Chapter 6: Thoughts While I Read
- Says he’s not gonna talk about BUD/S, and then goes ahead and talks about BUD/S both from a student and then as an instructor. I actually like hearing from the instructor’s point of view more than just the suffering that the students go through.
- What he covers about what makes people quit is what the Bible says about ‘being faint in your mind.’ People’s reasons why have always interested me. I like how he talked to the guys who rang out about their why and then (in typical Andy style) uses that to mess with people’s heads in the future.
- Busy reading this chapter and (probably because I have physical distance from Andy) I am enjoying his storytelling of his ‘exploits’ as an instructor, never raising his voice but just getting people to think about, ‘How much longer can I endure this…?’
- I once asked Andy (on Twitter, when it was Twitter) if it really was like that from an instructor’s viewpoint. I tagged Justin Legg (featured in the documentary of BUD/S). I forget what the answer was, but I did hear later on his podcast that Andy thinks the word ‘documentary’ is misleading.
- He gives four examples of this in action and tips throughout on how to get through anything. So humorous, but practical. Or is it vice versa? Practical, and still humorous.
- A lot of these stories are included in his podcast, Cleared Hot, and it’s nice to have them all in one place.
- Again, I have no interest in skydiving, but his long and detailed description of the jump with an Afghan terp is written so well that 1) I can hear this being told in Andy’s voice, 2) I can get a visceral reaction all throughout, and 3) I am fully immersed in the story, even though I’ve heard Andy tell it numerous times on the podcast to various guests who wanted to hear it.
- Talks about his divorce (not really) and what he felt going through it. Talks about his children and child-rearing. But more from his point of view and not any details, to protect everyone’s privacy. Good for him!