price：$17.20
Knopf
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Thanks, Andre!) 『I've followed Andre's career, so when this book came out I knew I would eventually read it. I was intrigued by his comments in interviews about tennis being a life he didn't choose and how he was able to survive it, make peace with it, and finally choose it. So I ordered the book. When it arrived I flipped through it, read a few passages, then the end and then started properly at the beginning (The End). It is a very compelling read. His story is heartbreaking, fascinating and ultimately transformative, complete with a true happy ending. 』
(Bravo Agassi!) 『This book was a surprisingly enjoyable book. Although I am not a big tennis buff, I have enjoyed watching Agassi on the courts. He brought a lot of life to the game. After seeing him on television I decided to buy the book and I couldn't put it down. I must admit I did skip over some of the tennis matches because there are so many. And I did feel that he said a few too many times how much he hated the game...I got it after a few mentions. That said, the human emotions in the book blew me away. Agassi bared his sole and while I always thought of him as an outgoing star, I took the inner journey with him and understood how much he suffered along the way. The contrast between his relationship with Brooke Shields and Steffi Graft was very interesting. And the way he talks about Steffine touched my heart. What woman doesn't want to hear a man say those words about her? All in all, this is a very good read. I hated to see it end, but my admiration for Agassi and his foundation have moved to a whole different level. Anyone who struggles with life will learn, grow and be helped by reading this book.』
(Viscerally Candid, Strewn with Unanticipated Grace, Inspiring, Saddening; Awesome) 『Almost any reader, I imagine, will be captivated by this fine book, which artfully details the evolution of one of the more complex, engaging public personalities around today. At its core, this book is about love, about finding peace through giving to others, about the obstacles that prevent one from tracking down a life in which they are happy. In Agassi's case, these elements play out on the big stage, in front of world, and it is enthralling to learn how incredibly far-off the public perception of Agassi was throughout his career.
Much has been said already about the events of his life--one will form their own opinion. In the end, though, this book is far more than a summary of events and thoughts one can use to formulate an informed opinion of Agassi; it is an unexpectedly moving story of a maturation and the acceptance of love as the central driving force behind all that is good. "This is why we're here. To fight through the pain and, when possible, to release the pain of others."
Throughout the book I frequently stopped and thought "wow, Andre, what a writer you are"; I was, then, a little disheartened to learn for the first time in the Acknowledgment that he had been given a great deal of help from J.R. Moehringer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. But, as with the rest of the book (as far as I can tell), Agassi is completely honest about how their working relationship unfolded and how it came to be that Andre's name was the only one that came to appear on the book itself. I will also say that there is an occasional egotism that appears in the tone of the writing that seems to be unrecognized by the author, but, as an athlete, I think it can be truthfully said that you can't be a champion without a little innate egotism in your blood to drive you.
I devoured this book in two days, at the expense of the rest of my life. It is a great piece of artwork--both the book and the life that it portrays. I have already shipped it to several friends, and look forward to seeing if it effects them as it did me. There were points in Agassi's career when he rolled along the edge of perfection (a word I now use with great care, after the reading), but never as meaningfully so as he has in putting together "Open".』
(Transcends Tennis and Sports) 『To be brief: Like "Pride of the Yankees" a movie that is great because underneath it all it's about heart and courage and love; this book transcends its sport and even sports because it is a dead-honest look at the high-risk endeavor of growing up. Oh, and by the way-the descriptions of the tennis matches aren't bad either.』
(I loved this book!!!) 『I have been a fan of Andre Agassi for a very long time. I was extremely excited when I learned he was writing a book. This book did not disappoint. It was so fascinating to learn specific details of his life and career and his thoughts during critical moments. He is very "open" and honest in this book and I respect him for it. Once I started reading this book, I read it at any free time I could find. I just didn't want to put it down. This book is inspiring and it is definitely worth reading.』 『From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.
Agassi’s incredibly rigorous training begins when he is just a child. By the age of thirteen, he is banished to a Florida tennis camp that feels like a prison camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. He dyes his hair, pierces his ears, dresseslike a punk rocker. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning-fast return.
And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world’s best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target.
Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match and every relationship. Never before has the inner game of tennis and the outer game of fame been so precisely limned. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals from several generations—Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer—Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals a shattering loss of confidence. And he recounts his spectacular resurrection, a comeback climaxing with his epic run at the1999 French Open and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one.
In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. Inspired by her quiet strength, he fights through crippling pain from a deteriorating spine to remain a dangerous opponent in the twenty-first and final year of his career. Entering his last tournament in 2006, he’s hailed for completing a stunning metamorphosis, from nonconformist to elder statesman, from dropout to education advocate. And still he’s not done. At a U.S. Open for the ages, he makes a courageous last stand, then delivers one of the most stirring farewells ever heard in a sporting arena.
With its breakneck tempo and raw candor,Openwill be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi’s game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed, and power.』
price：$10.18
Random House Audio
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (His Game and Writing Style Same) 『If you eliminate the detail of his rise in the tennis world match by match you wind up with what I was looking for. I wanted to know who Pete is. I found the detail of each match to be mind-numbingly boring....much the same as Pete was labeled in the tennis world. What I got that I was looking for could have been told in a long magazine article. Sorry Pete.』
(Great book!) 『I enjoyed this so much that I received it one day and finished reading it the next. A wonderful personal insight to Pete Sampras, a true gentleman in the sport of tennis and of all sports, in my opinion.』
(Excellent Read) 『First off, for the avid tennis lover this is a 5* book. The only reason I give it a 4* is that it is not a compelling read for people who are not into the game or worse still have not heard of one of its greatest players, Pete Sampras. Let me say this upfront. In the heydays of Sampras, I was one of them who said "He looks like a dog with his tongue out in the court and plays like a robot". My favorite then was Andre Agassi with his colorful clothes and even more colorful personality. Since then I have spent a lot of time playing and learning the game to understand how truly great Sampras is and was. This book delves deep into what made him click and his game, so powerful. Playing like a robot is a huge compliment in a game where stars don't last long. Champions do. Until Federer came along, Sampras had the record of most Grand Slams and at 14, that number is unreal. The book chronicles the growth of an introverted kid through different mentors and coaches (including the late Tim G) to being a champion of the game. Strongly recommended for tennis lovers and practitioners of the game.』
(If you are truly into tennis, you will love it.) 『This book written with Peter Bodo is excellent. Bodo is a great tennis writer as he demonstrated with Inside tennis: A season on the pro tour and THE COURTS OF BABYLON: TALES OF GREED AND GLORY IN A HARSH NEW WORLD OF PROFESSI. Sampras is so reclusive. But, this book is like an insider's 6 hour interview with him.
Sampras tennis life is full of surprises. In his mid teens, Pete Fischer, a successful doctor and early coach of Sampras, convinces him to completely change his game. It is hard to believe that Sampras grew up as a baseliner with a two-hand backhand. Fischer convinces Sampras and his family to abandon his two-hand backhand and change from a baseliner to a serve-and-volleyer. Fischer envisions that by doing so Sampras will win more Grand Slams than anyone else. Sampras transition period is challenging and his ranking in the Juniors plumets. Fischer is unperturbed and tells Sampras and family to keep their eyes on long term objective and forget about Junior rankings that are meaningless. The rest is history. Another surprise is that Sampras did go through the Nick Bolitieri Tennis Academy (NBTA). But, Sampras serve-and-volley game is the exact antithesis of the NBTA mold of baseliners (Agassi, Courier, Arias, Krickstein). How did Sampras serve-and-volley game survived intact at the NBTA?
Even more surprising, Sampras hates grass at first. It will take him many tries before he finally wins Wimbledon at 22. But, he will soon become the best grass court player of the Open era with seven Wimbledon titles. He indicates how after his "boring" 1994 Wimbledon win over Goran Ivanisevic that amounted to just a contest of aces, Wimbledon decided to slow down the game by using softer balls and a different grass that would favor longer rallies. This will have a material impact, as nowadays Wimbledon champions never rush the net on their second serve and win the match more by riffling groundstrokes than volleys. Both Nadal and Federer do play this new style of grass court tennis.
Sampras was part of the U.S. great generation of young prodigies including Courier, Agassi, and Chang. They were all good buddies. But, their convergence to the top will inevitably turn them into rivals. It made it challenging for them to play together as a team in Davis Cup. They rarely did.
Sampras sole dedication to the game is full of sacrifice. He stated with humor that if he had met his favorite hollywood buddy Luke Wilson earlier in life, he would never have won so many Grand Slam events. This makes you wonder how many great talents out there did not fulfill their potential due to hedonism. A few names come to mind: Gerulaitis, Nastase, Vilas, Phillippousis, Safin, among others.
Sampras career takes off when at 19 he wins the 1990 US Open by beating in succession Lendl, McEnroe, and Agassi. I remember seeing some of those matches, including the final. And, you had no doubt here was a guy who had it all and will be a formidable force. Sampras shares how challenging the aftermath of this glorious moment was. All of a sudden, he is a cover page nationwide celebrity. All the major channels want to interview him. As a shy provincial teenager, he was not ready for that.
After this peak experience (winning the US Open at 19), it will take Sampras a long time to find his groove. He won't dominate the game readily and will suffer many set backs including two bad losses in the Davis Cup final vs France against two players he should have beaten (Leconte and Forget). He also will not win another Grand Slam tournament until he is 22.
Sampras will experience a lifelong awkward relationship with the Media. He will be blamed for being boring and unemotional. He feels misunderstood and advances the merit of discipline and self-control over the out-of-control tantrums of McEnroe and Connors who now dare give him advice on the matter. Sampras take is that no one thought Laver was boring. His tennis was enough entertainment. But, times have changed. Everything is more commercialized. The public want drama not just great tennis as in yesteryears.
Sampras talks about thalassmia, an iron deficiency, that caused him occasionally to weaken in tough matches under hot conditions. This was the case during his famous match with Corretja in the US Open quarters in 1996, when he vomited on the court but still manage to win in 5 long sets and collapsed right after the match.
He also states why he never mastered clay courts. With his one-handed backhand he was defenseless against high bouncing heavy topspin shots. He states that is why Federer has fits against Nadal on clay. Nadal being a lefthander makes it even worst for Federer.
In the conversation for the greatest in the Open era his choices are: Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, and him. As a second tier group, he names: Connors, McEnroe, and Agassi.
About the Sampras-Agassi rivalry and their respective giftedness, Sampras states Agassi had the best eye-hand coordination and was an unrivaled ball striker. But, Sampras had a fast-twitch-muscle advantage. He felt he was much faster. And, if they got into a war of court coverage, he would beat Agassi.
The Appendix when he analyzes his record and the profile of his main rivals is very interesting. He states that Ivan Lendl is the most underestimated player of the Open era. Sampras earlier already mentioned him in his top 5 picks.
If you like this biography, I also strongly recommend McEnroe's You Cannot Be Serious," Nastase's Mr Nastase: The Autobiography and Becker's The Player: The Autobiography. They are all idiosyncratic, complex, multidimensional personalities.』
(A highly enjoyable read) 『I finished this book in two nights and still wanted more. This is the best tennis player's biography I've ever read, even better than McEnroe's "Serious". It is true that there is not much Pete can tell you about his personality cause, as he said himself, he is a boring tennis kid. But his opinions of other major players in his era are very very interesting.
』 『Pete Sampras is arguably the greatest tennis player ever, a man whose hard-nosed work ethic led to an unprecedented number one world ranking for 286 weeks, and whose prodigious talent made possible a record-setting fourteen Grand Slam titles. While his more vocal rivals sometimes grabbed the headlines, Pete always preferred to let his racket do the talking.
Until now.
InA Champion’s Mind, the tennis great who so often exhibited visible discomfort with letting people“inside his head” finally opens up. An athletic prodigy, Pete resolved from his earliest playing days never to let anything get in the way of his love for the game. But while this single-minded determination led to tennis domination, success didn’t come without a price. The constant pressure of competing on the world’s biggest stage—in the unblinking eye of a media machine hungry for more than mere athletic greatness—took its toll.
Here for the first time Pete speaks freely about what it was like to possess what he calls“the Gift.” He writes about the personal trials he faced—including the death of a longtime coach and confidant—and the struggles he gutted his way through while being seemingly on top of the world. Among the book’s most riveting scenes are an early devastating loss to Stefan Edberg that led Pete to make a monastic commitment to delivering on his natural talent; a grueling, four-hour-plus match against Alex Corretja during which Pete became seriously ill; fierce on-court battles with rival and friend Andre Agassi; and the triumphant last match of Pete’s career at the finals of the 2002 U.S. Open.
InA Champion’s Mind, one of the most revered, successful, and intensely private players in the history of tennis offers an intimate look at the life of an elite athlete.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (feedback) 『I was expecting a book that is "almost new" but actually it was OLD. I'm very dissapointed.』
(Good Review) 『A well written book with insightful theories. It is too early to determine whether these theories actually work for me.』
(one of the best books I ever read) 『I read this book when I was a kid shortly after it came out. It is easy to read and absolutely great. It is a classic and should be read not only for sports, but for life.』
(Seemingly a gem of true worth, but with mixed results.) 『I've read this book a number of years back when I was playing racquetball. Even though the book is titled for tennis but the techniques presented aren't really tennis specific but are general to sports performance. After applying the techniques in the book my game took a quantum leap. It really did wonders to my on-court performance. I'm generally a person that's very demanding of myself. But even so I was extremely pleased with the result.
Later on I transitioned into playing tennis. I had to give up racquetball because the two sports are interfering with each other. But I have no complaints. New sport, new challenges. After a number of years of progressing my games in the new sport of tennis, my skill level stopped improving and just stalled. So I decided to apply what's in the book to my tennis games just like what I did with racquetball. Guess what ? The result is disastrous. Not only does it not work, often times it's even detrimental. It's almost like every time I tried to apply it to my tennis game I end up losing everything on the court. Granted seemingly I'm a lot calmer now after losing, compared to say when I win half of my sets not trying to apply the book's techniques before. But the book failed miserably in its aim to help me perform at my peak on the court.
I have no idea why the book worked wonders for my racquetball game but did the opposite for my tennis. The funny thing is, the author wrote it specifically for the sport of tennis in mind, even though it can be applied to other sports just the same as I noted above. And yet it is in that target sport of tennis it failed to deliver for me. 』
(8th Grade Discussion Group) 『I used this book to with my eighth grade tennis players. They are pretty fair tennis players and very good students. We were able to make connections with their studies. Perhaps an Inner Game of Academics would be a best seller. There is certainly a mental side to peak performance in that realm as well. I think I have planted a seed with them from this book that will continue to grow into greater success for them in many endeavors. - a teacher』 『The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Now available in a revised paperback edition, this classic bestseller can change the way the game of tennis is played.
From the Trade Paperback edition.』 『A phenomenon when first published in 1972, theInner Gamewas a real revelation. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The former is played against opponents, and is filled with lots of contradictory advice; the latter is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety. Gallwey's revolutionary thinking, built on a foundation of Zen thinking and humanistic psychology, was really a primer on how to get out of your own way to let your best game emerge. It was sports psychology before the two words were pressed against each other and codified into an accepted discipline.
The new edition of this remarkable work--Billie Jean King called the original her tennis bible--refines Gallwey's theories on concentration, gamesmanship, breaking bad habits, learning to trust yourself on the court, and awareness. "No matter what a person's complaint when he has a lesson with me, I have found the most beneficial first step," he stressed, "is to encourage him toseeandfeelwhat he is doing--that is, to increase his awareness ofwhat actually is."
There are aspects of psychobabble and mysticism to be found here, sure, but Gallwey instructs as much by anecdote as anything else, and time has ultimately proved him a guru. What seemed radical in the early '70s is now accepted ammunition for the canon; the right mental approach is every bit as important as a good backhand.The Inner Game of Tennisstill does much to keep that idea in play.--Jeff Silverman』
price：$9.18
Grand Central Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (On The Line, Good Read of A Great Tennis Champion) 『If you want mess, drama, and gossip, watch The Wendy Williams Show (that's what I do, cause its funny)..."How U dou-ingg?" LOL
This is a very very good book about Serena, her growing up with her family, and how she felt about tennis and things. I loved it. I felt her...I cried with her in places because she allowed us to feel her pain in certain places (something she didn't have to do). Because, the gift that God gave her to share with us is her tennis, and she has done and is doing that. But, we want more...why do we want to consume her life? It's not fair to any celeb to hold them to our standard, or to want to consume their entire life.
This book told me things about Serena, her family, the tennis world, and the media that I often wondered about...what is she thinking about during this or that match?...how does she feel about the way the media, the WTA, ITF, and the fans treat her, especially the French at Roland Ghetto, and the racists Americans at Indian Hills, CA,&Flushing Meadows, NY?...(because I know that I feel really bad for her)...and so many other things that I didn't know. Serena is an alive loving, spoiled by her family baby sister, human being; someone with feelings, faults, loves, and desires, like all of us. She is not a "hole" or "window" that you look through to see what you can see or to see what you want to see. She is a person; and I appreciate her for the great tennis Champion that she is. I love this book and her dearly. 』
(Turning Serena Into A Real-Life Person) 『"On the Line" by Serena Williams and Daniel Paisner, turns Serena from an argumentative, but talented tennis star into a real-life, caring person. Her's is a story of a young woman who dedicated her life to tennis and, in the process, became a star. She's won multiple Grand Slams, but we haven't heard the last from Serena.
This is one of the best autobiographies I've ever read--and it isn't yet finished. As "On the Line" brings out, her life continues to be a work-in-progress with much more to be completed. One almost expects to see a revised version of "On the Line" with additional chapters revealing more of her life, her interests and her desires. Those chapters are yet to be written. The book serves as an inspiration even to those lacking the drive, the energy and the direction to be a success.
After finishing the book, I was left with one prevailing thought. This is someone who I would like to get to know better. "On the Line" leaves me thinking that, under different circumstances, this is someone who I'd like to call, "my best friend."』
(Match point) 『With 11 major titles, Serena Williams is arguably the best female tennis player of her generation, with only her sister Venus and Justin Henin challenging her for the title. As is true of most top-level athletes, Serena is beloved by many but also has a fair number of detractors (especially after some recent on-court behavior at the 2009 U.S. Open). I have long been a fan of hers; I love her emotional, aggressive style of play. However, like other players with this style (see Mary Pierce), Serena can come across as petulant and a bit of a drama queen. So I was eager to hear what she would write (with the help of Daniel Paisner) about her life and career so far.
Serena's story of growing up in Compton and becoming a world-class athlete alongside her equally talented sister Venus is so well-known that I wasn't expecting much new material, but I wanted her insights into the tale. Fortunately, Serena more or less delivers. Her self-insights aren't quite as insightful as one might hope, but given that she is still mid-career, I wasn't expecting the kind of wisdom one might receive from a Billie Jean King. Several matches and highlights of her career are detailed here; Serena writes that she selected important tennis times that helped shape her. The best bits are more personal - about the death of her older sister Tunde and her struggles with body image. Surprisingly, Serena admits that her 2004-2005 career dip was mostly due to depression from the loss of her sister.
Her infamous match against Kim Clijsters is described in detail. No, not her 2009 U.S. Open match but the 2001 Indian Wells finals match, during which Serena was booed because Venus had pulled out last minute from their semifinal match. Serena and her family have said that they heard racist comments from the crowd. Her version of the story is pretty unvarnished, but she otherwise keeps things below a simmer elsewhere. I would have liked to have read more insights from Serena about the tour. Instead, what she gives is pretty vague, describing most of the players as "nice." She does take a small swipe at Dinara Safina when she says that she didn't mind being ranked #3 in the world knowing that the two players ahead of her has never won a major title before. However, there's relatively little gossip or bravado.
Overall, Serena gives a fairly balanced account of herself and her career. She doesn't present herself as a saint, and she sometimes doesn't take as much responsibility for some of her faults as she should, instead laughing it off as her being the Princess of her family. I doubt that anyone's minds will be changed about Serena by reading this book. I went into this book a huge fan of Serena Williams who was somewhat shaken by her behavior at the 2009 U.S. Open (a few of her comments have become unintentionally ironic after that incident, including the title). I ended the book feeling pretty much the same way - Serena is a terrific tennis player who has some amazing qualities but is also flawed at times. I was happy that I read the book and would recommend it to others interested in her career and women's tennis in general, but I hope that she will someday write another book that goes deeper. I'm betting that the upcoming autobiography from Andre Agassi will be that kind of reflective memoir. 』
(Serena's Fans will Enjoy this Inspirational Memoir) 『On the Line is Serena Williams' own story of her often challenging rise to the top of the tennis world. She recounts her early life and parallel tennis career with sister Venus, with the learning experiences and ups-and-downs of becoming a public figure in age age (today) where there is little or no privacy. Serena's story will particularly appeal to her fans, and is an inspirational tale of learning, maturing and physical and spiritual growth. A nice book and an easy, pleasant read.』
(A look inside the mind of an intense athlete) 『Straight up, this book includes too much about tennis for me. But not to the point of making the book boring, and that's the only reason I knocked off one star.
I thoroughly enjoyed her story, and it was enjoyable to learn more about Ms. Williams' life.
She utilizes the notes taken from her loose leaf notebook journals, which she calls her "match books", to compile short inspirational messages, and notes about her opponent, and personal feelings.
She details her rivalry with her sister, and talks about the challenges of growing within modest means.
One section details how she turned her thoughts in a positive direction, even though she was the one who had to share a be bed with one of her 4 sisters, since there were 5 girls and only 4 beds.
In short, this is a story of strong willed, determination to succeed.
She had to overcome many challenges of which I was not aware. Such as her eldest sister, being killed in a gun incident.
The biography story climaxes with her victory at the US Open in 2008, and includes growth experiences such as her trips to Africa to provide tennis clinics to children with Aids.
Overall this is a heartwarming bio, for a person who has achieved much in her young years.
I'm sure many more good stories will be in the pipeline for this intense competitor. 』 『One of the biggest stars in tennis, Serena Williams has captured every major title. Her 2009 Australia Open championship earned her the #1 world ranking for the third time in her illustrious career - and marked only the latest exclamation point on a life well and purposefully lived. As a young girl, Serena began training with an adult-sized racquet that was almost as big as her. Rather than dropping the racquet, Serena saw it as a challenge to overcome-and she has confronted every obstacle on her path to success with the same unflagging spirit. From growing up in the tough, hardscrabble neighborhood of Compton, California, to being trained by her father on public tennis courts littered with broken glass and drug paraphernalia, to becoming the top women's player in the world, Serena has proven to be an inspiration to her legions of fans both young and old. Her accomplishments have not been without struggle: being derailed by injury, devastated by the tragic shooting of her older sister, and criticized for her unorthodox approach to tennis. Yet somehow, Serena always manages to prevail. Both on the court and off, she's applied the strength and determination that helped her to become a champion to successful pursuits in philanthropy, fashion, television and film. In this compelling and poignant memoir, Serena takes an empowering look at her extraordinary life and what is still to come.』
price：$7.68
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A good read but also a little disappointing) 『Overall, this is a good read and I did enjoy the book. However, I was also a little disappointed with the greater focus on Federer. I expected a fairer balance about both players but clearly the author had already done a lot of research on Federer - as he initially planned ot write a book on RF - and included much of this in Strokes. Given who won this epic match, it's a bit too bias for me. Nevertheless, it is well written and fans of Federer will enjoy it. I would still recommend the book for some rare insights like with the umpires for example.』
(A MUST READ IF YOU LOVE TENNIS!) 『I watched the 2008 Wimbledon Men's Final and I bought the book because I admire both Federer and Nadal and it looked like an easy-summer-read. It was so much more than what I anticipated. The writer brought in so many humorous traditions peculiar only to tennis and gave me an incite into the background of both men. I would definitely recommend this book and in fact, it's "out on loan" now to one of my friends.』
(Enjoyable reading about the current two greatest tennis players) 『This book came out in early June (in time for the Wimbledon championship), but I only picked up this book last week, as we are in the midst of the US Open tournament (in fact I'm doing this review while watching a late night match featuring Federer).
"Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and The Greatest Match Ever Played" (211 pages) brings a great retelling of the Federer-Nadal final at Wimbledon in 2008. Not sure that it was the "greatest match ever played" although it was no doubt a very memorable match, no question. The author spices up the chapters with insight on both Federer's and Nadal's background and other details, which is (for me) where the book really shines. Commenting on how Nadal keeps his daily life down to earth: "On most days, Nadal simply grabbed his bag and walked to the courts. More than a few ticket holders were surprised to walk down Somerset Road and see the tournament's second seed strolling among them". But the author has other nice observations: "Just as the Eskimos have nineteen different words for snow, Federer has multiples cognates of the forehand."
We all know what the outcome of the match was, and what a thrill it was to see it happen before our eyes (for me, on TV, alas). The match may have signaled the end of the Federer era, but by now we know better: Federer won Roland Garos and Wimbledon this year, and he may very well win yet another US Open. That aside, if you are a tennis fan, you will enjoy this book (which is a quick read) from start to finish.』
(A great way to revisit this match for all time) 『I have regularly enjoyed Wertheim's articles on Sports Illustrated's website. When I found out about this book, I was immediately interested. I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. The background material on the two master players alone would have been worth the price of the book. The background material of Wimbledon itself, fans, and even the umpire was all very insightful and engaging. Highly recommend him.』
(A Match for the Ages.) 『I am a passionate, albeit mediocre, recreational level tennis player. Self-taught in the sport, I lack any discernible style or classic strokes, but I have a strong appreciation for good tennis. So, as I watched the 2008 Wimbledon Men's Finals with awe, I knew instantly that I was seeing history in the making. That preliminary verdict has been affirmed and verified in a wonderful new book about the event written by acclaimed Sports Illustrated writer, L. Jon Wertheim.
Werthein does a wonderful job of taking the reader through the unfolding events that occurred a year ago at Wimbledon. He adds spice and texture by weaving in back stories from the early lives and tennis careers of Federer and Nadal - the latest personal embodiments of the ages-old Athens vs. Sparta rivalry. On the surface, the grace vs. brute force analysis is a tempting one to endorse, but the styles of these two great players are not so easily distilled and deconstructed.
Here is how Wertheim sets the stage in contrasting their divergent styles and personas:
"Beyond the records, their rivalry was heightened by clashing styles. One could spend hours playing the compare-and-contrast game. Federer versus Nadal embodies righty versus lefty. Classic technique versus ultramodern. Feline light versus taurine heavy. Middle European restraint versus Iberian bravado and passion. Dignified power versus an unapologetic, whoomphing brutality. Zeus versus Hercules. Relentless genius versus unbending will. Polish versus grit. Metrosexuality versus hypermuscular hypermasculinity. A multitongued citizen of the world versus an unabashedly provincial homebody. A private-jet flier versus a steerage passenger. A Mercedes driver versus a Kia driver." (Page 4)
This is a book that will delight even the most casual of tennis fans and everyone who has an appreciation for superlative levels of human achievement.
Enjoy!
Al』 『In the 2008 Wimbledon men’s final, Centre Court was a stage set worthy of Shakespearean drama. Five-time champion Roger Federer was on track to take his rightful place as the most dominant player in the history of the game. He just needed to cling to his trajectory. So in the last few moments of daylight, Centre Court witnessed a coronation. Only it wasn’t a crowning for the Swiss heir apparent but for a swashbuckling Spaniard. Twenty-two-year-old Rafael Nadal prevailed, in five sets, in what was, according to the author, "essentially a four-hour, forty-eight-minute infomercial for everything that is right about tennis—a festival of skill, accuracy, grace, strength, speed, endurance, determination, and sportsmanship." It was also the encapsulation of a fascinating rivalry, hard fought and of historic proportions.In the tradition of John McPhee’s classicLevels of the Game, Strokes of Geniusdeconstructs this defining moment in sport, using that match as the backbone of a provocative, thoughtful, and entertaining look at the science, art, psychology, technology, strategy, and personality that go into a single tennis match.With vivid, intimate detail, Wertheim re-creates this epic battle in a book that is both a study of the mechanics and art of the game and the portrait of a rivalry as dramatic as that of Ali–Frazier, Palmer–Nicklaus, and McEnroe–Borg.』 『Amazon Exclusive: Blake Bailey ReviewsStrokes of Genius
Blake Bailey is the author ofCheever: A Life, which theNew York Timescalled "a definitive, Dickensian rendering of a complete and complicated life, addictively readable and long overdue." His last book,A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Read his exclusive Amazon guest review ofStrokes of Genius:
If, like me, you regard Roger Federer as one of the three or four most glorious athletes in human history, and an awfully nice guy to boot, then the years 2004 to 2007 were golden years for you. This was the "Federer era" in tennis, when he won 11 of 16 Grand Slam tournaments and amassed an astonishing match record of 315-24. Nor was there much of the nasty tension entailed by hard-fought five-set matches; as a fan of Federer, one had only to sit back and sigh at the artistry--the elegant angles, the impossible retrievals, the bazooka forehands--while Federer rose to the occasion (good-naturedly) again and again, usually in straight sets.
This belleépoque might have continued, if not for the rise of the musclebound Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, indisputably the greatest clay-court player of all time. For a while it seemed, at worst, that neither Federer nor anyone else would win the French Open as long as Nadal was healthy; but then Nadal began todominate on faster surfaces, too. Transcending himself in the fifth set, Federer managed to defeat Nadal in the 2007 Wimbledon final (perhaps the third or fourth greatest match ever played) and thus equal Borg's Open-era record of five straight Wimbledon titles. Borg himself, however, predicted thatNadal would not only win the next Wimbledon, but goad the demoralized Federer out of tennis entirely--reminiscent, that is, of McEnroe's effect on Borg, who retired at age 26 after losing his edge in the rivalry.
As L. Jon Wertheim points out inStrokes of Genius--his riveting analysis of the 2008 Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final, and an instant classic of tennis literature--the "clashing styles" of the two greats have made theirs the gold standard of sports rivalries: "Feline light versus bovine heavy. Middle European restraint and quiet meticulousness versus Iberian bravado and passion. Dignified power versus an unapologetic, whoomphing brutality. Zeus versus Hercules." A senior writer forSports Illustrated, Wertheim describes the match itself with expertise andélan ("an oil painting of a forehand volley"), while widening and tightening his lens to examine almost every aspect of the modern game: the curious obsolescence of the serve-and-volley approach; the evolution of the racket (natural gut versus polyester, etc.); the vagaries of various players, mostnotably Nadal and Federer. (Fun fact: Nadal--whose "awkward" left-hand game has given Federer such fits--is actually right-handed.)
These digressions, so nicely deployed, helped distract this reader from averyunhappy ending: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7, which one fan aptly likened to "watching an angel fall." This much we know (and never mind the woe that, Federer-wise, would follow), but did you know that in England, at 9:20 P.M., there was a 1400-megawatt power surge when millions rose as one from their couches to switch the lights on, released at last from the intolerable tension of the greatest match in history? For that detail, and many like it, you need Wertheim's engrossing book.
price：$8.50
Crown
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (OK, but just OK) 『I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I generally love books like this. I just finished and enjoyed The Sixth Game by Mark Frost about a memorable baseball game and all the players. The idea for this book was intriguing, a memorable tennis game with many side stories about three of the major tennis players of the 20's and 30's who were part of the game. But I think the author misfired. Idea - 10. Execution - 4.
The major players the German, Cramm. and the Americans Budge and Tilden were all sort of larger than life. The author includes a lot about the players especially Cramm and Tilden. In fact, I enjoyed his covering their lives and trials and the pre war times much more than his covering of the game. His coverage just wasn't that exciting. I think he made a mistake focusing so much on the game, or maybe it is difficult to inject excitement into reporting a tennis match. Anyway, the result is a really uneven book. He also goes on and on about the other tennis stars during the era, and recounts, or so it seems, hundreds of games and matches. Skimming is in order for those parts of the book.
Turns out homosexuality plays a big part in the respective lives. In fact, the author seems kind of obsessed with that topic.( "Not that there is anything wrong with that" )
I would give it three stars at the absolute best.』
(Solid effort from Marshall Jon Fisher) 『Well worth a read for sports fans in general and tennis fans in particular. The three players featured in "TS" are all genuinely engaging and interesting, and the time period in which the match took place was obviously pivotal in the 20th century.
Highly recommended.』
(Just barely 4 stars - good but not great.) 『As I write this review, having only just finished the book, I must confess to a decidedly mixed reaction. The story of the 1937 Davis Cup match between American Don Budge and the German aristocrat Baron Gottfried von Cramm is certainly a compelling one. Indeed, the reportage of the actual championship match between Budge and von Cramm is gripping entertainment, replete with colorful quotations and a fine sense of pacing. However, the author too often falls into the biographer's trap of regurgitating facts and miring an otherwise solid narrative in a minutiae of statistics; in this case a myriad of names and scores read and forgotten almost simultaneously.
Along for the ride is "Big" Bill Tilden (still the greatest tennis champion of all-time), who served as coach to the German team. The author devotes ample space to the formative years of each man. However, some men are simply more interesting than others. Tilden was a bigger-than-life sports figure, as famous in his day as Babe Ruth, who was twice sent to prison for having sexual relations with underage young men. The Baron was one of the most dashing and handsome young men to ever play the game of tennis, but a known [...] who's every move was watched and recorded by the Nazis. He was convicted of violating the infamous "Paragraph 175" and sent to prison. In later life he was briefly married to heiress Barbara Hutton. By comparison, Budge is simply, bluntly, boring.
There is quite a bit to recommend "A Terrible Splendor" [and I should note that readers with a real love of tennis are sure to enjoy this much more than I did], not the least of which is the amount of hidden LGBT history presented. However, on the whole I was left with an unquenched thirst for more of the von Cramm's story; what a great movie his life would make. 』
(Many Lives, One Match) 『A Terrible Splendor by Marshall Jon Fisher is one of the best books I've read this year for [...]. The subtitle of the book is "Three Extraordinary Men, A World Poised for War, and the Greatest Tennis Match Every Played" and it is all this, and so much more. It is certainly the very best tennis book I've ever read but even for non-tennis players, this book will hold you from first page until the last, providing suspense, thrills, and very sobering, moving, and compelling history.
In telling the lives of Baron Gottfried Von Cramm, German tennis player, Don Budge, an American player from head to toe, and Bill Tilden, one of the mightiest racquet-wielders ever, and building their stories around the 1937 Davis Cup match between Cramm and Budge, Fisher brings to vibrant life the years between the two world wars, and the very different places that each of these players came from and answered to. Fisher illustrates through strong and engaging writing the dramatic differences that country, age, and sexual orientation played for these three men, and brings home the magnitude of their achievements, on court but also in their lives.
Cramm was an aristocratic German with impeccable good looks, sportsmanship, and tennis playing. Opposed to the policies and practices of the Nazis, and gay, Cramm was safe from Nazi persecution only so long as he kept winning tennis matches for Germany. Budge was a middle-class American with phenomenal tennis skills, a love for Jazz and good times with the Hollywood cronies who befriended him, and solid support from the United States Tennis Association. Bill Tilden was the most famous tennis player of his time and into our own, as heralded for his amazing and enduring tennis-playing as for his off-court persona, infamous for his on-court antics, and highly irritating to the USTA for his bullheadedness as well as his ill-closeted gayness. Fisher gives us insight into all three, as well as solid introductions to many other figures of the times, including American tennis player Gene Mako, Queen Mary of England, English playwright Christopher Isherwood, German-Jewish tennis player Daniel Prenn, up and coming American Bobby Riggs, Hollywood types like Jack Benny and Charlie Chaplin, heiress Barbara Hutton, and Nazi terrors Goring, Himmler, and Hitler himself. That was the mix of the 1930s, a world indeed "poised for war." For some, World War II would bring persecution, deprivations, and personal tragedy, for others a new responsibility and realization of life's chaos, and for others, death.
The tennis match around which A Terrible Splendor is structured is told with perfect timing, building momentum and suspense then taking a break (neither disruptive nor jarring) to tell more of the background history, personal and political and social, and then taking us back into the match. The book drove me through emotional ranges of tears, anger, and excitement, and I could not put it down, as caught up as I was in the amazing lives of these three very distinct individuals, the times they lived in, and the match itself. Indeed, I was on the edge of my seat throughout this marvelous book and unsure until the end who won this incredible battle that went five sets, who survived the spiraling years into World War II, and who met the promise of a world beyond tennis and beyond war. I will never forget Cramm, Budge, or Tilden, or this great book, A Terrible Splendor.』
(Elegant!) 『With the elegance that von Cramm played tennis, Marshall Fisher writes. I don't know much about tennis,or at least I didn't before reading "Terrible Splendor" but was fascinated by the game, the history, and the humanity of the players. It is indeed a thought provoking book and a fun, entertaining read. I recommend it to anyone interested in history, tennis, and the working-out of human existence.』 『Before Federer versus Nadal, before Borg versus McEnroe, the greatest tennis match ever played pitted the dominant Don Budge against the seductively handsome Baron Gottfried von Cramm. This deciding 1937 Davis Cup match, played on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, was a battle of titans: the world's number one tennis player against the number two; America against Germany; democracy against fascism. For five superhuman sets, the duo’s brilliant shotmaking kept the Centre Court crowd–and the world–spellbound.
But the match’s significance extended well beyond the immaculate grass courts of Wimbledon. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the brink of World War II, one man played for the pride of his country while the other played for his life. Budge, the humble hard-working American who would soon becomethe first man to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year, vied to keep the Davis Cup out of the hands of the Nazi regime. On the other side of the net, the immensely popular and elegant von Cramm fought Budge point for point knowing that a loss might precipitate his descent into the living hell being constructed behind barbed wire back home.
Born into an aristocratic family, von Cramm was admired for his devastating good looks as well as his unparalleled sportsmanship. But he harbored a dark secret, one that put him under increasing Gestapo surveillance. And his situation was made even more perilous by his refusal to join the Nazi Party or defend Hitler. Desperately relying on his athletic achievements and the global spotlight to keep him out of the Gestapo’s clutches, his strategy was to keep traveling and keep winning. A Davis Cup victory would make him the toast of Germany. A loss might be catastrophic.
Watching the mesmerizingly intense match from the stands was von Cramm’s mentor and all-time tennis superstar Bill Tilden–a consummate showman whose double life would run in ironic counterpoint to that of his German pupil.
Set at a time when sports and politics were inextricably linked,A Terrible Splendorgives readers a courtside seat on that fateful day, moving gracefully between the tennis match for the ages and the dramatic events leading Germany, Britain, and America into global war. A book like no other in its weaving of social significance and athletic spectacle, this soul-stirring account is ultimately a tribute to the strength of the human spirit.』
price：$8.84
Avery
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (what's monica's fav binge food?) 『if you want to learn all about monica's favorite binge eating foods and all the food she ate for a decade...then read this book. even her "nutritionists" who apparently were hired just to try to keep food away from her didn't succeed. i guess i missed the part of her enlightenment and realization that it's just food [fuel]. i found this book boring...thus a very quick read.』
(Great Read!) 『I was always a fan of Monica and decided to read this book at the recommendation of a tennis friend. The obstacles she has had to overcome are amazing and I am extremely happy for her and how far she has come. However, I can't get over the fact that the German court system did NOTHING to support her. They let her attacker go free and when she sued the tournament for lack of security, the courts threw out the case AND made her pay for the tournament's legal fees!!! She says she has accepted it, and maybe I should, too, but it makes me want to boycott Germany! I realize Steffi Graff was their star, but there needed to be some justice! Otherwise, a great book, and will make you love Monica even more than you already did.』
(Outstanding) 『I have followed Monica's career from the beginning and I was excited for the opportunity for a closer look. What great insight into her life. It was the perfect balance of Monica's tennis and Monica's existence in the world. I wish I could thank her for sharing her courageous story.』
(Tennis made her fat) 『As a tennis fan, Monica's long eating disorder was news to me, and this memoir seems to leave out none of the gory details, such as her food binges after the trainers and nutritionists went home for the day. AT one point, she topped 175lbs, but I guess I didn't notice that. She always seemed so tiny to me. She doesn't say it, but it's apparent that the stress of tennis is what made her so fat. She lost the weight after injuries finally made her quit. I'm not sure she sees the connection. Her book is full of self-actualization blather. I wondered to what extent she obsessed about this beyond reality. She was still able, after all, to win tennis matches despite the weight. You don't learn much about her love life here, except for a few tales about guys as they related to her eating disorder. Seles was a great athlete in her day, but the times passed her by as tennis players got more fit. This memoir is all self-help and a little tennis mixed in. If you enjoy tennis memoirs, you'll enjoy this.』
(moving, powerful and honest) 『This is a fascinating book even if you're not a tennis player, an athlete or even someone who follows tennis. When I picked up the book, I had only a vague idea of who Monica Seles was, but I was immediately drawn in by her honest and self-critical style of writing in this autobiography of her life from her early childhood to her mid 30's. What's remarkable is that such an accomplished and disciplined athlete could nonetheless struggle with such universal issues as low self-esteem, depression and even overeating. it's incredible to think that someone could win the French Open and still think that she was "bad" because she ate a cupcake. It's incredible to think that even a top athlete dislikes her body and is insecure about it, to think that even top athletes compare their bodies to others and find them wanting. it's incredible that such a strong female athlete could still find herself in relationships with uncaring men who would be critical of her -- or to think that a boyfriend could still criticize her body after she's won yet another tournament. (Luckily, Monica has the good sense to immediately dump the guy!) Monica shares all this and more, putting it all out there for the reader. The ending, where she finds herself, as well as the passages in which she writes about her family, are beautiful, moving and uplifting. This is a wonderful book for everyone who struggles with feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence. Monica gave us a gift when she wrote this book. 』 『For those of you tuned into this past season’sDancing with the Stars, it’s hard to believe that spectacularly fit former tennis champion Monica Seles struggled with binge-eating and depression.
Getting a Gripchronicles Monica’s success on the tennis circuit where, at age sixteen, she became the youngest winner in French Open history. For three years she dominated the tour, racking up eight Grand Slam titles, and charming the media at post-match conferences with her trademark giggle. She seemed unstoppable until a deranged Steffi Graf fan plunged a knife into her back during a match in Hamburg and turned her life upside down. Her injuries healed but the emotional trauma was deep. With no support from the WTA and her number-one ranking falling, Monica sunk into a depression. Hiding from the media and disappearingfrom the tennis world, she turned to food for comfort. She spent more than two years in seclusion, trying to fight off the fog of despair.
Back in the public eye but far from recovered, she continued the battle against herself—grueling six-hour workouts were sabotaged by secretive late-night binges—and she was assaulted with criticism about her weight from her trainers, nutritionists, and, most brutally, the press. Playing with an extra thirty pounds and devastated after losing her father/coach to cancer, she was never able to regain her former dominance on tour.
After an excruciating injury forced her to take time off from tennis in 2003, Seles embarked on her own journey. She abandoned the arduous workouts and the punitive diets. As she uncovered the painful emotional reasons that had been the trigger for her binge-eating, she finally found the peace and balance she had been searching for.
Monica Seles’s determination, amazing talent, and touching vulnerability make her story both incredibly human and inspiring. By sharing her own narrative, she hopes to motivate other people to take control of their lives and their own happiness.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Winning Ugly.) 『Great book. Lots of useful tips to make your tennis game better. Entertaining as well, since the book is peppered with personal anecdotes to illustrate his point. The only thing is that I was not following tennis during his professional career, so I only know the players of his era superficially.』
(Love this book!) 『[I'm an intermediate/avid tennis player.] This is a GREAT book. Gilbert is very matter-of-fact about how he was not a #1 player, but how by utilizing little tricks/techniques in both summing up his opponents and in being realistic about his own strengths/weaknesses -- he was able to make his own mark on the world of professional tennis. He does have specific examples of his matches with some of the greats, which are interesting to read -- but they're not so much used as "the story of Gilbert" -- but more as references for his suggestions on how to approach similar situations in the readers' own personal matches. In this book, Gilbert talks about how one needs to take advantage of a myriad of smaller elements -- which in sum, can actually give you the edge in the game. I read this book initially, but now will still pick it up regularly, just to read a chapter here and there, to remind myself of some of his strategies. I think about Gilbert's advice regularly when I play -- and I believe that it really can make a difference when utilized.』
(A VERY FUN, USEFUL READ) 『This is a fun book written in a very laid back style. It inspired me to track down a Sampras vs. Gilbert match so I could view his style of play. He definitely practiced most of what he preaches in this book. I've also read "I've Got Your Back" and the books have merged in to one in my mind though this one is clearly better. The best part of this book is the strategy section. He covers facing most styles of play including serve&volleyers, pushers, baseliners, and lefties. He's refreshingly direct and honest. He stresses to never to donate free points to your opponent, play within your skill level and step it up on "setup points". There's one point I do disagree with and have proof it doesn't work. I played a 3.5 match and my opponent had obviously just read this book as he was doing the Gilbert pre-match warm up --running circles backwards&forwards. He won the spin and elected that I should serve first. Well, I held and never looked back. Nowadays 3.5s can get their serves in and usually hold. Perhaps the book is designed more for 2.5s but I think it would be useful to anyone up to 4.0 USTA rating (actually James Blake would do well to read this several times). I don't play the pusher style but I ABSOLUTELY HATE DONATING POINTS and that alone allowed me to go undefeated and get a trophy in a weekend warrior league. Brad Gilbert took some nice athleticism and pretty ugly looking strokes to #4 in the world and a million dollar pay day in Germany because of strategy. Thumbs up.』
(Very Helpful) 『Very helpful book.. Especially for younger players who probably never thought of the mental part of the game. My 14 year old was definately somebody who just "showed up" for the game. After reading your book he started winning again..Great!
Charles』
(UNA OBRA MAESTRA DE LA ESTRATEGIA EN EL TENIS) 『Brad Gilbert fue uno de los jugadores más tácticos del ATP. Se mantuvo como "Top 10" por casi 1 decada. Este libro es una obra infaltable para el tenista, sea profesional o amateur. Entrega consejos fáciles de entender y sin rodeos ni teorizaciones. IMPERDIBLE, por algo lo recomiendan Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi y Jim Courier. Si los más grandes lo promueven, es porque realmente es una pieza infaltable en tu biblioteca.』 『
He's been called the best in the world at the mental game of tennis. Brad Gilbert's strokes may not be pretty, but looks aren't everything. He has beaten the Tour's biggest names -- all by playing his "ugly" game.
Now, inWinning UglyGilbert teaches recreational players how to win more often without necessarily even changing their strokes. The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinking player -- to recognize, analyze, and capitalize. That means outthinking opponents before, during, and after a match; forcing him or her to playyourgame. Gilbert's unconventional advice includes:
* How to identify the seven "Hidden Ad Points," and what to do when they come up * Six reasons why you should never serve first * How to beat a Lefty, a Retriever, a Serve-Volley player, and other troublesome opponents * How to keep a lead, or stop a match from slipping away * How to handle psyching and gamesmanship
Winning Uglyis an invaluable combat manual for the court, and its tips include "some real gems," according toTennismagazine. Ultimately,Winning Uglywill help you beat players who have been beating you.』
price：$5.42
McGraw-Hill
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good Stuff) 『Pretty good book if you need some general motivation... The author knows the topic and gives some good examples, but doesn't really get into specific actions to help resolve issues. Also, alot of baseball and golf examples, I found it hard to relate it to the sports I am involved in. Tons of great quotes, etc to get you amped.』
(marathon runner) 『I am an 1,90 and 120kg marathon runner. When I announced that I intend to run a marathon the reactions varied from amusement to worry that I will not survive. That might have been the case if I wouldn't have had THIS book. It made all the difference in the world. Maybe half of the training time was "mind gym". The result? Not only I have finished alive but I made quite a good time (3h44). This performance changed not my weight (I am still 120kg) but my self-image. I know now that the only limits are in my head. I changed. A lot. From the introvertit obese to the cocky, confident obese :) I fired my boss. Actually, the company fired him for mobbing. I got a fat settlement. I switched careers. I took one sabbatical year and focused on learning trading. Here, again, the "Mind gym" made a huge difference. I become profitable and then ... very profitable. I don't own a Porsche but I am free (of worries, schedules, bosses)
If you intend to buy only one book for the next year: BUY THIS ONE !!
』
(Mental training for the professional sports fan) 『This book includes many of the basic mental concepts discussed in sports: staying positive, etc. Although there were some helpful tips, it was a task to sort through the excessive name dropping. As an athlete, I don't need to know the names of everyone the author has ever helped. I assume, since I am buying and reading the book, that I will at least somewhat trust what is being said and that I will be willing to try it myself. If you need the 150/224 pages of professional athlete anecdotes, then this book is for you. If, like most athletes, you don't have time to sit and read fluff, find another book.』
(great book for any athlete) 『My daughters are 14 and 17 and have read this book more than once. They run cross country and that 2 miles can be grueling. This book have really helped them get in the right frame of mind. They both won medals at district last year too.』
(Easy read) 『If you are expecting substantive theoretical sports psychological insights from this book, you will be thoroughly disappointed. While the anecdotes presented by the author are amusing, they provide little to no substance. Often, they are redundant to the point where it seems the author is beating the stain where the dead horse used to be. Each chapter ends with a short 1-sentence summary. In my opinion, the book could easily be condensed to only the chapter headings and the 1-sentence summaries, although it would be much less entertaining that way. The 1-liners do contain good information, but, unfortunately, much of it is what I would consider common sense.
Unless you can relate to baseball and other American sports, don't bother picking up this book. Most of the anecdotes are from the world of baseball.
That said, the book is a very easy read. I do not question the author's abilities as a sports psychologist. But I had expected a book with much more substance.』 『Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition.』
price：$8.48
New Chapter Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Very Good, but not my Favourite Fed Bio) 『Stauffer has done an extremely thorough job and I certainly recommend it, but I do prefer Chris Bowers' biography of Federer. It's got more background on his childhood and youth and discussion and anecdotes to show his personality. There's also the advantage that it's recently been updated (Spirit of a Champion), whereas Stauffer's stops in 2007. And so much has happened since then! Stauffer should do an update as he has encyclopediac knowledge of Federer and has also had more insider access to him.』
(Very Inspirational for the Young Tennis Player) 『We bought this book for my son and all of us ended up reading it. The book has all of the scores from Roger's matches, but more importantly, I thought it did a good job of explaining how he got past his temper tantrums. He is still very emotional (he is so devoted to tennis), but when he is on the court he is entirely professional and that's what young players need to do, to control their emotions, to have their emotions work for them, in order to play their best tennis.』
(The Roger Federer Story.) 『This is a good book about Roger Federer life in tennis. I like Roger and this book is very interested to me to know how he started to play tennis, how he developed like a tennis star and like a person.』
(Interesting read) 『I consider this a good read for all fans of Federer's. The author, though clearly a fan, knows his facts and manages to keep his praise within the borders of reasonability - this is no 'fanboy'-book. A pleasant, well-written account, and imho, very valuable to any real fan of tennis. I hope there will be a follow-up at some time, as this book does of course not cover 2008 - which might well offer the most interesting facts as this clearly wasn't Federer's best year.』
(Roger Federer) 『I highly recommend this book to the fans . It is easy to read and full of details and anecdotes . You also have the feeling that you become part of Roger Federer's life . Many thanks to the writer .
Patricia Jimmy』 『
Regarded by many as the greatest tennis player in the history of the sport, this authoritative biography is based on many exclusive interviews with Federer and his family as well as the author's experience covering the international tennis circuit for many years. Completely comprehensive, it provides an informed account of the Swiss tennis star from his early days as a temperamental player on the junior circuit, through his early professional career, to his winning major tennis tournaments, including the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. Readers will appreciate the anecdotes about his early years, revel in the insider's view of the professional tennis circuit, and be inspired by this champion's rise to the top of his game.
The scallop of large satisfactory ! northern countries and - [ of how much ] botan shrimp are ! tightly.
getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
>
