Hero Living: Seven Strides to Awaken Your Infinite Power Paperback – October 5, 2010

Reyes sets the stage by sharing many of the hardships and heartaches he has gone through in his life. This first 40-50 pages of the book helps the reader better understand where the author is coming from and it allows the reader to draw parallels between their own life and that of Reyes. This introduction allows the reader to get to "know" the author and to understand that the hard times in life can just as easily be used to form and shape us as they can be to cripple and destroy.Don't plan on reading this book from the position of a passive by-stander.There are 13 "whetstones" in the book which are introspective exercises the reader undertakes to see their life from a different point of view. Reyes stresses several times that there are no right or wrong answers in the whetstones. The "let it be what it is" approach to the whetstones was very helpful, in my opinion. As a reader, it allowed me to take on the whetstones without having to feel like there was a pop quiz at the end that I could fail or that there was some idealized standard the book was trying to channel me toward. All of the whetstones seemed relevant and sensible. The whetstones I felt myself most engaged by were those founds in "Strides" 4 & 5.I would encourage anyone who decides to buy Hero Living to be prepared to do 2 things: 1) set aside quiet, uninterrupted time to read and think with this book. I would have found it harder to get much benefit from this type of book if I had been reading it on a bus, train or in a noisy place with lots of distractions. 2) have a pen and paper ready to write down what you discover in each of the whetstones. It will make your life easier as you go through the book and it will provide you with a reference later.My only gripe about the book was at times the author's writing style seemed to draw out the conveying of an idea. Reyes seemed to by working hard to make an emotional connection through his writing and for me it felt like he worked a little too hard at times.That's merely a personal preference and not a knock on the book's content or message.Overall, the book was a great resource for me and I am happy with my purchase. Hero Living helps you find what is already there, Reyes simply points out where you need to look. Once you recognize and identify what is there the book helps you think through ways to strengthen what you like and change what you don't.

This will resonate with anyone who feels a deep calling within themselves to be all that they can be in the service with others.It will help you gain clarity on your purpose in life, forgive yourself for past failures/shame, and to gain momentum towards your dreams as you gain more clarity on your calling.

Although this is a self-improvement book, I mostly enjoyed his various experiences in life that made him into a warrior like no other. When life struck Rudy harder then anyone can fathom, Rudy found the courage to overcome these obstacles no matter what the circumstances were. He is an amazing positive role model for all ages. He is a unique person that I've gotten the chance to meet / work with and I'm honored. Out of all the services, Marines usually don't take long to get along and complete the task at hand. With that said, Rudy used his traits "tools" that made him successful and now passes on the knowledge to help others pursue happiness and breaking the loop of Samara (the loop of suffering). Most of the folks that I work with use the 7 strides on a daily basis without even knowing it (mainly because of our military background and the industry that I'm in). Rudy helps reinforce and provides a reality check so that you can assess your current situation to awaken your infinite power and ultimately being your own Hero.I'm a former Marine that has had a combat tour in Iraq and coincidentally got a chance to work with Rudy as a civilian. At one point, he was hired by HBO to work as an adviser to Generation Kill. But because Rudy was so special it was impossible for any actor to portray Rudy correctly so he got hired on to play himself. He is truly a unique person and I hope that one day you get a chance to meet him to understand what I mean.

I could not wait to post a review after reading only half of the book so far. I guess it is easier to put ones life in perspective when you hear an old friend telling you to "Show up for yourself." The book is written not in the flowery prose of polished self-help style, but instead, in the plain language of life experienced. Rudy's ability to place himself in non-judgmental kinship with the reader is wonderful. Before my readers get the wrong impression, yes, I knew Rudy. If only for the few brief stints he spent at Davidson and at NKCHS. His unending creativity and energy then have taken him to new heights now. He is as authentic in this book as I remember him back then. He is a real person doing what so few do today and that is to extend a helping hand to those who need it. He like all of us, has had many of the same trials in life that we have all faced. Though now having chatted with him and other friends I know more about this man than I can ever remember. It is what we learned in Mr. Hatfield's class long ago, the journey of "The Hero with a Thousand Faces." I know, that there are many people who will find great value in his advice. I shared many experiences like his, and have already found some real tools and skills to add to my own. I am reinvigorated. With that said I give you one of my favorite Dune quotes Rudy "Like a wild ass I go, off into the desert to do my work." Thank you RR it is good to have you here amongst the living and God bless your fallen brothers and sisters.

This book changed my life. Rudy Reyes is such an inspirational man in real life, but his journey within the pages of this book is nothing short of phenomenal. His will to not only survive, but thrive is amazing! He is the epitome of a Hero. He challenges you, gives you the steps to follow to make the changes in your life to live like a Hero...all the while giving you his story from the obstacles he overcame as a child to his unbelievable days as a Recon Marine and finally, the battle he conquered after coming home. His life is nothing short of a miracle. It picked me up off of the floor and inspired me to keep pushing!

I don't award 5 stars all too often, however, this book deserves it. Rudy Reyes is a truly remarkable and inspiring human being. His own journey has been and still is nothing short of extraordinary. If you are open and willing to let him guide and help you work on yourself and move your life forward in a positive way, you will get a lot out of this book. He is talking directly to the reader in a genuine and caring way. Rudy is opening himself up to you and gently leads you through your own life challenges. I originally wanted just an inspiring read for my travels but have found that I got so much more than I bargained for. So I decided to spend proper time with this book at home and have a notepad at hand to really take his guidance on board and progress with my life. He has taken me on a journey of self discovery that is quite surprising and, as far as I'm concerned, very healing. Rudy, thank you :-)

I wish I had this book when I was at 18; this book resonates truth. Self development and the development of the authentic self, broken down into simple (yet deeply complex) stories and observations. An Alpha male proving there are no Alphas; just you, and the simplicity of your breath, extrapolated to the Quantum of your Being.Rudy is a warrior poet, who adds art into his tremendous skill sets which will help you; and thus, everything.If you are in a Rut or a Negative Loop, this book will give you the impetus to vibrate with the universe. Amen to Rudi.

Enjoyed this book . So much wisdom , insight and what an example of a real life hero in Rudy who fought all odds to emerge a warrior in every sense . Rudy covers the nightmare of being abandoned , uncared for as a child with rotting teeth and growing in a boys home go come back with confidence and hope va being broken and lost - that by itself was heroic for me . Thanks Rudy .

Ich kann nur sagen "tolles Buch". Keine Selbsthilfelektüre oder pädagogisches Gefasel. Rudy Reyes erzählt seine Geschichte (und die ist keine Einfache) und gibt dadurch Denkanstösse für die Bewältigung von Problemen. Kann es nur empfehlen !!! Für Alle denen der Name Rudy Reyes nichts sagt: Der Mann ist ehemaliger Reconnaissance Marine (Aufklärer der amerikanischen Marineinfanterie, Recon Marines sind die Elite-Einheit der US Marines) und bekannt durch die HBO-Serie "Generation Kill", in welcher Rudy Reyes sich selbst spielt. Nach seiner Zeit im Militär ist Reyes als Fitnesstrainer, Motivational Speaker und Schauspieler tätig.

You've got to love Rudy Reyes. This is more of a personal account of his life rather than a self-help book, per se. There are steps you can use to envision a better future. However, I found this more inspirational in terms of Rudy's journey through life. It gave me an outstanding respect for the man.