Iron Hope

Lessons Learned from Conquering the Impossible

By: James Lawrence

Narrated by: James Lawrence

Read by the author, James Lawrence.

The ultimate guide to mental toughness by James 'Iron Cowboy' Lawrence – the greatest endurance athlete in human history.

Lawrence’s accomplishments are nearly impossible to comprehend. In 2015, he set his third Guinness World Record by completing fifty full-distance triathlons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days – a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on a bike, then a 26.2-mile run, all in under seventeen hours each day. Pushing himself further, in 2021 he set out to complete 100 triathlons in 100 days - a challenge so difficult that he wondered if he would survive it. By persevering, he hoped to inspire people to do the same for whatever difficulties they may be going through.

Lawrence has subjected his body to exhaustive physical testing, to every genetic analysis known to science. The stunning discovery is that, physically, he is unspecial in every way. The secret to his bulletproof body is his bulletproof mentality.

How does a person develop the mental strength necessary to overcome immense exhaustion, suffering and pain in order to achieve impossible goals? With Iron Hope, that’s exactly what James reveals, with lessons that apply to all our lives. He explains how readers can forge an iron will by making and keeping small promises to themselves again and again, amassing experience and building momentum until giving up becomes what's impossible.

©2025 James Lawrence (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

'James Lawrence should be considered one of the greatest endurance athletes of all time. Iron Hope proves that with a little direction, we can all develop the mental toughness to accomplish anything we set our mind to. This is essential reading for anybody with goals – not just athletes' (Cameron Hanes, New York Times bestselling author of Endure)

'James Lawrence’s feats of voluntary endurance just might be the greatest in human history. Less appreciated is his incredible ability to galvanize community, empowering countless people across the world to glean inspiration from his Iron Cowboy alter ego and reach higher. Laden with incredible stories told with candor and vulnerability, Iron Hope, reveals all, including the mindset required to achieve the impossible with takeaways certain to improve the lives of all who brave the pages of this remarkable book' (Rich Roll, author of Finding Ultra and host of The Rich Roll Podcast)

'James Lawrence's story is an example of excellence in service to others. He undertook his difficult endeavour not only to raise money for charity, but because he wants people to have better lives. His story will inspire you to overcome obstacles, show gratitude for the freedoms you've been given, and always do a little more' (Gary Sinise, New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation)

'James has a gift. Not only is he a phenomenal athlete, but he brings communities together. I don't think there's another endurance athlete in the world that has done as much as James has when it comes to community. He has single handedly turned endurance sports which is known to be lonely . . . into a team sport by getting so many to participate with him' (Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author of Living With a SEAL)