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Unbreakable: A Navy SEAL's Way of Life
Best selling author of Three Simple Leading During Chaos . A highly decorated Navy SEAL shares stories of his years of combat experience in Afghanistan, providing leadership insights that will shift your view of yourself and provoke life-altering change.
Before leaving for combat in Afghanistan, Navy SEAL Thom Shea promised his wife that he would write to his children in case he didn't make it back. What was initially intended to be a private memoir for his family turned into a powerful set of lessons for anyone striving to perform beyond what they believe possible.
Shea's stories, while action-packed and entertaining, provide incredible insights on leadership, family, and excellence. In Unbreakable , Shea teaches readers how to achieve and maintain a strong internal dialogue through no matter what the task. Read this book and transform your life.
Before leaving for combat in Afghanistan, Navy SEAL Thom Shea promised his wife that he would write to his children in case he didn't make it back. What was initially intended to be a private memoir for his family turned into a powerful set of lessons for anyone striving to perform beyond what they believe possible.
Shea's stories, while action-packed and entertaining, provide incredible insights on leadership, family, and excellence. In Unbreakable , Shea teaches readers how to achieve and maintain a strong internal dialogue through no matter what the task. Read this book and transform your life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2015
7 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 21, 2015
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
The premise is that he wrote this to his children in case he did not live through combat. If that was really the motivation, I would expect a bit less of a R rating when it comes to sex. Most of us reluctantly acknowledge that our parents had to have done it, but we certainly do not want to read about it. There is a lot of repetition especially the "..fear makes you weak" line.
The premise is that he wrote this to his children in case he did not live through combat. If that was really the motivation, I would expect a bit less of a R rating when it comes to sex. Most of us reluctantly acknowledge that our parents had to have done it, but we certainly do not want to read about it. There is a lot of repetition especially the "..fear makes you weak" line.
October 21, 2020
Unbreakable is not just a book about someone in the military. It is a book about family, support, connection, priorities, leadership and inner strength. Thom Shea intertwines stories of his time in the military as a SEAL with the values he hold dear, and the steps he took to control his internal dialogue as well as his respect and care for his family. He gives the reader thought provoking ways to evaluate and change the way we think about ourselves and the difficult situations we face throughout life. This book also provides the reader with the steps to evaluate how we speak to ourselves and the ways in which other individuals negatively affect our own thought patterns, if we let them. I recommend this book to anyone in leadership, or who wants to be. It is well written and powerful.
January 3, 2018
A mixture of memoir (albeit a selective one, recounting only an adventure race, several battles, and some conversations with his family) and motivational self-help (framed as advise for his kids if he dies at war).
The good: some of the advise - the importance of controlling your 'internal dialogue' and having a can-do instead of can't-do attitude - was good. The stories of battles were pretty interesting, and the author clearly loved his team mates (although his admiration for the way they quipped and fought together mostly makes you feel like you're on the outside of an inside joke).
The bad: there's kind of a jarring melodrama throughout the book, as the author alternates between describing how much he loves fighting and being a SEAL and continually calling his deployment 'hell' and talking about how much he wishes he could see his family. It gave the impression that some of the drama was more 'this-is-the-angst-I'm-supposed-to-portray' than real, which gave a sense of falseness to the book.
The ugly: I got the impression that the author was a high achiever, but also a stereotypical military macho man. He was unapologetic about being a jerk to other teams in his adventure race, proud of doing dangerous things he wasn't prepared for, and described the awesomeness of some of his sniping kills more like a kid bragging about his feats in a video game than a person talking about killing other people. I came out of the book not liking him, which made some of his admittedly good advice hard to take seriously.
The good: some of the advise - the importance of controlling your 'internal dialogue' and having a can-do instead of can't-do attitude - was good. The stories of battles were pretty interesting, and the author clearly loved his team mates (although his admiration for the way they quipped and fought together mostly makes you feel like you're on the outside of an inside joke).
The bad: there's kind of a jarring melodrama throughout the book, as the author alternates between describing how much he loves fighting and being a SEAL and continually calling his deployment 'hell' and talking about how much he wishes he could see his family. It gave the impression that some of the drama was more 'this-is-the-angst-I'm-supposed-to-portray' than real, which gave a sense of falseness to the book.
The ugly: I got the impression that the author was a high achiever, but also a stereotypical military macho man. He was unapologetic about being a jerk to other teams in his adventure race, proud of doing dangerous things he wasn't prepared for, and described the awesomeness of some of his sniping kills more like a kid bragging about his feats in a video game than a person talking about killing other people. I came out of the book not liking him, which made some of his admittedly good advice hard to take seriously.
October 10, 2015
I received this book through a First Reads giveaway on Goodreads.
This is an interesting concept for a book... part memoir and part motivational. Retired Navy SEAL, Senior Chief Thom Shea, uses his experience as a SEAL and adventure racer to provide a 13 step program to improve your physical and mental performance by mastering your "inner dialogue." After my time in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I understand fully the importance of positive thinking and managing your "inner dialogue." I enjoyed the book, but will probably not go through the 13 step program myself.
It should be noted that the author is also the CEO of a leadership and human performance coaching firm.
This is an interesting concept for a book... part memoir and part motivational. Retired Navy SEAL, Senior Chief Thom Shea, uses his experience as a SEAL and adventure racer to provide a 13 step program to improve your physical and mental performance by mastering your "inner dialogue." After my time in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I understand fully the importance of positive thinking and managing your "inner dialogue." I enjoyed the book, but will probably not go through the 13 step program myself.
It should be noted that the author is also the CEO of a leadership and human performance coaching firm.
August 19, 2017
One of the greatest self help books I have ever read. Internal dialogue is everything. Hear it, acknowledge it, tame it and watch your path unfold!
November 6, 2022
I read the book and it is awesome. It's like Think and Grow Rich and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer meet a Navy SEAL and teach him how to stay alive during combat and he lives to pass on the lessons he has learned to his children and to the reader.
This book is filled with great lessons about your Internal Dialogue and learning how to control it by facing and conquering fear and other adversities.
The book is also filled with some great combat stories that are on par with Outlaw Platoon by Sean Parnell and the gallows humor that comes with men in combat and have experienced combat and stared death in the face from the muzzle and a 7.62mm round from a Kalashnikov.
The book could use some better editing and spelling and grammar checking and yet I still highly recommend this book.
This book is filled with great lessons about your Internal Dialogue and learning how to control it by facing and conquering fear and other adversities.
The book is also filled with some great combat stories that are on par with Outlaw Platoon by Sean Parnell and the gallows humor that comes with men in combat and have experienced combat and stared death in the face from the muzzle and a 7.62mm round from a Kalashnikov.
The book could use some better editing and spelling and grammar checking and yet I still highly recommend this book.
May 1, 2021
Wow! I am really surprised; I really enjoyed this book. It was unlike anything else I have ever read, a completely different perspective than I am used to. Life lessons from a Navy Seal Chief. Chief Shea wrote this book to communicate with his children. He dives into lessons about internal dialogue, combat, committed relationships, love and marriage.
At first it was a little weird for me to hear someone talk so bluntly about killing Taliban and the number of kills. I am sure I will be grateful years from now that I read this book. Unbreakable reminded me of The Greatest Generation in that, combat experienced men and woman have a vastly different perspective on life and what it means to live. In its own way it was a little like the fluffy spiritual stuff I read but much more abrasive. Strangely the two had similar messages. It makes me chuckle because this book had a similar spiritual message plus night-vision, grenades', Helios, snipers, AKs etc. This is the second book I've ready with combat scenes and I am a little surprised at the excitement I feel while reading about war. Maybe I need to read more war-oriented books lol.
At first it was a little weird for me to hear someone talk so bluntly about killing Taliban and the number of kills. I am sure I will be grateful years from now that I read this book. Unbreakable reminded me of The Greatest Generation in that, combat experienced men and woman have a vastly different perspective on life and what it means to live. In its own way it was a little like the fluffy spiritual stuff I read but much more abrasive. Strangely the two had similar messages. It makes me chuckle because this book had a similar spiritual message plus night-vision, grenades', Helios, snipers, AKs etc. This is the second book I've ready with combat scenes and I am a little surprised at the excitement I feel while reading about war. Maybe I need to read more war-oriented books lol.
May 20, 2018
I read this book after my husband read and enjoyed it. He has a good friend who is a Seal, and thought this book would interest me because it is more about the relational side of their lives. I did find it interesting and challenging. I have even more respect for Navy Seals and their families; they ALL sacrifice so much to serve and deserve our utmost respect.
Having said that, Thom Shea is a soldier through and through—not a writer. Some of the writing is a bit redundant, and some of it is a bit choppy. It is not a literary novel.
However, if you are interested in knowing more of what our elite forces and their families experience while these men are deployed, this book will give you great insight. It takes a special person to serve our country in this way.
Having said that, Thom Shea is a soldier through and through—not a writer. Some of the writing is a bit redundant, and some of it is a bit choppy. It is not a literary novel.
However, if you are interested in knowing more of what our elite forces and their families experience while these men are deployed, this book will give you great insight. It takes a special person to serve our country in this way.
November 16, 2017
Outstanding book written by a warrior in war. Thom Shea (SEAL) tells a very balanced story of family life, his way of life, and combat and unravels the common thread: himself. ADAMANTINE is Shea's mantra! He takes you through ADAMANTINE as it applies to combat, survival, and love for his family. I highly recommend this book.
September 7, 2017
A great book with a smart take on creating a positive and powerful internal dialogue, but a lot of the important takes of the book are scattered among battle descriptions that while enthralling, add very little to the overall message and lessons.
November 23, 2018
Undeniably gritty view of the warrior Seal. His rules and mindset are worth considering. It’s not Shakespeare, not meant to be, but it is pretty compelling reading. The concept of “mastering your internal dialogue” will be remembered.
June 1, 2019
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It had lots of great lessons for life. The author has written this for his family. To share his story of what he went through as a Seal and reads like a long letter these brave men and women write should they make the ultimate sacrifice.
May 11, 2018
One of the best SEAL books I’ve ever read - brings interesting stories and really brings out the brotherly philosophy of this group of incredible individuals
June 23, 2018
meh - i can see the point (at least I believe I do) but the presentation was pretty over the top for me.
August 15, 2019
The writing is a little repetitive and lacking; however, this book harbors lessons in life that everyone can take away from.
September 17, 2019
Really good stuff about internal dialogue. I didn't care about the war stories and didn't think they really fit in with the messages.
April 4, 2022
Interesting and insightful, but from a more extreme position (of necessity). Lessons that anyone can learn and apply.
May 4, 2016
Unbreakable: A Navy SEAL’s Way of Life, was a touching book. When I first started reading the book, I thought that it would just be about stories of past operations of Tom Shea’s (author) experiences as a Navy SEAL. But as I kept getting further into the book, I realized that Tom Shea was bringing in some life lessons into the book from past experiences as a SEAL. For most of the book, it takes place in Afghanistan, where he talks about past operations. It only makes since for this book to take place where his team’s operations took place, because then it makes it easy for the reader to imagine what he went through. At the beginning of the book, Shea said that he purposely changed the names of locations and people in the book for their own safety, but when he described the members of his team early in the book, the names he replaced with, actually helped describe the members. Most of the team members as he described were not likable, as most were isolated, and seemed unpleasant, but I guess that is just how some Navy SEAL’s are trained to be. What I thought would be a book about past recollections, turned into more of a motivational book, which turned the book’s tone into more stern than before. His stern tone was more positive than negative, with his voice sounding like there is hope for people.
This book is suited for people who are in a slump right now, and just needs some motivation and some hope. I will highly recommend this book to people, and it won’t be to just people who are feeling down, because everyone can use at least some motivation, which this book will provide.
This book is suited for people who are in a slump right now, and just needs some motivation and some hope. I will highly recommend this book to people, and it won’t be to just people who are feeling down, because everyone can use at least some motivation, which this book will provide.
March 4, 2016
This book can transform your life. I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend this book to anyone!
*I received a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways
*I received a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways
October 31, 2015
I received a free copy from Goodreads.
This book was not what I expected. From the title, I expected a a memoir, not a book that has the potential to change my life. Never underestimate a book.
This book was not what I expected. From the title, I expected a a memoir, not a book that has the potential to change my life. Never underestimate a book.
December 1, 2015
I won this book through Goodreads. Such a touching book. Read it very quickly. Laughed & cried & just felt good.
April 10, 2017
Toto bolo velmi dobre, az ma to tak necakane a prijemne prekvapilo :) Skuseny SEAL vojak, pise "lekcie" svojim detom, ako pracovat na sebe, svojich vztahoch, ako sa zachovat v zivotnych krizach atd ... Aby nam nase podvedomie nikdy nepovedalo "neda sa" a podobne... Kniha bola taky mix, kedze je tam aj vela jeho spomienok z bojov v Afghanistane... Takejto "vojenskej" a "motivacnej" literatury je dost vela a zvycajne je to take vecne omielane a otrepane klise, no tato kniha bola niecim ina.. Urcite sa k par kapitolam casom vratim... Urcite posuvam dalej mojmu vojakovi, no odporucam aj vsetkym civilistom :D
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October 31, 2017Great stories that Thomas Shea connected to practical application. I would recommend it to any professional that strives to be the best.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews