Best Miscellaneous
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
"Rantz is the main character in this book, and the book begins with Brown meeting a dying Rantz before transitioning back in time to Rantz’s first semester of college. Sections on Ulbrickson’s struggle to produce a winning team and sections on Hitler and Goebbels planning the Berlin Olympics illustrate the long and pivotal road to the crew team events."
"We learn about the amazing growing-up experiences of Joe Rantz, we see the pride, skill and wisdom of a master boatbuilder, we witness a beautiful love story, and we experience the chill of pre-war Nazi Germany."
Achieve the Champion Mindset for Peak Performance with this Amazon Best-Seller. Reach New Levels of Success and Mental Toughness with this Ultimate Guide. In this concise and highly acclaimed success mental training guide, peak performance coach DC Gonzalez teaches a blend of unique mental training technologies, sports psychology essentials, and peak performance methods that are effective and motivational. Get ready to increase your self-belief, self-confidence, and mental toughness, using this powerful guide designed to help you reach new levels of success, sports performance, and personal development. This Kindle book is powerful, in it Dan explains, teaches, and helps you develop the psychological skills required for peak performance and mental toughness, while pointing out the underlying mental training strategies that will help anyone reach higher levels of achievement and performance - not by random chance, but by focused choice. The Art of Mental Training teaches the critical essentials while interwoven with stories from his fascinating background as an Aviator in the Navy, a Federal Agent, Military Cyber-Security Specialist, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and a Peak Performance Coach. Peak Performance Coach and Best-Selling Author, DC Gonzalez is among a very fortunate few that have had the unique experience of learning from the late P.C.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When I was reading the book from the introduction, it sounded as if it was a work of fiction, and I had to double check if I was reading the correct book."
"This book gave me some new idea of things I could say to help encourage her, however, what was most impressive is the story-like way the ideas are delivered. As with all self help books, I do wish sometimes there was a "cliff notes" for the busy reader to cut to the advice (I can try it and see for myself, I don't need to be convinced into trying it) however, this book made reading that extra content fun and interesting, so it ended up working out in the favor of this book."
"Other books on this subject matter that I've read always tend to have confusing parts. It was great for my daughter and I'd highly recommend it to people newly interested in performance enhancing sport psychology methods.. The author takes a very motivational approach to things, explaining that all people can achieve greatness, by learning how to acquire the right mindset. It opened up a lot of really good conversations between us, and even more than that- it taught us about the Art of Mental Training and the Science of Success through an interesting and entertaining book filled with great information."
"it uses a karate kid sort of metaphor with the author sharing discussions he had with his martial arts trainer."
"I have been in sales for years, and have been too many seminars and read many books on the topic of success, self-motivation, and positive thinking."
Using the dramatic competition between the top contenders at the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games® as a background, Ben explores the step-by-step process of achieving excellence and the unique set of positive character traits necessary for leveling up to world-class. "Ben's ability to develop mental toughness and the approach he shares in Chasing Excellence is a game changer for athletes in any sport." - Chris Hinshaw , Professional Triathlete, winner of Ironman Brazil and Creator of AerobicCapacity.com. "This book will do for you what Ben has done for me--take you to the next level and show you how to be the best.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I got this book as part of the KindleUnlimited program, but was planning on buying the hardcopy when it was released. I follow Ben's podcast and am a member of the Comptrain Masters program that Harry Palley & he have created. The book is written in a user friend and non-academic way, so you can draw some inspiration for the stories and small bits of encouragements. The title leads one to believe you'll find ways to "Chase Excellence" using specific details on "Commitment", "Grit", "Positivity", "Confidence", "Maximizing Minutes", "The Process" and more. As alluded to at the end is a line where Ben shares how Mat, Katrin and Cole tell him not to "give away the playbook", but that's what the title and chapters alude to. That said, there is nothing here that prepares one to chase excellence that you can't get from "The Obstacle is the Way", "Ego is the Enemy", "Mastery" or other books. Save your money and buy "The Obstacle is the Way" if you want practical insights in living many of the principles briefly discussed in "Chasing Excellence"."
"Incredible read, and the beauty of this book is that even if you've never done Crossfit this is still such an awesome read."
"I already wanted Ben as my life coach, not just Crossfit, and this book cemented that desire."
"Great read."
"If your an athlete good."
"This was a nice read."
"This inspiring book went well beyond the making of the world's fittest man and woman."
"Very good read, useful and helpful tips to approach habits and life."
Best Air Sports & Recreation
“The one book every disc golfer needs… If you only pick up one book on this list, make it this one… This is one of those books that will end up with highlighter and notes all over it as you read it again and again.” – Mind Body Disc Golf Reading List (MindBodyDisc.com). “It is a cool book to motivate and inspire you, speaking in terms that Disc Golfers can understand. “Zen and the Art of Disc Golf is a perfect read anytime of the year to help your disc golf game…It’s safe to say that you’ll take something away from it and in the end, you’ll take steps to being a better disc golfer with the knowledge you’ll gain.” – Zach Parcell (All Things Disc Golf). ___________________________________________________________________. For the passionate practitioner, disc golf becomes a meditation, and practicing not only has the potential to make us better players, but better people as we begin to focus on the similarities between the disc golf course and our lives.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Zen and the Art of Disc Golf is there for your mental game."
"I really like what this book has to say in reguards to the sport of Disc Golf and the power of positive thinking."
"Great read!"
"This book is a must have for anyone who plays disc golf."
"The ideas and concepts in the book are spot on in improving anything you are passionate about not just disc golf."
"A nice flowing quick read about getting out of your own head and into the game you truly desire."
"Good zen tie in to a sport that reinforces good mindfulness in kinetic meditation."
"This book and this game have reignited my passions for living and are helping me realign my thoughts and life patterns."
Best Sports Equipment & Supplies
GET FIT SAFELY USING THE VERSATILE RESISTANCE BAND First used in physical therapy to introduce low-intensity strength training for rehabilitating patients, today bands come in all levels of resistance and are perfect for targeting and working every major muscle group. Foam Roller Workbook-Karl-Knopf-9781569759257-$14.95-Ulysses Press-04/01/11-14000-. Healthy Shoulder Handbook-Karl-Knopf-9781569757383-$15.95-Ulysses Press-03/09/10-14000-. Stretching for 50+-Karl-Knopf-9781569754450-$14.95-Ulysses Press-02/10/05-18000-. Healthy Hips Handbok-Karl-Knopf-9781569758199-$14.95-Ulysses Press-11/02/10-3000-. Make the Pool Your Gym-Karl-Knopf-9781612430140-$14.95-Ulysses Press-02/28/12-2000-. Weights for 50+-Karl-Knopf-9781569755112-$14.95-Ulysses Press-12/20/05-7000- Foam Roller Workbook|Karl|Knopf|9781569759257|$14.95|Ulysses Press|04/01/11|14000|. Healthy Shoulder Handbook|Karl|Knopf|9781569757383|$15.95|Ulysses Press|03/09/10|14000|. Stretching for 50+|Karl|Knopf|9781569754450|$14.95|Ulysses Press|02/10/05|18000|. Healthy Hips Handbok|Karl|Knopf|9781569758199|$14.95|Ulysses Press|11/02/10|3000|. Make the Pool Your Gym|Karl|Knopf|9781612430140|$14.95|Ulysses Press|02/28/12|2000|. Weights for 50+|Karl|Knopf|9781569755112|$14.95|Ulysses Press|12/20/05|7000|.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am also involved in an exercise program for elderly and disabled people, and found that the instructor is using many exercises that are shown in this book. I am not an exercise expert- but if you are a beginner, elderly, or recovering from an injury.....this is a great book!"
"I purchased this hoping that there wouldn't be too much info on the history of resistance bands, exercising, etc."
"Great Workouts and it helps with tight muscles and is easy for most people who want to help their bodies with bone density loss as we age."
"These are low intensity exercises that would work well for the elderly or for people needing rehab. What I do like about the book is that it gives you specific safe exercises for various health concerns, such as high blood pressure. But, having said that, there are some pages that offer warm-up exercises suggesting you use a light band."
"Many different workout for all parts of muscle systems, to work out specfic injured areas."
"Examples of exercises were clear and easy to follow."
"I had the resistance bands, so working using the bands with the book."
Best Sports Essays
Foreword by Malcolm Gladwell. Newly updated with fresh takes on LeBron, Kobe, the Celtics & more*. Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. His knowledge and passion for the game provide him with few peers, yet his voice represents those who stick by their teams through thick and thin. Throw in pages of nearly-insane statistical breakdowns (including a projected boxscore from the movie Teen Wolf ), and it's easy to see why fans of all levels should clear shelf space for this instant classic. The true NBA fan will dive into this hefty volume and won’t resurface for about a week, emerging from the man cave unshaven, smelling of beer and pizza, grinning, and armed with NBA history, insight, anecdotes, statistics, and a dozen new examples of Simmons’ Unintentional Comedy Scale.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's a great mix of stats and "I just feel" analysis that forms the basis of all great sport's debates."
"The focus here beyond his dad's Celtics season tickets sealing his fate as a kid fan, is on pyramid pantheon best ever debates, what ifs, secret knowledge, team comparison compendiums and various other scenario incidentals. Simmons, master of the between the lines scoop, says what's on his mind, is quick to offend and may be off the cuff with tactless fan boy antics, but he thinks like a genius GM and really should be considered as part of an NBA team brain trust someday. Via a coach sharp humanist link tying cults of personality to levels of performance, we learn that selfish players hit a ceiling and greats must share the ball to be transcendent. Twas ironically originated by an adult cinema historian who mixed pop, news and sports trivia intros with his movie reviews in an erotic film bible from the early 1980s. With so much info on elite players and teams, this needed a tongue-in-cheek chapter on footnote characters of the game like Darryl Dawkins, aka Chocolate Thunder, a rushed high school prospect who never reached his full potential but was memorable for destroying backboards on slam dunks."
"Last year I purchased Bill Simmons' The Book of Basketball for my birthday. If you aren't a fan who loves reading about the past in great detail this book may not be for you. And while it may make you wrinkle your nose at some of his thoughts he is still pretty centered and doesn't go too far left. His perspective is a great easy read and he loves having fun with his words. My brother-in-law Curtis got me into playing an NBA board game (Statis Pro Basketball) in the 70's and I was hooked. I wish there had been a little more love for my favorite Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks but I was still very happy with his thoughts on both. To quote Paul Harvey this book gave me "the rest of the story". Nowadays every move is over analyzed instantly on TV and on the web allowing us to make a better informed analysis of what we are seeing in a game and around the league. Again it may be a bit much for the casual fan but if you think there is any possibility you might like this book I suggest you spend the $11.11 on Amazon or at some other retailer and I don't think you'll be disappointed."
"The passion yields some diversion that I think even the most NBA wonk might get a bit overwhelmed by."
Best History of Sports
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"Even knowing the outcome did not diminish the excitement of the quest, and weaving the story of Hitler's rise to power during the 1936 Olympics captured the irony of his policies."
"The men in my life had been trying for years to get me to read this book."
"Boys racing boats?"
Best Motor Sports
Whether you are racing an Indy car or simply interested in becoming a more complete driver on the street, Ultimate Speed Secrets will give you the information you need to succeed! "If you are a track-day driver or a regular racer, I guaranteed the $20 or less you pay for his book will be the most cost-effective way to lower your lap time you ever invested." “Ross Bentley’s Speed Secrets series of coaching books are a favorite around our office: they really help the driver to grasp what it takes to win. Ultimate Speed Secrets is a condensed version of all of his previous books and serves as a good refresher for those of us who haven’t read his back catalog in years. Ross Bentley is one of the best-known racing instructors who has been able to put to words what he teaches in person, down to choosing lines and adapting to different cars and trucks. Buy it, read it, practice the info and you'll be a safer, quicker and more satisfied race car driver."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I don't race a real car."
"Good book for the beginner."
"Amazing book if you're just getting started."
"Simple reading and a fare amount of information but not as stimulating as I would have hoped."
"Its amazing to read multiple things I have learned on multiple tracks."
"Great book, have learned a lot just in first reading."
"Go fast."
"Great book."
Best Sports Reference
Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Dave gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with easy to digest advice and practices on how to build the most critical survival skills. Penned by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival aims to make sure you know your craft.... "With Canterbury's guidance, you'll prepare yourself for any climate and situation and you'll learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature." Written by famous outdoorsman Dave Canterbury, the volume covers everything from the proper knots to know to scavenging edible food in the wilderness. "Get ready for whatever nature could throw your way with this guide on bushcraft, the art of surviving in the woods with as little modern gear as possible. Dave Canterbury is the co-owner and supervising instructor at the Pathfinder School, which USA TODAY named one of the Top 12 Survival Schools in the United States. Dave is the New York Times bestselling author of Bushcraft 101 , Advanced Bushcraft , and The Bushcraft Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In fact, in my library, this book has earned a spot right up next to my SAS Survival Handbook, while this book tends to focus much more on a "communing with the world" mindset, rather than an "overcome and conquer" mentality of the SAS. It's a book that I've read but find myself referring back to remember a certain point or process."
"If you have been camping more that twice you may find this just refresher reading or helpful for future outings."
"I find this book fun and easy to read while it gives good information that prepares you for bushcraft activities. It is a really good book and is full of good information."
"Great book."
"I got this for my husband for Christmas, and he loves it."
"The info is good, but I would like more visual examples as a novice."
"This was a Christmas gift for my grandsons, and they love it!"
"It's not that the author is wrong -- and he clearly knows his stuff -- it's just that he doesn't seem to have struck a balance such that one could pack this book in a bug-out-bag and end up OK."
Best Sociology of Sports
Carney also enlists input from an Army scientist, a world-famous surfer, the founders of an obstacle course race movement, and ordinary people who have documented how they have cured autoimmune diseases, lost weight, and reversed diabetes. An ambitious blend of investigative reporting and participatory journalism, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the true connection between the mind and the body and reveals the science that allows us to push past our perceived limitations. Wheninvestigative journalist and anthropologist Carney heard about Hof'smind-boggling methods and claims that he could "hack" the human body, he knew he had to venture to Poland to expose this fraud. ― Booklist As this engaging autoethnography relates, anthropologist and investigative journalist Carney was skeptical upon encountering a photo of a nearlynaked Wim Hof sitting on a glacier in the Arctic Circle. ― Publishers Weekly On the heels of the paleo diet comes a new claim: taking on the physicalchallenges of the environment faced by our prehistoric ancestors canundo what easy calories and effortless comfort have done to ourbodies―made them fat, lazy, and weak. Expanding on his unnerving close-upaccount, the author also examines the research being done on the role of brown adipose tissue in the body and a variety of military and sportsmedicine training practices. He cites the anecdotal evidence of peoplewho have placed their faith in Hof and are convinced that his techniques have changed, if not saved, their lives―e.g., sufferers of Parkinson'sdisease, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. As a climax to hisaccount, Carney describes how, stripped to the waist, he accompanied Hof on a climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.In the epilogue, the author asserts that his experiences showed him that "exposure to cold helps reconfigure the cardiovascular system, combatautoimmune malfunctions, and is a pretty darned good method to simplylose weight." What Doesn't Kill Us is a fascinating book that will captivate all who read it and that will be of immense value to those in the military, those who are active insports, and those who seek an alternate means of developing greatermental and physical strength." ―Don D. Mann, New York Times bestselling author, Inside SEAL Team SIX "Damn fun and extremely well-researched, What Doesn't Kill Us is a great addition to the canon of high performance literature!" Through some great stories ― which often involve Carney trudgingthrough snow without much on ― and some serious research, he shows ushow to escape the bland, shuffling gait of our centrally-heated,fleece-jacketed, molly-coddled lives by diving head-first into theice-cold, axe-sharp, scary experiences that made our ancestors' heartsbeat faster every day.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Seeing him break the world records, go under scientific scrutiny, and even resist an endotoxin and only get a slight headache, I was sold. Just be aware that people can be really resistant to this sort of knowledge because it runs so counter-intuitive to the drug-addicted culture we live in. Prescribed pill popping won't get you healthy, it merely manages different conditions and gives you more side effects than positive results in many cases. Just go to Wim Hof's youtube channel and look at all the testimonials of people who have diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, even deep skin burns."
"But still, it's a fascinating read and Carney does a great job of illustrating the principles of Wim Hoff of other fitness masters and how they helped him, challenged him, and changed him."
"Scott Carney was very skeptical of the Win Hof method, and he decided to test it out for himself."
"I enjoyed it immensely, the stories were told with the right blend of reverence, humility and comedy."
"As a wim hof practitioner, I was afraid I wouldn't learn anything new."
"Really enjoyed this book."
"Was a good read."
"Got this copy so I can share with my friends and have been trying out the method for 2 months now."
Best Sports Psychology
Achieve the Champion Mindset for Peak Performance with this Amazon Best-Seller. Reach New Levels of Success and Mental Toughness with this Ultimate Guide. In this concise and highly acclaimed success mental training guide, peak performance coach DC Gonzalez teaches a blend of unique mental training technologies, sports psychology essentials, and peak performance methods that are effective and motivational. Get ready to increase your self-belief, self-confidence, and mental toughness, using this powerful guide designed to help you reach new levels of success, sports performance, and personal development. This Kindle book is powerful, in it Dan explains, teaches, and helps you develop the psychological skills required for peak performance and mental toughness, while pointing out the underlying mental training strategies that will help anyone reach higher levels of achievement and performance - not by random chance, but by focused choice. The Art of Mental Training teaches the critical essentials while interwoven with stories from his fascinating background as an Aviator in the Navy, a Federal Agent, Military Cyber-Security Specialist, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and a Peak Performance Coach. Peak Performance Coach and Best-Selling Author, DC Gonzalez is among a very fortunate few that have had the unique experience of learning from the late P.C.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"it uses a karate kid sort of metaphor with the author sharing discussions he had with his martial arts trainer."
"I have been in sales for years, and have been too many seminars and read many books on the topic of success, self-motivation, and positive thinking."
"The Sports Self-Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming so expertly taught are rarely seen in other sports psychology books, setting this book ahead of the pack. The power of this type of training has always interested me but this book put a whole new spin on things by combining sports psychology essentials with other great and easy to use techniques to unlock an amazing mental state of relaxation, focus and creative imagination that helps one recognize and tap their true potential. Much of the book uses sports and athletes to help explain the psychological concepts, but it was very easy for me to translate the techniques and the knowledge into how I was going to use the training to help me achieve what's important to me. This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone who really wants to commit themselves to gaining the knowledge, tools, and techniques that make up this Science of Success that so effectively helps one to unlock the hidden potential that lies within us all."
"I am a self-published author of four books and three Children's books, all in the Christian genre and written with the spirit of helping other develop a closer relationship with Jesus while improving their quality of life right now. I was so amazed and intrigued when I began reading Gonzalez's book that it was impossible to put down, I was able to read the book in two sittings. This book is not a typical self-help or motivational book; it contains practical, proven methods that have been passed down through-out the generations. Do not pass-up this incredible opportunity to add this book to your library, it is not the kind of book you will not read just once, you need to keep this book on your coffee table or night stand."