Book Review: Make your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven

The author of this book made a speech to a Texas graduating class that has caught the attention of multitudes of people. He is a seasoned veteran of the US Military and served as a Navy Seal for the preponderance of his military career. A link to his speech is posted below:

Following this amazing and memorable speech, Admiral McRaven decided to expand upon his words by writing the book, “Make your Bed”. Although published in 2017, his book easily became a #1 bestseller according to the New York Times and has since sold 1.5 million copies.

This book was put in my hands by a very close friend of mine whom I had the privilege to serve under for a years’ worth of his command. His name is Todd and he and I competed together in the Division Best Ranger competition.

Reading this book was very inspirational to me because as a career service member, a lot of the lessons conveyed in this book really hit home with me. The lessons taught in this book are not only for military personnel, but they apply to all walks of life. Admiral McRaven uses real-life stories and experiences to illustrate proper ways to handle things that life throws at us. He has a lot of great one-line phrases that are easy to remember and apply. Some of my favorites are “I sometimes fell short of being the best, but I never fell short of giving it my best.” Or “if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circus.” This book is full of great insights and can give you the confidence to face real-world situations.

This book was a very quick read and can be read in only a few hours’ time. A written copy of his oration is also published in it and it is a great book to have ready as a reference if you ever need a positive reminder or a pick me up.

The biggest impact that this book has had on me since I read it, is now I consistently make my bed after I get up in the morning. It has become a habit for me and it is my first victory of the day and it sets the pace for everything that I will encounter throughout my day. It is an act of discipline, an act of initiative, and an act of cleanliness. All of these are great characteristics of a leader and for high performing people in general. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys motivational speeches and has a practical mindset. A person with a no-nonsense attitude and who is action-oriented will really enjoy this book.

Get your own copy of this great book on Amazon here: Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World