Athletics Books

The way Adam describes his life growing up around football could be any one of our stories. I related to many stories he told, and many others brought back fond memories. This is truly a great, well written book that everyone can enjoy. His allegiance to Texas is apparent (just like mine) and this is a must have for all University of Texas students/alumni/fans, but the beauty of the book lies in Adams ability to convey the message of how intertwined football, life, and faith can become to anyone.

Adam Jones can write, and he has had a life worth writing about. The promised intertwining of faith, family, and football works, as the book left me, in turn, contemplating, crying, and cheering. Rose Bowl Dreams is definitely worth skipping a Saturday afternoon of College Football to read.

Jones knows college football and writes it all so vividly you want to jump inside the book. It's like Jones plugs college football into life and it's in HD. My wife reads me Adam's "Top Ten" college football matchups and each week we'd cry with laughter. Rose Bowl Dreams is even better.

Adam Jones writes from his heart about a family, a hometown, a state and a football team that he has loved his entire life, and he does it with candor, compassion and a whip smart sense of timing and humor. His is a life well lived and he has no difficulty knowing Who to thank, and while I am on that subject, we can all thank God for this writer's unqualified talent. You do not have to be a Longhorn junkie to appreciate this book: anyone who has ever marked the Fall by Saturdays has a memorable read in store for him regardless of what conference he calls home. Adam Jones writes about family and football as well as Rick Bragg ever has, but without the requisite "writer's chip" on his shoulder, and in the doing he shows that a grateful man can definitely go home again.

Where else can you mix Shakespeare and football, Bloody Caesars and longnecks, playbooks and hymnals? Adam Jones weaves a lyrical tapestry out of what is essentially many large men fighting over a pigskin, and you don't even notice when the action moves from the kitchen to the stadium to the church and back again. That God is a pretty funny guy, too.

As a big fan of The Onion style humor, this book really delivered for me. Its sports spoofs are right on and completely hilarious. The photos and ads make the parodies look so real, adding to the fun absurdity of the book. I loved it! If you're a big sports humor guy like I am, I would also recommend Robert Gussin's TRASH TALK. It's a pretty new and really funny fiction book that imagines an accidental pairing up professional athletes and environmentalists. Sounds wacky - and it is. In the best way possible! Check it out.

When I saw that this book had come out, I immediately thought, "Ooh, Leyritz!" Unfortunately there were no appearances from the lovable bald catcher, but there are plenty of humorous stories to both make you laugh and provoke fond memories of your favorite sports memories. It's a perfect blend of sports-insider humor and witty comments on society at large (see the guest appearances from Noam Chomsky and Joyce Carol Oates and the frequent "corrections"). Definitely buy this book -- you won't regret it!

This book is very cleverly done. It's very accessible to sports fans and even if you're not, the snippets are hilarious. My wife sometimes scoffs at my obsession with sports but when I read her some of the pieces aloud, she was cracking up. The book reminds me of the various sports "Hall of Shame" series I read as a child and hopefully these guys will follow suit. I enjoyed this one and look forward to more!

From the title itself to all of the content, this book is thoroughly entertaining and very humorous. I enjoyed all the spoofs on sports metaphors, the swimsuit issue, the interviews with fake sports celebrities, and all the little jokes woven throughout the book. There are many clever and witty gags that any sports fan would surely relish. I definitely recommend this title!

Hilarious! Hard to read the articles because the next headline is so funny. But stick it out-- these guys don't overcook the roastbeef. Some morsels:

"Rocky VIII: Rocky vs. Bullwinkle"
"NASCAR Rookie Asked to Stop Using Turn Signals"
"Woeful Season Blamed on Liberal Media"
"Nike Signs Spelling Bee Champ to LIfetie Non-Endorsement Deal:$4.3 Million Agreement Ensures Gawky 8th Grader Will Never Wear Company Apparel"

Really more of an investment in humor than a purchase...

Steve Ilg is an interesting character and an incredibly fit man. I have been working out for 15 years, but when I tried some of the programs in this book--they tested my will! Its a terrific book to give an athlete new training ideas. The concept of changing your training routine it really useful. How many of us fall into the routine of doing the same thing over and over again? Of course, Ilg's merging of the spiritual, intellectual and physical is also awesome.

I never dreamed that working out could be such a spiritual journey.This work is TRULY innovative.There is NOTHING like it in the world. I have studied this work for over 7 yrs.It has taken me taken me on a journey that to this day continues to inspire me.We are blessed to have this book!

this book is one of the best bargains about outdoor sport on the market today. it's 450+ pages are jam packed with tips on equipment and technique, other books to read, phone numbers . .on and on and on.

nearly one third of the book is devoted to sport specific training programs-complete with illustrations-distilled from a lifetime devoted to outdoor sport both competitive and non competitive.

besides nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice climbing and mountaineering, the winter athlete covers a lot of ground that's not snow covered as well. there are chapters on cycling (road & mtb), skating, rock climbing, trail running, kayaking . .

there is something in this book for everyone. everytime i pick it up i learn something new.

along with sport specific training advice, ilg also covers general strength and endurance training, nutrition, flexibility and mental preparation.

ilg's training philosophy is not without it's critics. he believes that everything an athlete does can be considered training. how you live your life is how you perform your sport. ilg is apt to tell a weight lifter to free his mind and his body will follow or a runner to "run with the earth not upon it." ilg's writing style is informative and fun. he loves the natural world and it shows.

you can accept his philosophy or not. for the humble sum of twenty bucks you get a stunning buffet of information that you can partake of or leave alone.

what more can i say. winter athlete rocks.

This book is a must read for all people who venture outdoors in pursuit of sport. While the emphasis is on the winter sports, the lessons transfer easily to all seasons. What is refreshing & unique about Steve's approach is his refusal to compartmentalize sport and exercise into another item to be checked off a to do list. His approach teaches that the lessons of effort and grace and persistence learned on the slopes & trails & tracks can and should transfer to the daily activities of life. A more unique book you will not find. Buy this to increase your enjoyment & skill of your chosen winter sport and you will get that benefit & much more.

"The books arrived today. I have informed Messr. Albert Camus that, despite his having won a Nobel prize in literature, he would have to share my mind, bedstand, and reading focus with The Winter Athlete." - George Watson, Boulder, CO

Listen. This book is it. Drop any program you are on and follow this book. It involves everything from weight training to proper conditioning and even adds plyometrics for the complete combination of power, strenght, speed, agility, and stamina. I've never gained more mass and strength in one year in my entire life. This tells you exactly what to do and when to do it. This is so intense I recommend finding a mentor or a lifting partner to follow this with you to keep motivated. If football is your life like it is mine, buy this and you will become a better athlete. Period.

This book provides a great training plan for players aged 16 to 45. Very comprehensive, easy to use and well illustrated. Noticed results within 6 weeks. Includes not only weight and conditioning training, but also drills to improve agility, foot speed and balance. This reference can serve as the basis for designing a team or individual training program for any level of play.

I have only been doing this program for a little while, and it is as great as everyone says it is. Someone earlier said it is great for 16-45 year olds, but Im about to turn 15 and it works great for me. It would also work great for someone over 45, as their are at leat 10 different exercises for each body part to choose from. I suggest you stop whatever program you may be doing right now and try this one, I have looked into numerous other programs and attended camps and this is by far the best program I've found do far.

I'm a woman in training for the IWFL (yes, there is women's football; check out californiaquakefootball.com.) This book has helped my training immensely. It covers just about everything. All lifts are expressed as a percentage of your maximum single-repetition weight (e.g., 8 x 60%)--which means I can use it as easily as the big boys. Bring a calculator to the gym, or else sit down and figure out the numbers beforehand, unless you are one of those people that can instantly calculate 60% of 130 to the nearest 5... well, you get the idea...

Buy this book & be bigger, stronger, faster. What else do you want?

Man, I can tell you, if you what a complete workout plan, this one's all that and more. Especially the first two weeks of the off-season, resistance training workouts, if you go maximally through those workouts like Ben Cook describes, you are going to be left at the end having to have some one else take your shirt off. I mean you are all messed up, but in a good way. This book was exactly what I needed. I'm on week 7 right now, (I started at the end of my high school football season) and I already feel bigger and stronger. Mr. Cook says that consistency is the key, and so far I havn't missed a workout. It seems to really be paying off I think. It'll pay off for you too I'll bet. GET THIS BOOK!

I spent my high school years in the high jump pit and was always jealous of the glory guys who needed a pole to achieve lift-off.
Now I know why I was jealous. Pole vaulters really are more interesting than the rest of us, regardless of whether we've ever competed in track and field.
Bill Livingston's crackerjack telling of Tim Mack's high flown adventures is the most interesting book I've read all year -- and there's not a high jumper in it.
"Above and Beyond" proves that some of the best writing in this country is done by the lonely guys way up there fighting deadline pressure in a stuffy press box. Livingston is one of the sportswriting's finest practitioners. And Mack's story is infinitely worth the telling.

As a current pole vault coach and former college pole vaulter I highly recommend this book! It is a great insight as to what it takes to be an elite pole vaulter/athlete. Tim's story is very inspiring! Every vaulter or track fan should read this book.

Buy it now or put it on your holiday wish lists!

Above and Beyond: Tim Mack, the Pole Vault, and the Quest for Olympic Gold

This is a literate, concise, and beautifully paced book concerning a discipline about which I and most sports fans share a near-total ignorance: the pole vault. From a mutual cultural heritage of Cleveland, the author and Olympic gold medalist Mack weave a stirring story of decade long dedication and determination leading to Athens 2004. The story is sprinkled with the history of the event and insights into some of the most unique individuals in track and field.

The death of vaulter Kevin Dare in Chapter Four and the anguish of his family are treated with insight and compassion. The emptiness of the Dare home is a haunting, palpable vacancy that stayed with me throughout the book. Mack's perseverance is the stuff of legend. The medal was almost an afterthought; the journey inself was the reward.

I want to see more of Livingston!!

I recently received my copy of Bill Livingston's, Above and Beyond, about the unlikely rise to a 2004 Olympic gold medal for pole vaulter Tim Mack. I bought the book in advance of release because I know Tim and have been involved in pole vaulting since I was 12 - I'm 55.

Well, I got to the Maine coast last night for our annual vacation and just finished this outstanding book tonight. WOW!!! Great story told by a great author who provides much background on his subject and the event itself. I was moved often as he describes this incredible journey and tremendous mental and physical discipline required of Tim. The insight of his coach, the great Jim Bemiller was invaluable.

I remember in the mid 90s when Tim visited our place at UC Irvine with Dave Johnston (DJ). I thought he looked pretty good but Mike Tully said to me, "Tim won't ever be a great vaulter until he fixes his run". I thought that was his strength but in the brilliant minds of guys like Tully, DJ, and "B", they were seeing the future 10 years in advance.

This is a must read for any of us (regardless of sport) who have had goals that no one else believed in. What a remarkable story of a dream come true. Enjoy.

[...]

Bill Livingston's story of Olympic gold medal pole vaulter Tim Mack is a good story very well told. The majority of Olympic sports only rise in prominence once every four years; I imagine that books about those sports hit the sporting public's radar even less. This book should be an exception.

That's because "Above and Beyond" is the perfect mix of detail about the sport, its history, a look at the personalities who helped shape both and -- over everything else -- an engaging story of a very likeable protagonist.

As Livingston describes the details of the pole vault -- often with anecdotes and reflections from international legends -- he offers enough to give the reader a clear understanding of the challenge, danger and beauty of the event. The details are complete but not overwhelming. This adds to the appreciation of the story.

This history, as described through many of the greats -- some well remembered like Sergei Bubka and Bob Seagren; others less so, such as Dave Volz and Don Bragg -- adds context. The personalities provide much of the context for both Mack's accomplishment and the evolution of the event.

While Bubka, Seagren, Bragg and others are quoted effectively throughout, it's the quote of a non-vaulter that captures the essence of the story. Livingston writes that before becoming president, Calvin Coolidge said "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence." In that vein, Mack's story is one Silent Cal would be shouting about. As the story unfolds, through Mack's development as both a person and vaulter, the reader becomes invested in his journey. As a testament to the writer's skill, we are hanging on Mack's every jump and every twist in the Athens Olympic stadium...even though we know how the story ends.

This book should be a volume of pride for the pole vaulting community and a favorite of readers who similarly want to be lifted.

I usually like the running books with a 12 or 16 week schedule pre written for you so was wondering if Salazar's book would be well suited for me, in that I would have to write my running schedule myself. After reading his book, I found his advice easy to follow and the rule's of thumb's that he recommends are very helpful when you feel like deviating from your schedule since you now know the range to work within. Rick

I'm a novice runner wanting to take it to the next level and needed some advise and inspiration. I found that I was doing several things wrong and I have made major improvements in my running since buying the book. I now have a plan of action for continued improvement, and this book can take me there and beyond.

This book is quick and simple to read and covers all the basics, plus more. It's been extremely helpful.

This is my favorite running book by far. Alberto Salazar is obviously trying to convey the best information he can to the reader and he does a great job. The book is weak in the area of training schedules but strong on virtually everything else. Most of the book has been useful to me on a daily basis. The only real complaint I have is that the author, like many of the older elite runners , does not personally do as much stretching as he recommends for the reader, does not use a heart rate monitor, etc. But he, as a coach, recommends it to other runners while not having a whole lot of personal experience and it shows. I use both so sometimes I read between the lines. He also does not understand cycling and its effect on the runner. A not uncommon malady among runners.

An excellent and complete review of this book was written by the Zimmermans. I would, however, like to add that from the perspective of a better than middle of the pack masters runner, that this book contains everything you need to be a successful road runner. Most of the information is not new but it is an excellent SINGLE SOURCE for anyone who wants to find a way to improve his or her running. Although co-written by an elite runner, I was pleased to read about training in a manner to which I could relate. The pace charts, age graded and other tables are excellent. Thanks to both Alberto and Richard for writing a running book that made me feel they were talking directly to me. BRAVO!

Since Alberto Salazar was a former world-class runner
himself, before retiring from competitive running, this
book is definitely worth checking out. It also helped that
elite runners like Bill Rodgers and Mary Decker Slaney also
had positive comments regarding this book.
This book is useful because it takes you from preparing
race, the race itself, and the post-race routines. It also
discusses injuries, and how to deal with them, and other
associated topics, like the psychological aspect of running,
and basics like weight training, crosstraining and nutrition.
If you're a beginner or even a veteran runner, you will
find useful advice, because there was a few things I picked
up in this book that I don't recall seeing in other running
books, and viceversa. If I had a complaint, is that it only
had a sample training schedule for someone training for their
first marathon, not including his own elite schedule when he
was running 120 miles or more weekly. This schedule was not
of any use to me, because my weekly training mileage already
exceeds the highest weekly mileage suggested in the book.
However, despite this, it is well worth the investment,
if you plan to enter a road race at some point in the future.
The topics are logically organized in a chronological fashion
that makes the book easy and simple to read. FYI, if you want
a sneak peek, here's a look at the Table of Contents, and you
can decide if this book is for you or you can take a pass and
look for another book that will fit your goals more suitably.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction From the 100 Yard Dash to 1
the Ultramarathon

Part 1. Preparing To Race

1. On The Road To Racing 9
Why Race*Coaching What Nature Gave You*
Before You Start*Stages of Life*Medical Issues

2. Basic Principles of Running Faster 23
Muscle, Power, Fuel and Oxygen*Base Training*Speed
Training*Lab Tests and Training Theory*Callusing
The Mind*Rest*Building a Workout Schedule

3. Base Training
Hard-Easy Pattern*LSD Pacing*Warm-Up and Cooldown* 38
Hydration*Maintaining Consitency*Overtraining

4. Running Form
Upper-Body Form*Leg Motion*One Ideal Form 50

5. Speed Training 61
Eyeing The Prize*The Variety of Speed Workouts*
Picking Your Benchmark Pace*How To Run A Speed
Workout*Customizing Your Speed Workout*Training for
the Distances*Other Workouts*Putting It All Together

Part 2. Oiling The Machine

6. Stretching 85
Stretching Basics*Ten-Minute Stretching

7. Weight Training and Cross-Training 95
Lower-Body Exercises (Core Program)*Upper-Body
Exercises (Core-Program)*Pylometrics*Cross-
Training

8. Nutrition and Weight Control 112
Nutrition Basics*Fueling The Serious Athlete*
The Right Weight For You*Body Composition:
Measuring The Fat

9. Aches and Pains 126
Basics of Field Repairs*Common Hurts*Excess
Pronation and its Control*Coming Back After an
Injury Layoff*DMSO*Lesser Ailments*Other Maladies

10. The Runner's Mind 157
Paying The Price*Building The Confidence*Letting Go*
Relaxation*The Mental Race: Fighting Fatigue*Long-
Term Motivation

Part 3. The Race

11. Getting Ready 171
Choosing Your Race*Planning Your Race*Tapering*
Registration and Packet Pickup*The Night Before The
Race

12. Race Day 179
Rise and Shine*Warming Up*The Start

13. After The Gun 190
Split Times*Race Strategy 101*The Dictates of Nature*
Fine-Tuning Your Pace*Hydration*Gels

14. The Finish and Beyond 207
The Final Mile*At The Finish Line*Recovery*Setting
Your Next Goal

Part 4. The Marathon--And More

15. The Marathon 219
Marathon Training*The Big Day*The Recovery

16. Masters Running 240
Masters Physiology: Bad News/Good News*Masters
Training*Age-Graded Performance Standards

17. Advanced Challenges 255
Race Strategy 102: Racing People Rather Than The
Clock*Cross-Country and Trail Running*Relay Races*
Alternative-Format Races*Mega-Races*Triathlons*
Ultramarathons

Appendix: Pace Chart of Common 273
Workout and Racing Distances

Index 279

All in all, this book is fairly easy and fast to read. You
could probably finish the book in 4-5 hours, since there

are diagrams, charts, and other detailed information. It's
nearly 300 pages, but a person could probably polish it
off in a weekend or less if they devote a couple of hours
or so each day.

This book is the best I've ever read on the subject of young female athletes; Silby and Smith have a complete understanding of the challenges faced by girls who are involved in athletics, and the book gives example after example of how a young female athlete can cope with various critical issues. As the step-father of a female high-school athlete whose team won the Maryland soccer championship, I can attest to how valuable the book has been to her.

Silby knows her stuff, and Smith's prose is clear, concise, and always on the mark. Interestingly, Smith is also the co-author of the book, "Just Give me the Damn Ball," written with football-star Keyshawn Johnson.

If you've got a daughter involved in athletics, this is the book for her (and you'll find it useful, too). I can't recommend the book more highly--it's great.

What an incredable book! As a skaters mom, I found it insightful,informative, and amazingly DEAD ON! My 12 year old daughter has gone through all the doubts and anxiety that comes with the sport of Figure Skating. This book has been a wonderful guide to handling all the situations that arise. Even if your skater is an amazing talent and you never come across the problems of self-esteem, performance anxiety, or "bad skate days", you must, MUST BY THIS BOOK ANYWAY...JUST IN CASE!

I have coached club volleyball for six years and have been a club director for three years, a lot of the lessons that Dr. Silby presents are pretty lessons that I have learned over the years through sheer hard lessons. I wish that I had this book to reference when I first started to coach young women.

Dr. Silby's book has been less a revelation but a reinforcement of what I had learned these last few years. This is not to say that I learned nothing from the book, on the contrary, I feel like I have gained important nuanceson communicating with young women and allowing them to tell me how I can help them get better and stronger both physically and mentally. An invaluable book indeed.

The only slight problem is that the book is geared toward the coaches of both individual sports and team sports, so not all the lessons are applicable completely.

I would recommend this book for anyone who coach, or are looking to coach. The lessons embodied in the book will make the road to success in coaching much smoother.

As a father of 10-year-old and 6-year-old multi-sport female athletes (and their 4-year-old sister fast on their heels), and a coach of my girls' soccer and softball teams, I feel relieved that someone with the personal experience of having been an athlete and now working with athletes took the time to share their experiences and advice. Since my daughters also all figure skate, the personal experiences of the author's skating career are particularly insightful. Dr. Silby does an excellent job covering a wide range of topics and providing poignant positive examples for parents and coaches to use to better enjoy and improve their athlete's trying, joyous, frustrating, and fulfilling young lives. Thanks, Dr. Silby!!

Be aware, this book is more like Sports Psychology 101 than it is understanding and guiding female athletes. If you are a coach working with female athletes and you are looking at better ways to coach, read some of the UNC Womens National Team Soccer books. If you are looking for an intermediate book on Sports Psychology with examples using female athletes, this is what you get. It deals with individual issues for specific athletes with little applications to team sports. Parents who are looking to help their daughters with some psychology issues will find this book helpful. However, the remedy is usually seek professional help. This is an unique and rare sports psychology book geared towards female athletes.

The Magic Soccer Ball has become a must read in our home, both my 15-year old daughter & 3 year-old son love it. It is my son's favorite book. After reading the book, he decided he wants to be a goalkeeper so he can use his hands to stop the ball from going into the goal. The book is wonderfully illustrated and very informative. When my son attends his sisters soccer games he will often point out things that he learned from the book. Not only did my son learn a lot from reading The Magic Soccer Ball, so did I. We look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

The magic Soccer Ball: The Soccer Field" is a charming, informative and educational book for young children that not only teaches the rudiments of the game but incorporates math (shapes of and in the field), vocabulary (Cleats, out of bounds)and geography (Brazilian main caracter). It is a delightful narrative told by Rone, a famous soccer ball. The field is described in easy to understand terms and the illustrations are appealingly large and colorful. I highly recommend this book for any young child soccer buff or not.
Jean Doctor-Elementary Teacher in New York State

The magic Soccer Ball: The Soccer Field" is a charming, informative and educational book for young children that not only teaches the rudiments of the game but incorporates math (shapes of and in the field), vocabulary (Cleats, out of bounds)and geography (Brazilian main caracter). It is a delightful narrative told by Rone, a famous soccer ball. The field is described in easy to understand terms and the illustrations are appealingly large and colorful. I highly recommend this book for any young child soccer buff or not.
Jean Doctor-Elementary Teacher in New York State

I love this book because helps me and my friends play better and follow all the game rules. I play soccer for 3 years with my team in Michigan and is a lot of fun. I ask everyone that loves soccer as much as I do to read it. It will help you play better.

Valerie O. ( 8 years old)

The Magic Soccer Ball is a great resource to introduce key concepts of the game of soccer to children in a fun and simple way. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. I look forward to purchasing new titles from this series as they become available.

Although I have coached Football before this was my first attempt at ruining kids Baseball experience. :) I really wish that I had read something like this prior to doing any kind of coaching. The chapters on choosing your team and dealing with parents are excellent.

The drills are also helpful but other baseball coaching books are equally good in this aspect.

So far all of the books I've found are designed for coaching 9-12 year olds, this one included. I'm currently working with 6-8 year olds in a pitching machine league. This is the only drawback to this book I can see.

If you are only buying one book to help with coaching a youth Baseball team, this one delivers all the tools needed. Most are simply drill books (which have their purpose). Managing Little League Baseball will help a beginner coach understand everything he needs to get started.

Thought this was a great tool for me (coach) and the kids on our team.

This book is outstanding and obviously written by someone who knows what he is talking about. My only comment is that it is not only for Little League baseball but any baseball program for youth such as Pony/Colt, Dixie league and others. Other than the rules that are unique to the Little League organization, the rest of the book is applicable to nearly any program. His recent update is even better. As a former Umpire in these programs I was particularly impressed in his comments about that part of the program. Strongly recommend this book to both coaches, parents and players.

I found this book reinforced some of the more successful things I'd been doing as a coach and gave me many other tips I intend to put into use this season. The author is methodical in his approach and it is easy to see why he never had a losing season in 15 years of coaching Little League. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to do a good job coaching youth baseball.

This is a necessary and inspiring addition to any coaches library. It made me want to send a fan letter to the author.

Peak Performance is the perfect companion for the athlete or coach looking for every ounce of accurate practical information available from sports scientists. John Hawley and Louise Burke (world leaders in sport related science) have teamed up to produce the "lay-persons" guide to improved athletic performance. Peak performance introduces us to the founding fathers of modern athletic training. Our authors then explore the facts that have been uncovered by exercise scientists attempting to discover proof of what produces optimal performance. An excellent blend of theory and practice!

After battling with a school physical education project on training principles, I found this book in our library and WOW, the assignment was easy! This book really made good practical sense and turned my essay from boring science to cool information. I now find myself wanting to read all the sports magazines to find out more about how world class athletes train and what they eat. Sounds to me like some of them need to buy a copy of this book to read!

Peak Performance is a fantastic resource and a great read. It demystifies scientific concepts and provides plenty of practical tips. The quotes make the book truely enjoyable to read. Anyone with a question about sports science and sports nutrition will find the answer in this book.

Finally a book that actually uses the peer reviewed literature. It was a pleasure to read this book knowing that you were getting factual and scientifically valid information. If you want to know what works in training and nutrition this is the book. Now I dont have to buy all those supplements - and have I saved a heap of $'s.

There are so many good points about this book I hardly know where to start. What impresses me most is that the authors have maintained a balanced and rational view on the many diverse and sometimes conflicting inputs - lab. tests, experience in the sport, folklore, practicalities - all of these impinge on the attitudes of athlete and coach, and can result in a lot of confusion and uncertainty. The book does an excellent job in unravelling these tangled strands of knowledge and half-knowledge to present the a clear and accurate picture to the reader. Uncertain points are made clearer, several myths are debunked (some of my own misconceptions were cleared up). Yet where the truth remains hidden or is unclear this is commented upon. Concerning scientific studies the source material is extensive and up to date.

The layout and language are so clear and reader-friendly, and the material so interesting that I found it hard to put the book down. However, I'd have to advise readers not to try to take in too much at a time.

The few inaccuracies in some of the details didn't detract from the message or the overall quality. There is one slightly surprising omission, namely the absence of any discussion of the Conconi test for aerobic performance. Nevertheless, the sections on training are excellent; the ones on nutrition are even better.