Book Review: Living With A Seal by Jesse Itzler

This was a fun read this month.  Living With A Seal by Jesse Itzler is exactly what it sounds like.  Jesse Itzler who is an interesting person himself hired a Navy Seal to come live with him and train him for 30 days.  During that time, he wrote a blog about his experience which eventually turned into this book.  The blurb on the inside cover of the book describes it as “a buddy movie if it starred the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Rambo”. I have to say that is the perfect description of this book.

The book was published in 2015 and took place in December of 2010, mainly in New York City. When Itzler wrote the book the Navy Seal that came to live with him asked not to be identified  in the blog or the book so throughout the book he is just called Seal.  I’m not sure exactly when he was identified but the Navy Seal in the book is David Goggins.  Last summer I read one of Goggins books, Can’t Hurt Me, and I think he may briefly talk about this experience in that book. It definitely made this book more interesting having read that book first.  

Itzler first encounters Goggins when they are participating in a 100-mile race in San Diego.  Itzler was running as part of a team and Goggins is there running by himself.  Itzler was so intrigued by Goggins that he tracked him down, went back to San Diego to meet him in person and asked him to come live with him and train him for a month.  Goggins agreed under with the condition that Itzler be willing to do anything that he asked for that month.  

Goggins shows up at Itzlers at oh seven hundred and asks him if he’s ready.  He then tells him to meet him in 9 minutes.  Since it is 14 degrees out Itzler changes into his cold weather workout gear, two sweatshirts, two hats and gloves and meets Goggins who is wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a hat.  All he asks for is a pair of gloves.  They then go on a six-mile run.  An hour after the run Itzler gives Goggins a tour of his apartment but all that he seems interested in is the gym where he proceeds to have Itzler do 100 pull ups.  

Each chapter of the book is broken into the days workouts.  Itzler sprinkles in stories of his background though out the book and what little he learns about Goggins.  At the end of each chapter he notes the days workout.  How many miles they ran, how many push ups, pull ups, etc.  The big day is Day 27 when he runs 3.5 miles and does 1,000 push ups.  

During the month Goggins goes pretty much everywhere with Itzler.  The workouts are intense. Goggins does not let the weather deter him from a run.  Business trip that goes until 10 at night – do the workout after.  

The book is a quick read.  I do think having read Goggins book before this made this book more enjoyable but it would be a fun read even not knowing anything about Goggins.  If you are looking for a fun summer read that also might motivate you to get outside your comfort zone, I highly recommend this book.