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

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.

Author: Eric Greitens
Publisher: Mariner Books
Published: 04/10/2012
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.62lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.30w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780547750385
Audience: Young Adult

About the Author

Eric Greitens is a senior fellow at the University of Missouri and the founder and director of The Mission Continues, a charity that helps wounded veterans find work back at home. A former Rhodes scholar and White House fellow, Greitens served as a Navy SEAL until he was wounded in Iraq.