Eric Greitens' résumé reads more like fiction rather than the real-life story of a 37-year-old Missouri native.  The Heart and Fist serves as a memoir, he attended Duke University, then as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, helped lead the boxing team to a national title over Cambridge, and after his life in academia decided to become a U.S. Navy SEAL.  His time as a SEAL vividly provides insight into the rigorous training process.  Easily the most interesting part of the book is his time in training, especially Hell Week, the infamous seven, sleepless days in which soldiers are subjected to endless drilling and exercise.

The book is divided into three parts: "The Heart," describing his time as a humanitarian aid worker in Africa and Eastern Europe, "The Fist," documenting his service as a SEAL, and "The Heart and The Fist," as he provides insight into how America should apply its military capability with proper humanitarian aid in order to better those less fortunate than us.