The Heart and the Fist

The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL

By: Eric Greitens

Narrated by: Eric Greitens

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's 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.

©2011 Eric Greitens (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"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)

Unique perspective, interesting read

This book was great for people that travel and ponder what our global role is. What are the things that humanitarians, Christians, military and other do for those in need, with good intentions, are harmful or helpful for those people and other cultures? Greitens does a fabulous job writing and reading the audio book. Even our 11 year old listened to this audio book with us and enjoyed it. There are some bad words and some content that was hard for us all to hear, but it was real life situations that happen. It's important for our preteens and teens to hear that life isn't all easy, and the freedom we enjoy every day is earned every day by many amazing people that step up to the plate and say "I'll do it."

A great example

I had my teenage sons listen to when I was done, and they loved it as well. Eric sets a great example for us all. The story is educational, inspirational, and at times very funny. He is also a talented writer and a good reader. Out of the 170 titles in my library, I'd rank this in the top 5, easily.

Great reading

Super interesting. My son had to read it before going to ROTC, so I read it too. I just wish it was longer. Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership role and trying to lead in the future or just help others along the way.

ends a bit abruptly but other than that GREAT!

hilarious.. way funnier than I ever would have thought. heartbreaking and thought provoking. the part about BUDS is amazing. I've read a lot about BUDS and special warfare in general and this is definitely an entirely different look at it. it was eye opening. should have gone five more chapters though. the last two chapters feel rushed and it seems to end abruptly.

Good read for those predeployment military

I recently retired from the U.S. Air Force and like the fact Eric mentions importance of building good relationships with the locals overseas in deployments. I totally agree! Good job to Mr. Greitens.

Interesting

Wasn't my favorite book. Had interesting stories of his work. I would have liked to have heard about the military deployments a bit more.

Fantastic book

This author gives a fantastic description about his own journey of honor, service and purpose. It's told not from, "Well, you need to do this" perspective, but from the point of view of, "there were many paths, and I choose this one."

You don't have to be a Navy SEAL to live a life of honor and service.

An insightful moving account of a life well lived

This is an amazing story. Mr. Greitens tells a great story with thoughtful advice for anyone wishing to serve others in any capacity. The Heart and the Fist should be a must read for military personnel and aid workers.
The only reason I did not give it five stars was that towards the end it felt like he cut it short. One minute he was boarding an airplane, and the very next sentence began with the epilogue. It was as if he reached an assigned quota of words and decided to wrap it up right where he was. Maybe it was that I liked it so much I didn't want it to stop, but I sincerely think he could have wrapped it up a bit tighter.

That said, the story still has plenty of validity and is well told. If you’re thinking about reading this, stop what you’re doing and get this book!

Humanity of a skilled warrior

Had just listened to the Lone Survivor, which I liked very much from a different perspective. This book is definitely different, in a good way. Written by a man who had a different experience. I'd say a true leader who shared many a lesson from an expansive life of travel and very challenging experiences. He chronicles his journey from fields of a young adventurous volunteer to the fields of a combat officer of today. Very mature, full of leadership perspectives and quite empowering.
Definitely worth a listen for a wide range of audience who might not be attracted to listening to a story of Special Warfare Operations of today. If you are interested in the Navy Seals--he had some of the best descriptions of BUDS that I've read/listened.
A true humanitarian, that continued his challenge of service even outside of the Seals. He continues to demonstrate key qualities of enduring and persisting under quite difficult conditions.
The author reads his own book. Lends an interesting quality to his work. I'd say it could have been read better by a professional, but I imagine he had his reasons, it doesn't really distract from the listen.
The topic and the story he is telling is absolutely one of the best I've read/heard in awhile.

Great Story

If this book doesn't make you stop and think about your life and what direction you are going nothing else will.