The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy Seal

In an inspiring memoir from one of the world's most elite warriors, Greitens recounts in remarkable detail his time as a Navy SEAL--from the most harrowing encounters and brutal attacks to the lessons learned from his humanitarian efforts. In an inspiring, in-depth memoir from former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens--from his most harrowing encounters and brutal attacks to the lessons learned from his humanitarian efforts.

Like many young idealists, Eric Greitens wanted to make a difference, so he traveled to the world's trouble spots to work in refugee camps and serve the sick and the poor. Yet when innocent civilians were threatened with harm, there was nothing he could do but step in afterward and try to ease the suffering. In studying humanitarianism, he realized a fundamental truth: when an army invades, the weak need protection. So he joined the Navy SEALs and became one of the world's elite warriors. The Heart and the Fist follows Greitens's deployments in Kenya, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he faced harrowing encounters and brutal attacks. Yet even in the deadliest combat situations, the lessons of his humanitarian work bore fruit. At the heart of this powerful story lies a paradox: sometimes you have to be strong to do good, but you also have to do good to be strong.