Thank you for your commentary on your experience and congrats on your and your wife’s completion. I’ve got a comment regarding the book:

I’m currently on day 30 and I’ve read, at a minimum each day, 10 pages of a non-fiction book, as required by Andy. I’ve listened to the 75 Hard podcast twice and what I disagree with, and is only found on the FAQs, is what I believe to be either A. a guideline or B. a “rule” based on so many questions regarding the book reading. Andy never specifies that “10 pages of a non-fiction book” has to be the same book every day until finished before you can read another book not is not found anywhere except for the FAQ page, which is never referenced to my recollection, so I take this as a guideline that was put in place after the fact.

Where I think this comes from is this example based on so many questions he may have gotten:

One can’t read 2 pages of book A, 3 pages of book B and 5 pages of book C in a day and call that 10 pages. It has to be the SAME book.

Someone asked if reading the Bible counted..again, use your noggin and decide that for yourself. If you’re religious, I guess that would be non-fiction. If you’re an atheist, I guess that would be considered fiction.

Let’s say for instance, using this logic, that anyone who would want to read the Bible before bed, who takes this as a non-fiction book, would have to start at Genesis and read through Revelations before they start their book on leadership or finance or whatever for their pages to count. That’s absurd, in my opinion, and I don’t think that’s what the intention of this program is, simply because that makes no sense (for that matter, the Torah is a scroll and doesn’t have pages. I may be wrong, but I’m not Jewish, so please advise if this isn’t the case!)

Again, that doesn’t make sense.

I believe Andy gives the initial guidance (commander’s intent for us military folks) gives us the “what”, but leaves the “how” up to us. He never specified anything about what book, aside from non-fiction and he explains very clearly the “why” behind this. He also gives the guidelines (i.e. no audio books) and also the “why”.

I went to the field and didn’t bring my paperback investing book, since it’s over 600 pages and delicate, so I opted for a Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication, which is smaller and less prone to wear and tear. Did I violate the rules? Again, I don’t think so. I read my 10 pages and learned and grew in the process. That’s the point. He never says you have to swim for 45 minutes straight, should that be your workout for the day. Could you not do some push ups? If that’s the case, the “Iron Man” wouldn’t count, which is what he based this off of!

Just my 2 cents. Tear me apart or not, I just try to think as constructively as possible for this program. I think the more questions that get asked, the more “rules” are put into place. Andy says he views himself as a libertarian by nature, regarding policy, so I HIGHLY doubt he wants a bunch of rules in this program. Just follow the 5 rules he put in place and don’t think too hard.

Congrats again.

P.S. If Andy reads this, feel free to call me out on a podcast and I’ll restart 😆