Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins: the best audiobook for long trips

If anyone thinks hiking is boring, it is because they have not listened to Can’t Hurt Me while they walked. I love to hike and listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks at the same time, and this account of David Goggins was more than 13 hours of pure pleasure in a completely unique format. If you need a good and inspiring audiobook for your next trip, read on.

What it is about

Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds is an autobiography about David Goggins. The main character is a retired Navy SEAL, Ranger, ultrarunner and former world record holder for the most pull-ups in 24 hours, and he is known as the toughest man alive.

The book itself is fairly chronological and starts with the story of an incredibly hard childhood, where David Goggins is subjected to both physical and psychological abuse. He grew up with a bad hand of cards, had a weak mind and was overweight. How can someone overcome all that adversity and end up becoming the toughest man alive? It is a long story, and I will give you plenty of good reasons why you should read the book.

The unique audiobook format

The book starts out very harshly, and if you do not know David Goggins, it can be a little hard to listen to how tough he had it in his early years. It is important for the story, though, because his childhood is part of why he can endure incredible amounts of pain. Early in the book you hear how he went through three hell weeks in the Navy SEALs as the only person ever to do so.

Part of what makes this audiobook unique is that between every chapter there is a recorded podcast segment with David Goggins and Adam Skolnick, who is the co-author and narrator. That format means you get both classic storytelling and the author’s own take on the story right after you have heard it. On top of that, you get a lot of extra information that is not in the book itself.

David Goggins has become especially known for short videos on YouTube and social media, where he tells you, in an inspiring and hard-hitting way, how you can train your body and your mind. The book goes much deeper into how the author became as passionate and resilient as he is.

Why it lands with a hiker

If you have only seen David Goggins in some of the short clips, he can come across as a bit of an asshole. If you have followed him for many years, or you read his autobiography, it is hard not to love him. That very arc is what makes the book a fantastic companion on the trail, where you have hours to think about your own endurance anyway. On a long trip there is plenty of room to let his story sink in, step by step.

My recommendation

I am crazy about this book, and it is easily the best audiobook I have ever heard. It never gets boring, and you are constantly surprised by how the next chapter can top the last. What that man has been through is unbelievable. I cannot think of a single person in my circle I would not recommend the book to, and that is why it gets a full five stars from me. It is 13 hours and 37 minutes long, which makes it perfect for a long hike or a trip.