Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jocko Willink

I've followed Jocko since he first appeared on Tim Ferriss' podcast. While Discipline Equals Freedom came out awhile back, I wish I hadn't waited to buy it. The combination of inspirational and tactical takeaways made it worth every penny. It's a great coffee table book too, and I'll be keeping it well placed in my apartment. It's an easy read, and you can breeze through it in a couple hours. If you want to tackle some of the workouts though, it may take a bit longer.

Key Takeaways

• Discipline, not motivation, is the most important quality to cultivate in your life.
• With discipline, you can reach your potential.
• Discipline is about what you don't do.
• Most things are simple, but that simplicity comes at a cost. It's hard (very hard) to achieve.
• Discipline is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.
• You can apply this principle to anything in your life.

Memorable Quotes

• Don’t expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on Discipline.
• Don’t let your mind control you. Control your mind.
• NO MORE. No more excuses. No more: “I’ll start tomorrow.” No more: “Just this once.” No more accepting the shortfalls of my own will. No more taking the easy road. No more bowing down to whatever unhealthy or unproductive thoughts float through my mind.
• With myself, I have to hold the line. There are areas within myself where I CANNOT compromise. I am going to work hard. I am going to train hard. I am going to improve myself. I am not going to rest on my laurels. I am going to own my mistakes and confront them. I am going to face my demons. I’m not going to give up, or give out, or give in. I’m going to stand. I am going to maintain my self-discipline. And on those points there will be No Compromise. NOT NOW.  NOT EVER.
• Because emotion and logic will both reach their limitations. And when one fails, you need to rely on the other. When it just doesn’t make any logical sense to go on, that’s when you use your emotion, your anger, your frustration, your fear, to push further, to push you to say one thing: I don’t stop.
• Is this what I want to be? This? I this all I got - is this everything I can give? Is this going to be my life? Do I accept that?
• Live in defiance of the weakness and in rebellion against the decay.

Rating: 9.5/10
Excellent all around. Practical and inspirational, and I'd recommend this to anyone interested in getting better.