Hero Living: Seven Strides to Awaken Your Infinite Power

by Rudy Reyes

The star of HBO's Generation Kill and the real-life warrior from the "New York Times" bestseller presents his "Hero Living" plan. In his publishing debut, Rudy Reyes introduces his philosophy of "Hero Living": part Homer, part Joseph Campbell, part Bruce Lee, and part Spider- Man. The various stages in the journey aim to bring forth the hero recognizing the hero's call, following the hero's path, and returning from life's battlefield with the hero's hard-earned wisdom. Taking readers step-by-step through his program, Reyes draws from his own heroic story of how he triumphed over his harrowing childhood experiences of poverty and abandonment. Rather than giving up hope, he heeded the hero's call to live up to his full potential-first as a martial-arts champion, then as an elite warrior in the mountains of Afghanistan and on the sands of Iraq, and finally in his post-Marines life as a personal trainer, actor, and motivational speaker.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Self Help

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2009

Reviews

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book, unsurprisingly, because of Rudy, and while I know my experience of his book was enhanced from my existing familiarity with him, the bald truth and uncompromising virtue with which he tells his own story is something that many could relate to.

Five stars, because my heart was thoroughly invested in this.

[Michael Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life changing book

I can't remember how I stumbled across this amazing book. But this book came to me at just the right time in my life. I will read this book over & over. It has helped me look at my self differently, I no longer hate myself or feel like a failure. Rudy...thank you!!

[Robb Novotny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was well into my journey of recovery and self worth but reading this book made me look inward and really test myself over and over again to become the person I wanted to be sooner than I would have on my own. It is a book that will continue to push me further and set the standard higher and higher so others can follow and do better.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rudy is really vulnerable in this and wrote a thoughtful book on how he pulled himself out of a terrible family trauma cycle. He’s a sort of New Age Warrior-Poet. Ebook has lots of formatting errors and it runs a bit long but it’s forgivable. He shared more of himself than many memoirists even do.

[Grant Henning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome. Sergeant Reyes truly embodies the mindset of breaking from your shell or whatever rut you’re in and unlocking your true potential in life.

[Robert Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because of Rudy's connection to martial arts as it is something I can very much relate to. If you believe that you can still improve and learn something (which far too many people don't), then you will benefit from reading this book.

Rudy is completely transparent in sharing his own journey, from the horrors of abuse all the way through the accomplishment of being part of the military elite. The level of honesty and self reflection upon which Rudy bases the seven strides is what makes this book so beneficial.

This is one that I will be reading pieces of again and again I'm sure.

[Natasha Fondren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, I'd give the biographical/auto-biographical (well, there's a not-so-ghost-writer, so is it auto or not?) portions five stars, and the self-help bits one star.

[Matt Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rudy is worth looking up. Lived a bit and realised a few things that he shares in a down to earth way that is very easy to relate to.