Becoming the 0.1%: Thirty-four lessons from the diary of a Royal Marines Commando Recruit

This was an awesome read!! More than training, brutal and unforgiving! But when you consider the places they have to go and what they have to endure and succeed bless them all.

This book is an incredible account, rich in detail and full of practical lessons about mindset, behaviour and resilience. There are plenty of details out there about Royal Marines' training, many documentaries and YouTube videos, lots of training guides, interviews and also powerful and dramatic adverts, but this book is a peek into the real thing - and in reality it is a harrowing, brutal, and relentless experience, and clearly a reality no-one has shared in this much detail before (amazingly, you can even sense that the author is holding back on some of the experiences and challenges). It is a very human, honest, down to earth record from the personal diary of a young man thrown into a shocking, and extreme world. Even though he prepared very hard for it, when it came to it, nothing could prepare him for the brutal hardship he had to go through to get the beret. His writing engages you at an emotional and psychological level; you feel part of the journey - it's compelling and actually quite moving in parts. However, the great thing about this book is what the author does with his experience: he creates practical lessons in mindset for the reader; he links academic and psychological research to the practical experience he went through - and why - breaking it all down into life lessons about mindset, struggle, emotion, anxiety, physical pain, despondency, suffering and resilience as he goes. But it's also humorous, and outrageous in parts (you'll needs strong stomach). Anyone wanting to join the Royal Marines should read this, anyone who thinks their training, their studies, their job, or their daily routine is arduous, or even moans at going out in the cold, should read this. And of course, anyone at all who faces any sort of personal, physical or emotional challenge would do well to read this. The lessons are profound, at times emotional, but always, practical, real and meaningful. It will be on my shelves for a long time for others to read.

If you consider joining the Royal Marines.. then Read this! And if not Gareth writes a lot of good tipps that you can apply to the civi world. I can not stop reading it this book. And he writes it as it is, direct. Class!

Brilliant insight into the training of the world’s most elite commando unit - class from start to finish! 👍👍👍

What an amazing journey Gareth’s been through ! The determination and strength amazes me how much stress the human body and mind can absorb, almost at breaking point and moulds you into a disciplined individual. I really enjoyed the physiological aspect to this book also. I bought the book read it within two days camping with my partner. She is also reading it now And with her being a psychologist she loves that side to the book. Also can I say how much I enjoyed the audio version listening in stages during my drives to work and back home again. A nice change from listen to commercial radio ! I enjoy when a author does his own audio book, makes it more authentic and true I listen to lots of audio books and it’s not the same when they hire a reader. I advise everyone and anyone to purchase this book and also the audio version You won’t be disappointed. Well done Gareth on this achievement on putting your experiences into words. Hopefully there will be a follow up book about the rest of your interesting adventures Amazing read 10/10 👍🏻 A master piece on physical endurance and mind set Well done.