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The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,055 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
The Heart and the Fist is an inspirational and motivating story by Eric Greitens. It gives us a closer look into the heart of a man who loved people so much, and whose heart was so broken by the devastation he saw, that he had to do something with his life to make a difference.
While Eric was in college, and for some time afterwards, he saw parts of the world that most of us never have the chance to see. He traveled to some of the poorest, most down-trodden regions of the world, including Calcutta, the home of Mother Teresa. What he saw there, and in other parts of the world, changed his life in more ways than one. He needed to find a way to help the people in the refugee camps. He needed to be able to do something for them; to serve them in a greater way. So, he did the only thing that made sense.
He became a Navy SEAL.
Through his training, and through the experiences that would follow, Eric learned valuable lessons about life. He shares those lessons with you in his heart-wrenching memoir. For a man who only wanted to find strength within him to do more for the world around him, he realizes that it's his desire to do good that gives him strength.
Some might call Greitens an idealist. Others refer to him as a humanitarian. Once you read The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL, you'll know Eric as a hero. However, it wasn't his service as a Navy SEAL that created that heroism within him. It was his heart, and his love for people. It was his willingness to lay down his life in an attempt to make a difference for a few people, thousands of miles away. This is a story you'll love and cherish for years to come.
"This book was one of the best books I've ever read. I'm not interested in going into the military but this book almost made me want to join. All of the things this guy, Erik Greitens, went through was amazing. He is almost my hero. I want my personality and character to be just like this guy. During the toughest week for BUD/S, Hell Week, he is cracking jokes. And if it's too easy for him, he tries to make himself better by making it harder for himself. For me, when I walk into baseball try outs in March, or when I walk into the weight room, I'm going to try to have the attitude of Erik. He is on my list of five people I'd love to sit down and have a conversation with. This book is about Erik, going to different countries, like Bosnia, Rwanda, and Bolivia, to volunteer at interment camps. And he was so smart he went to Oxford. He also went to China for schooling but while he was there someone told him to try karate, so he did. And then he tried boxing. So he ment one of the most wisest men I've heard of, Earl Blair. At the time, Earl was training a pro boxer, Derrick Humphrey. So Erik gets to train with a pro. Everything Earl says is something to remember. On one of his missions, Erik decides that all the work he's doing isn't enough so he signs up for the Navy to become a Seal. So he leaves for the Army. Anyone who wants to find a new hero, read this book. Anyone who likes Navy Seal things, or wants to find out how to become one, read this book. Anyone who likes to read at all read, read this book. Anyone who wants to find motivation, read this book. I am going to remember this book for the rest of my life. That's how good it is."
— Kyle (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
Like many young idealists, Eric Greitens wanted to make a difference. During college and afterward, he traveled to the world's trouble spots, working in refugee camps, serving the sick and the poor on four continents, from Gaza to Croatia to Mother Teresa's home in Calcutta, among others. Yet he could not prevent violence or save anyone from becoming a refugee; he could only step in afterward and try to ease the damage. So Eric joined the Navy SEALs and became an elite warrior. In a moving and inspiring memoir, told with genuine humility, Eric offers something new in the history of military memoirs: a warrior who wanted to be strong to be good, only to discover that he had to be good to be strong. Throughout his SEAL training and deployments in Kenya, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the lessons of his humanitarian work bore fruit. The result is a lesson for us all: the heart and fist together are more powerful than either one alone.
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Quotes
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This tale of [Greitens's] dual military/humanitarian effort could be paired with Rye Barcott's It Happened on the Way to War.
— Library Journal
The Heart and the Fist Listener Reviews
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" Eric's story is phenomenal. The plot moves along and covers lots of ground and yet he leaves plenty of time for reflection. Overall, a powerful story! "
— Hope, 4/11/2017 -
" This was a very interesting book. It was especially interesting to read his take on the war in Afghanistan. The premise is unique for a memoir Greitens is admirable. This was definitely worth the time to read - I have talked about this book to several people since reading it. "
— Deb, 2/8/2014 -
" Greitens backs up his ideology with the way he lives his life. He's an extremely accomplished man (Rhodes Scholar, Navy SEAL) who has figured out that the key to satisfaction in life is in doing for others and looking out for their interests instead of our own. I found myself underlining numerous passages that spoke to me. "
— Glen, 2/7/2014 -
" If you only read one book about the SEALS, this is the one! Greitens is a humanitarian, Rhodes Scholar and a SEAL. a dynamite combination. This would be a great recruiting book for the SEALS. Eric shows the human side of why we have and need special forces. "
— Jim, 1/29/2014 -
" Interesting first person account of working in some of the world's most troubled areas both as a aid worker/observer and as part of the U.S. military. Gain a new appreciation for the the difficulty of the training elite forces go through to be prepared to serve and protect around the world. Be prepared for military language but also some profound realizations concerning family, war, and the need to protect, empower and respect those who need help. "
— Andrea, 1/23/2014 -
" Not as good as I was hoping... it was a nice story, but it didn't really make the connection between humanitarianism and being a Navy SEAL, other than he did both work in his life for brief periods of time (although he was more of a photographer than humanitarian). He needed to tie all the ends together a bit better. "
— Mihaihokie, 1/12/2014 -
" A great collection of stories meant to remind us that we need to be courageous and loving - employing the heart and the fist in equal parts. This is a quick read, not for its length, but for the extent that it engages the readers. "
— Neil, 1/3/2014 -
" wow. This book shows just how much one individual can do in their lifetime. It will encourage you to never stop exploring your curiosities and to use your own knowledge and resources to help those around you. "
— Christine, 12/30/2013 -
" Much better than I expected highly recommended. "
— Randy, 12/20/2013 -
" There are some great parts of this book and some excellent reflections on diplomacy at the individual level. Other sections of the book were mainly brief descriptions of SEAL training that lacked the vivid color so evident in other parts of the book. Well worth a read. "
— Andrew, 12/3/2013 -
" This is an amazing book that teaches life lessons from an extraordinary life. Author Eric Greitens documents his journey from college to humanitarian volunteer to Oxford University to Navy SEAL training. He conveys the desire to serve and leave the world a better place. "
— Mannix, 10/10/2013 -
" see my review of this book "
— Terri, 8/22/2013 -
" Another book I wanted to like. I thought it would provide some insight into the military and war.. The author's writing was so incredibly simplistic and bland that I thought I was reading a high school term paper. It got so annoying that I couldn't finish reading it. "
— Roxanne, 7/6/2013 -
" I loved this book. Eric Greitens has lived an amazing life so far and he continues to serve... "
— Rob, 2/21/2013 -
" Amazing! Greitens is philosophical and real. Not political at all just a raw, honest look at our world today, and what it takes to be both a humanitarian and a soldier. "
— Jaclyn, 2/17/2012 -
" The Heart and the Fist is a great first hand account about one man making a difference. The author is a person of courage and character. I would have liked to read more about his adventures. "
— Robert, 12/22/2011 -
" Loved, loved, loved this book. I want everyone to read it. "
— Wystan, 7/26/2011 -
" Really liked it until the end. Kinda hawkish, even for me. love to have a beer with this guy though. "
— Joshua, 7/19/2011 -
" The chapters on the author's SEAL training were by far the most engaging parts of this book. Outside of that, it was a ho-hum read with a rather positive ending. "
— Matt, 5/18/2011 -
" This was a great look into what a Navy seal has to do in order to actually be called a seal! Eric is a great humanitarian and it is nice to see all that he has done in order to try to make the world a better place, if more people were like him the world would be a better place! "
— Leteia, 5/11/2011 -
" Great book! Really worth leading. Greitens has the chance to be one of the great leaders of our generation! "
— Ted, 4/6/2011 -
" Great book. Lead from the front! A great book from a author who will be one the the great leaders in our generation. "
— Ted, 3/27/2011
About Eric Greitens
Eric Greitens was born and raised in Missouri. A Navy SEAL, Rhodes Scholar, boxing champion, and humanitarian leader, Greitens earned his PhD from Oxford University. He performed research and documentary photography work with children and families in Rwanda, Albania, Mexico, India, Croatia, Bolivia, and Cambodia. The founder of the Mission Continues and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Heart and the Fist, Greitens was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people. Fortune magazine named him one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world. He lives in Missouri with his wife and son.