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)

Not just another Navy Seal book (not that there’s anything wrong with them)

Despite the recent scandal surrounding the author in recent years, I think the themes from his book are as relevant and valuable now than they ever were! This book is a story of courage, charity, discipline and kindness. The author may have fallen under sever scrutiny for things that were disgraceful, but that doesn’t mean that the things he achieved weren’t commendable and true- you can’t fake being awarded the Rhodes scholarship for example.
I think there’s a lot to learn from his stories and his experiences. I think we can also learn a lot from his successes as well as his more recent failures.

Unforgettable

It helps that the author reads his book, but his viewpoint and his character outshine even a rollicking good read about SEAL training, Mother Theresa, Oxford, the Bosnian and Ruanda genocides, and special ops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Found myself looking for anything and everything else by or about this fellow.

A Navy SEAL with a mission to save the world

What a great man. What a great story.
Listening to how Eric matures and develops through college and his international humanitarian episodes were interesting. However, the best parts for me were Eric's SEAL training experiences. It was very encouraging to know that a man like Eric was going to be a military leader. It was very discouraging to hear about some of the other people who were going to be military leaders. Overall a good listen.

An inspiring progression

The Author, who is also the narrator, describes his life before being a Navy Seal, the process of becoming a Seal, some experiences as a Seal, and finally his inspiring work after retiring from military service. Everything in his life builds up to the next phase of his life. Certainly he leaves out the mundane and boring parts, but it is inspiring to see reason and purpose for the experiences in life. This is a great read for a teenager who needs direction or is thinking about military service (though there is a fair amount of foul language). The author highlights the need for character and responsibility: for perseverance, honesty, accepting responsibility for your own actions, humility, and living a life serving others.

Extraordinary tale of a life well-lived.

This is a memorable book that spurs the reader to act on his or her best impulses.

Great

It was wonderful, thank you for writing this. I cried at every chapter listening to such heart warming stories. God bless you and all of those who help our country and our world

riveting story of unusual travel and training!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, it was a very captivating description of places of suffering and poverty in the world and the hope and lessons one man found there. Also tales of his training and deployments as a Navy Seal. Fascinating- couldn't put it down until I finished the book!

What other book might you compare The Heart and the Fist to and why?

Finishing School - another Navy Seal training book, and Kisses for Katy - a young woman moves to Africa and adopts and serves orphan children.

What about Eric Greitens’s performance did you like?

His down to earth manner of telling his story - as if he was sitting across the kitchen table over a cup of coffee!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

hearing about the couple who gave up their own comforts to love and care for the orphans in Africa.

Any additional comments?

This story makes you consider a more noble calling! Serving others is more fulfilling than living for self.

Great book for young men to read

Enjoyed reading the book. The author had a unique experience as a young adult and he brought it to life in this book.

Best Navy Seal Book Available

Any additional comments?

Finally a Navy Seal book that gives the other side of the picture. If you like these books, then I highly recommend reading this book. It gives perspective.

A warrior with true metis (ancient Greek)

If you could sum up The Heart and the Fist in three words, what would they be?

Truly amazing that one person could so positively impact the lives of so many with his good deeds, his words, his wisdom and his weapon.