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Who is the author of The Hero Code?

The author of The Hero Code is William H. McRaven.

Motivation & Inspiration

The Hero Code Book Summary - The Hero Code Book explained in key points

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The Hero Code summary

Name: The Hero Code
Rating: 3.8 (122 reviews)
Author: William H. McRaven

William H. McRaven

Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived

3.8 (122 ratings)

19 mins

Brief summary

The Hero Code by William H. McRaven is a motivational book that encourages readers to adopt the tenets of the hero code, such as courage, humility, sacrifice, and perseverance, to become the best version of themselves.

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Inspiration Wisdom Memoirs

Table of Contents

The Hero Code
Summary of 6 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? Learn to live like a hero.

As children, lots of us want to be heroes when we grow up. Whether we’re inspired by fictional characters like Superman or real-life heroes like soldiers and firefighters, many of us nurture a burning ambition to one day be extraordinary – in other words, to be heroic.

But something happens as we grow up, and little by little we lose touch with that ambition. That’s where these blinks come in. Blending the first-hand military anecdotes of a real-life hero – Admiral McRaven – with accounts of heroism in civilian life which have inspired him, they remind us of the key virtues that can transform anyone into a hero.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

why female soldiers were crucial in Afghanistan;
why integrity goes far in the Pentagon; and
how a failed rescue mission turned out to be a huge success.

Heroes always strive to be courageous.

In October 2011, Admiral William H. McRaven was sitting in the command center of his Special Operations headquarters in Tampa, Florida when the daily casualty report came through, bringing word of the night’s fatalities. The news was particularly bad.

Overnight, a mission in Afghanistan had gone wrong. Three soldiers on a routine mission had come across a booby-trapped Taliban compound, accidentally triggering a powerful pressure-plate mine. When it exploded, all three were killed.

The loss of three soldiers was a serious blow to their teams in Afghanistan – not to mention their families back home. But for McRaven, there was also a personal element to the loss; he was responsible for one of the soldiers, Lieutenant Ashley White, being in Afghanistan in the first place. To him, she’d always been a model of courage.

The key message here is: Heroes always strive to be courageous.

In 2008, Admiral McRaven had identified a gap in the military’s strategy in Afghanistan. The vast majority of the soldiers on the ground were men – a fact which was causing trouble in dealing with some Afghan women.

These women often had vital information about the Taliban’s activities, but they were usually reluctant to share it with male soldiers. So McRaven established female Cultural Support Teams, tasked with collecting the vital information that servicemen struggled to secure.

From the start, McRaven knew any women undertaking this role would need a lot of courage – after all, they’d be doing their jobs in live combat situations. Lieutenant White, an early volunteer, had both courage and ability in abundance. At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she underwent intense physical and psychological training, which she took in stride. And when the time came for actual deployment, Lieutenant White’s bravery never flagged. Night after night, she threw on her body armor, took hold of her gun, and journeyed into the darkness, not knowing whether, this time, she’d make it out alive.

When Lieutenant White died in October 2011, America lost a promising young soldier, and her loved ones lost even more than that. But the bravery she embodied survives, a shining example to us all.

Most of us are never required to show our bravery in as heroic a manner as Lieutenant White did – but we all face challenges in our lives. Whether it’s the courage to face your inner demons, to provide a safe home for your family, or just to stand up for what you know is right, try taking the first step forward: that’s often the most daunting part.

Heroes make sacrifices for others.

It was 1968, over halfway through the Vietnam War, when a small US reconnaissance team landed on Hill 146 in the Quan Duc Valley of Vietnam. It was a strategic position, and the Vietcong didn’t want it occupied by enemy forces.

In a last-ditch attempt to fend off their enemies, the Vietcong had covered what remained of the hill with mines and punji pits – deep, hidden holes harboring poison-tipped spears. But that wasn’t all they had in store. When the US reconnaissance team landed, the Vietcong began a ferocious assault, using rockets, explosives, and grenades against the men.

A hero always acts with integrity.

Bespectacled, short, and walking with a slight limp, Navy SEAL Captain Ted Grabowsky didn’t conform to most people’s image of an all-American warrior. Vice Admiral Joe Metcalf, on the other hand, did. He was a straight-talking, gruff, no-nonsense serviceman. When Grabowsky proposed an ambitious two-year budget for the SEALs, the vice admiral wasn’t averse to giving him an intense grilling.

After all, Vietnam was over, and the Cold War was in full swing. What good were SEALS when the conflict had turned nuclear? The vice admiral scoffed his way through Grabowsky’s presentation, then finally spoke: “I want to help,” he growled, “but do you really need all this money?”

Heroes don’t give up – they persevere.

When James Patrick Allison was 11 years old, he lost his mother to cancer. Not long afterward, he lost two of his uncles to the same disease. Like anyone else, Allison grieved. But instead of brooding on his loss forever, he decided to do something. Allison was going to find a cure for cancer.

As a young man, he enrolled at the University of Texas, where he studied T-cells – a type of cell in the human body that attacks infections and regulates the immune system. At the time, it occurred to him that T-cells could play a role in fighting cancer.

Heroes always fulfill their duties.

The late Republican Senator John McCain hailed from a military family – a naval one, to be precise. In fact, he was the son and grandson of top-ranking Navy four-star admirals. With relations like that, it came as no surprise when McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy and shipped out to fight in the Vietnam War.

What was staggering, though, was how seriously the young McCain took his duties. In July of 1967, the young serviceman’s first year in Vietnam, a fire erupted aboard his aircraft carrier, and McCain was seriously wounded while pulling a fellow aviator to safety.

It’s heroic to give others hope.

Over the course of the Vietnam war, more than one thousand Americans were taken prisoner. Their treatment at the hands of their Vietnamese enemies could be brutal, as John McCain knew all too well. Kept captive for years on end, they were subjected to beatings and isolation, and sometimes were even refused food and water.

As time went on, many men lost hope, and their initial faith that they’d soon return home faded with the years. But then, in November 1970, an Army Special Forces unit called the Green Berets launched a rescue operation to liberate 60 prisoners of war.

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What is The Hero Code about?

The Hero Code (2021) is a four-star admiral’s guide to modern-day heroism. Drawing on Admiral McRaven’s experiences in the field and in civilian life, it interweaves stirring life advice with gripping and dramatic anecdotes.

The Hero Code Review

The Hero Code (2021) by William H. McRaven is a thought-provoking book that explores the qualities of true heroes and how to embody them in our own lives. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

It offers inspiring stories of courageous individuals who have made a positive impact in the world, reminding us of the power of our own actions.
With its practical insights and actionable advice, the book provides a roadmap for personal growth and transformation, encouraging us to be our best selves.
Through compelling examples and thought-provoking ideas, the book challenges us to examine our own values and motivates us to strive for greatness.

Who should read The Hero Code?

Military buffs interested in a retired admiral’s battlefield insights
Anyone in need of some wise and helpful life advice
Youngsters considering a career in the military

About the Author

William H. McRaven is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral. His final assignment was as commander of all US Special Operations Forces. He’s the author of two other popular books, Make Your Bed and Sea Stories.

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Motivation & Inspiration Personal Development

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