Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

Based on a Navy SEAL's inspiring graduation speech, this #1 New York Times bestseller of powerful life lessons "should be read by every leader in America" (Wall Street Journal).

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university's slogan, "What starts here changes the world," he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.

Admiral McRaven's original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life's darkest moments.
"Powerful." --USA Today

"Full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault." --Washington Post

"Superb, smart, and succinct." --Forbes

BUY THE BOOK

Published Apr 4, 2017

144 pages

Average rating: 7.8

106 RATINGS

|

These clubs recently read this book...

Community Reviews

wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
10/10 stars
Thank you Richard Gruber for having this book on the nightstand when I spent the night with you. It was fantastic.
SraGonzalez
Mar 10, 2025
6/10 stars
Short read and inspirational. I did watch the recording of him giving the commencement speech. The last 20 minutes of the book he is repeating himself but I felt like it gave me some missed nuggets.
AMSontag
Feb 12, 2025
9/10 stars
Easy read! Read this with my senior seminar when I was teaching and they seemed to really enjoy it also! Great advice with entertaining stories that apply to the advice.
CShakes
Feb 10, 2025
10/10 stars
Inspirational, down-to-earth and very true. I appreciated all of it.
InhaleExhale
Sep 01, 2024
8/10 stars
Good, sweet, short.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.