Admiral William H. McRaven, the retired Navy Seal who wrote and sold over a million copies of “Make Your Bed,” has published “Sea Stories—My Life in Special Operations.”
Perhaps one reason the retired University of Texas Chancellor sold a million “Make Your Bed” books is because I bought 32 copies and sent one to each grandchild. Most of them are ‘millennials,’ defined as those born 1981-1996 (22-37 years old). And my millennials will enjoy what ‘Mister Mac’ says about them. His praise……
”….the oft-maligned millennials are supposed to be pampered, entitled, and soft. I found them anything but. They are…
Courageous, heroic and patriotic…Volunteer to wear the uniform, fight the fires, and protect the people.
They are not like my generation. They are better. They are more inclusive. They don’t see color, or ethnicity, or orientation. They value people for their friendship and their talents. They are more engaged. They will not standby and watch bad things happen to good people. They are more questioning….Risk takers, entrepreneurs, givers of time and energy.
Above all, they are optimists….believe that tomorrow will be a better day.”
This old journalism professor taught that review praise-givers should confess their previous attachments to the author. We both left Austin in 1977. I went to Chapel Hill to teach broadcasters, film makers and writers. McRaven graduated, then left to take Seal training and improve his bed making.
The Admiral was a journalism student I never taught. I didn’t know he would predict our millinneals would go down in history as the ‘Greatest generation of this century.’ But he may be correct—especially those millennials who read his book I sent them.