing mind, body, and spirit, this autobiographical memoir delves into the enduring impacts of trauma on each facet of our existence. Through the lenses of religion, science, and metaphysics, the author reflects on his odyssey from skepticism to a profound spiritual understanding, enriched by a wealth of reading culminating in a curated list of insightful books.
Experience the multifaceted world of a Navy SEAL, from the intensity of SEAL training and operations to the vibrant, life-filled camaraderie of individual SEALs as they transition from young men to being the world’s most highly trained commandos.
From the adrenaline-fueled world of SEAL operations to the introspective depths of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this book provides a rare glimpse into the dual nature of the military combat experience. Gain insights into the universal quest for meaning, the interplay between spirituality and science, and the transformative power of self-discovery.
Key Themes
The human Mind, Body, and SpiritTrauma and resilience in lifeThe intersection of science, religion, and spiritualityNavy SEAL training and combat operationsA personal journey towards spiritualityMetaphysics, mysticism, and out-of-body experiencesSelf-help guidance for navigating life's non-fiction, memoir, human trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military, military combat, Navy SEAL, U.S. Naval Academy, self-motivation, spiritual journey, metaphysics, out-of-body experiences, mysticism, enlightenment, self-help, life-path guidance.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2024
15 people are currently reading
1780 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 4, 2026
AMAZING - so thoughtful, reflective and inspiring
I wish I could give half stars as this would be a 4.5. (I have tried to be much more discerning with my 5.0 recommendations).
There is so much to love about this book. For starters, this book is a perfect example of the Power of Reading. Tom (80 years old, and Navy SEAL for 25) manages to share the insights and learnings from his incredible career as both a SEAL and beyond and present it to the reader, who can consume it in about 4 hours (and I am a slow reader). It seems crazy to think that someone would not want to invest ~4 hours to learn what Tom has learned over his incredible career.
Tom’s mental model of a 3-legged stool, representing Body, Mind and Spirit was simple and easy to follow. That said, his insights on his spiritual journey and the additional book recommendations were far from simple - I found them to be inspiring, and have multiple Amazon Tabs open. Fortunately, Tom’s biographies are also a super handy resource (end of chapter & book)
I also appreciated how Tom was not preaching what we need to do, but simply sharing his path and providing tools or a “compass heading” for folks who want to learn more. I also appreciated how Tom “shrunk the challenge” for all of his learnings with simple, small steps that the reader can attempt in their own journeys.
I have so many highlights in this book to go back to, but this one was a favorite from today:
“Dare to open your mind to the idea that a personal spiritual search is a fundamental support in your life journey. If you don’t go looking for something when you’ve lost it, you will rarely find it. The presence of God is not to be found only in heaven, but also here on earth.”
Separately, I often wonder how various books (that I love or hate) would land with me at different times in my life / career. For me, Tom’s book lands perfectly well at the right time.
Thanks to Tom for taking time to reflect; putting pen to paper; and sharing his journey with the world!
I wish I could give half stars as this would be a 4.5. (I have tried to be much more discerning with my 5.0 recommendations).
There is so much to love about this book. For starters, this book is a perfect example of the Power of Reading. Tom (80 years old, and Navy SEAL for 25) manages to share the insights and learnings from his incredible career as both a SEAL and beyond and present it to the reader, who can consume it in about 4 hours (and I am a slow reader). It seems crazy to think that someone would not want to invest ~4 hours to learn what Tom has learned over his incredible career.
Tom’s mental model of a 3-legged stool, representing Body, Mind and Spirit was simple and easy to follow. That said, his insights on his spiritual journey and the additional book recommendations were far from simple - I found them to be inspiring, and have multiple Amazon Tabs open. Fortunately, Tom’s biographies are also a super handy resource (end of chapter & book)
I also appreciated how Tom was not preaching what we need to do, but simply sharing his path and providing tools or a “compass heading” for folks who want to learn more. I also appreciated how Tom “shrunk the challenge” for all of his learnings with simple, small steps that the reader can attempt in their own journeys.
I have so many highlights in this book to go back to, but this one was a favorite from today:
“Dare to open your mind to the idea that a personal spiritual search is a fundamental support in your life journey. If you don’t go looking for something when you’ve lost it, you will rarely find it. The presence of God is not to be found only in heaven, but also here on earth.”
Separately, I often wonder how various books (that I love or hate) would land with me at different times in my life / career. For me, Tom’s book lands perfectly well at the right time.
Thanks to Tom for taking time to reflect; putting pen to paper; and sharing his journey with the world!
November 14, 2024
Thought provoking book written by a seasoned Navy SEAL.It’s a personal study and journey into living with the consequences of war and the ongoing journey for self actualization.,The documented stories force the reader to question conventional wisdom on what came before us, the present and what is next. As a person who was raised with one view of heaven, this was a healthy self inventory of things I’d never considered. Best to keep an open mind. I thought it was fascinating.
November 12, 2024
I love this book. The raw honesty and emotions that came through were something you don't get to experience often when reading. Serving the country, trauma, spiritual journey, and even sharing about his holistic journey. It is quite an amazing read, and I've suggested this book to a lot of people. It's not your typical memoir and I think everyone should read this at least once.
November 30, 2024
Shared journey of curiosity
Do not confuse this book with other authors that hail from SEALS backgrounds, in this one the visual of a three legged stool is used superbly to share important and valuable thoughts on the importance and balance of mind; body; spirit and will certainly help the curious mind identify opportunities to awaken deeper understanding on the spiritual journey.
Certainly worth your time and aligns to my own thoughts on striving to be best version of myself through being 1% Better Everyday!
Do not confuse this book with other authors that hail from SEALS backgrounds, in this one the visual of a three legged stool is used superbly to share important and valuable thoughts on the importance and balance of mind; body; spirit and will certainly help the curious mind identify opportunities to awaken deeper understanding on the spiritual journey.
Certainly worth your time and aligns to my own thoughts on striving to be best version of myself through being 1% Better Everyday!
June 3, 2024
An honest, humble, introspective and remarkable book.
The concept of a "three legged stool" as the foundation of overall health now seems so obvious to me.
As a retired career Naval Officer myself I'd have loved to served under or with Captain Murphy (but without having to be a SEAL).
I hope other veterans find this remarkable work and take Captain Murphy's example onboard.
The concept of a "three legged stool" as the foundation of overall health now seems so obvious to me.
As a retired career Naval Officer myself I'd have loved to served under or with Captain Murphy (but without having to be a SEAL).
I hope other veterans find this remarkable work and take Captain Murphy's example onboard.
May 22, 2024
interesting,well written,thoughtful accounting of a challenging and multi faceted life
Interesting, well written, thoughtful account of a challenging and multi faceted life. I particularly enjoyed reading about how the author’s experiences led to reflection and spiritual growth.
Interesting, well written, thoughtful account of a challenging and multi faceted life. I particularly enjoyed reading about how the author’s experiences led to reflection and spiritual growth.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews