Building A Life Worth Fighting For
Publisher’s Description
From the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, an extraordinary inspirational memoir that will change the life of every reader.
“Kyle displayed a heroism in the blink of an eye that will inspire for generations” —President Barack Obama, at Kyle Carpenter’s Medal of Honor ceremony
I want my story to help others see what’s extraordinary in themselves. —Kyle Carpenter
On November 21, 2010, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter was posted on a rooftop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when an enemy grenade skittered across the roof. Kyle’s post that afternoon, with his friend and fellow Marine Nick Eufrazio, had been eerily quiet; now, with no time to escape, they had to make a split-second decision or they would both be dead. Without a second thought, Kyle jumped on the grenade, a brutal killing device. His vision went blank, his entire body numb, he tried to move but could not. His gear had melted. It felt as though someone was pouring warm water all over him; he dazedly realized that the liquid was his own blood. He had made an instantaneous decision, almost on instinct, one that would change his life forever.
Kyle’s heroic act saved Nick Eufrazio’s life, but nearly cost Kyle his own. His heart flatlined three times. Wounded from head to toe, Kyle lost his right eye, as well as most of his face from the nose down. It would take dozens of surgeries and almost three years in and out of the hospital to reconstruct his body—and from there, he began the process of rebuilding his life. What he has accomplished in the last five years is truly extraordinary: he’s undergone extensive physical rehabilitation, graduated from college, ran three marathons, and embarked on a new career as a motivational speaker. And in 2014, he was awarded the our nation’s highest military decoration, Medal of Honor, by President Barack Obama, making Carpenter the youngest living recipient of the award.
“With that singular act of courage, Kyle, you not only saved your brother in arms, you displayed a heroism in the blink of an eye that will inspire for generations,” stated the president.
You Are Worth It is a memoir about the War in Afghanistan and Kyle’s heroics, yes, but it also is a manual for living. Organized around the credos that have guided Kyle’s life (from “Don’t Hide Your Scars” to “Call Your Mom”), the book encourages us to become our best selves in the time we’ve been given on earth. Above all, it’s about finding purpose in life, despite the significant challenges that may come your way. As Kyle writes, addressing us all: “You are worth it. You are. You are worth protecting, you are worth fighting for, you are worth time in a hospital bed and deep scars on my body—because all Americans, the people of Afghanistan, and so many people around the world who go to bed at night wishing to one day taste freedom and peace have inherent worth as human beings. If we don’t spend our time on this earth looking out for one another, what are we really doing with our lives?”
Moving and unforgettable, You Are Worth It is an astonishing memoir from one of our most extraordinary young leaders.
Details
- Title: You Are Worth It
- Author: Kyle Carpenter and Don Yaeger
- Publisher: William Morrow (October 15, 2019)
- Pages: 320
- Read A Sample
- Categories: Autobiography/Spirituality/Self-Growth
My Thoughts
It’s so hard to fully convey thoughts about this touching book. It brought to life the reality of war and what our men and women give for our safety and freedom. And when I realize what they experience at such young ages, my heart aches.
Could I, even impulsively, throw myself over a hand grenade in Afghanistan (or anywhere) to protect a fellow Marine? I wish I could definitely say yes. But I’m afraid I can’t.
The story of this young man and his family’s journey is extremely touching and inspirational. Kyle, and many like him, regardless of whether they receive the Medal of Honor or any other award, are heroes.
What Kyle Carpenter has done with his life, even after his horrendous accident, is worth picking up the book.
He and others like him are the reason my husband and I give to organizations that help first responders and veterans. We owe them a lot.
What Concerned Me
Nothing
Final Thoughts
The story felt honest and touching. You Are Worth It is a book I highly recommend.
About The Author
I’m terrified of heights. So, of course, every time I’m sitting in the back of a plane climbing toward the clouds I think, “After everything I’ve been through, why am I about to jump out of this plane when I could have just stayed safely on the ground?”
But, I have known the answer to that question since the moment I woke up in the hospital. I want, need and have to make my second chance at life worth it. Anything that makes my once flatlined heart pound in my chest helps reassure me that I am doing just that.
I was a typical kid growing up in the Southeast during the 1990s and early 2000s. I liked to ride bikes, rollerblade and just generally do the things that kids do to drive their parents crazy. But, during my junior year of high school, I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. That was when I saw what little some people had for themselves and realized there was a world outside of the comfort and security with which I grew up. That trip helped shape me, my thoughts and made me realize that I wanted to be different – that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself.
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