Athletics Books

Matt Brzycki (Princton U.) and Shaun Brown (Boston Celtics) did an outstanding job of putting together a comprehensive strength and conditioning plan for basketball players at all levels. Our players are challenged, physically and mentally, each and every time they enter the weight room or step on the court by utilizing the same principles outlined in this book. I highly recommend this great resource to all players and coaches wanting to learn more about serious training.

I purchased this book for my son during his sophomore year in HS. He was a scrawny 6'2" forward who had been cut from his HS team the year before. Within 6 months he had transformed his body and his game, consistently being the strongest and fastest player on the court. He followed this book religiously through high school and it earned him a number of individual and team awards his senior year, as well as a full scholarship to play Div 1A basketball in college. He still uses it as a guide today.
I cannot recommend this book enough

Matt Brzycki and Shaun Brown provide in-depth training information that cover principles of strength training, to conditioning parameters, to nutrition. Coaches and athletes alike will benfit from straightforward explanations from two of today's fitness experts. Check out their Q&A section; common questions that most beginners can't find answers to in other publications are covered in a clear-cut fashion. This book is a must read for coaches and athletes who want to taker their training to the next level, or are just starting out.

I used this book since its first publication years ago and also gave it to figure skating students to read (I am now a retired coach). It works for running, racquetball, stadium jumping. Presently using it for tennis. The hardest thing is to get an elite athlete to take time off to rest. Anxiety drives people to practice, practice, practice. This book explains how and why to avoid disabling injuries for those who want to pursue *rigorous* training for years / decades! Training schedules for various sports are included. Great concepts.

Anyone who competes at anything athletic, whether at a high level or just the local Fun Run once a year, needs to read this book. It explains why cyclic training, the classic "two steps forward, one step back" is a must for long-term health and athletic progress.

If simply running a little further or adding a little weight to the bar every day worked, we'd all be world-class marathoners or weight lifters by now. If you want to understand how to exercise for the long haul, this should be the first book you read.

I found this technique of timed resting and training to set up a peak performance works for everything I do regularly - bicycling, jogging, swimming, even studying for an exam! It's hard for me to take rest days when they come up on my calendar but I've learned through doing it and reflecting on past successes to trust this system. I was convinced to first try it by the examples of people forced to rest who then had big wins, the planned peak successes by other users of the technique and the university studies that showed peak performances using the same timing as Consistent Winning. The idea of peaks and valleys made sense to me. I'm extremely pleased to have read this book and learn the technique.

Ms. Lopez gives us a work that is thorough in its research and skillfully crafted. The reader is unobtrusively drawn in by a warmth that results from the author's personal interviews with many of the informants. The African American athletes and the University of Houston Coaches become so much more than a record of facts about racial integration; each person has a unique story set against a common backdrop of the cultural and historical context of the South. The facts are threaded with stories, thoughts, reports and comments that reveal the humanity, the courage, the tenacity and the passion of all involved. A book that will appeal to many across diverse disciplines and not just sports fanatics ! ASIN:0786437219 Cougars of any Color: The Integration of University of Houston Athletics, 1964-1968]]

This book is a must read. "Cougars of Any Color" documents how the University of Houston broke down the racial sports barriers prevalent throughout the South. Reading this book made me proud to be not only a supporter of The University of Houston, but of the accomplishment of three brave athletes, their teammates, and their coaches. A great book.

The University of Houston should be proud of it's contribution to collegiate sports. "Cougars of Any Color" tells a story of courage and determination by UH to dismantle segregated athletics. This book has very thorough documentation and first person accounts and is a quick read.

I enjoyed the book it came on time and in good condition.

This narrative by George Sheehan transcends running. Although it is 'sport-specific', Dr. Sheehan has shown us the 'Way', and he does it simplistically. This book should be read by all atheletes, regardless of their particular sport. He is telling us something here...

I'm relatively new to running and haven't read anything else written by Dr. Sheehan...but I certainly plan to.

The man can write. The book is broken into little one or two page essays (maybe former RW columns?) which are, if nothing else, good bathroom reading fodder.

If you're looking for a book which will help you set a new PR, you should probably look elsewhere, but if you're a true running afficianado(sp?), pick up a copy of this book and you won't be disappointed.

Lessons of the Locker Room

Sports build character. At least, that's what we've always heard. Why else would our schools invest so much time, effort, and money in student athletics? Andrew W. Miracle, Jr. and C. Roger Rees aren't so sure.

Historically, sports were introduced to public schools to attract students who would otherwise attend private schools. After public schools became the norm, as they are today, sports continued to be valued as an opportunity for community involvement and positive publicity for schools.

The authors suggest that sports serve other, less obvious purposes as well. Sports encourage conformity by requiring players to act as group. Sports may also promote submissiveness, in that players do as they are told, taking orders rather than making their own decisions. Sports also increase the authority of those in charge. They are the experts, and credit or blame for success or failure goes to coaches as much as or more than to players.

Research shows that, while many athletes have more positive attitudes towards school than other students, they also have decreased independence and self-control. So, what is touted as an opportunity for individual achievement may actually produce better followers than leaders.

Morality and sports is an issue as well. "Game reasoning" refers to a sense of right and wrong that changes according to the situation and a belief that the winner is morally superior to the loser. In some cases, game reasoning seems to flow over into everyday life.

Rees and Miracle propose that game reasoning accounts for many incidents of violence among athletes. Tests of moral reasoning of athletes show a willingness to believe that aggressive behavior is okay in any situation, if it serves the purpose at hand. What begins as a friendly rivalry can degenerate into violence if it is not checked by that slippery value called sportsmanship.

Miracle and Rees, while definitely on the side of classroom education over sports, present a fair assessment of school sports, presenting benefits as well as problems, and raising some interesting questions. The conclusion? Sports do not build character, they reveal it.

An excellent book that "pulls no punches," to use a sporting phrase. It has been known among those who study youth sports that especially among high school male athletes, excessive alcohol use and deviant behavior (fights, unprotected sex, etc.) have been present to a greater extent than among those not invovled in sport. Miracle and Rees clearly describe the genesis of the myth that sport builds character, and how it has been propogated by those who just want to believe. They clearly point out the problems that can occur, based on research. Competitive sport is not the same as exercise or physical education, activities that promotes health. The next time you read about coaches brawling over a youth hockey game, or parents attacking umpires after a "bad call," you might want to read Lessons of the Locker Room. It will explain to you why this is so. A must read for all parents of children who participate in sport and their coaches.

I came across this book long ago while studying criminal tendencies among student and professional athletes. This is an excellent book that examines the purpose and effect of organized school sports on children and young adults from the elementary to college level. The old addage that "sports builds character" is strongly challenged here as myth after myth regarding the beneficial aspects of school sports is exploded by the authors. In the post-Columbine era, when the detrimental aspects of obsessive sports culture have been finally pushed into the spotlight, these issues regarding athletics and sports-guided adolescent development are more relevant than ever. The authors show that while sports do provide a basic outlet for physical education, the idea that sports build leaders and create better students is shown to be false. In fact, they show that what results are students who tend to be more violent and have a warped sense of morality as a result of so-called "game reasoning" indoctrination. Organized school sports also encourage standardization, conformity, and an unquestioning submissiveness to authority, while denegrating individuality, creativity, self-expression, and academic acheievement. They tend to reward violence and punish weakness. The result is that in high schools today we find athletes who have an over-developed sense of superiority and arrogance that manifests itself as violence and intimidation against those peers viewed as weaker, whether it's a nerdy bookworm or a young coed who says "no". These are issues that have been ignored for far too long and this book addresses them well. The "boys will be boys" mentality must end. As others have already said, it should be required reading by high school teachers, coaches, and students to get a better understanding of the many problems that face kids today and how school sports contibute more to the problem rather than the solution.

I had such good experiences with Dillman's books on yoga and abs, that I had to get this one as soon as it was available. As a dancer and teacher, I'm always looking for wasy to keep my body and the bodies of my students in top working order. At the same time, I understand the limitations of time and money as well as the next guy. It's as though Dillman took all of my expectation into consideration when writing this little gem. The exercises are easy to understand (even if they take work to master), and they can be done just about anywhere. No health club hype, no detailed anatomy lessons, just simple, straightforward info that gets you strength training right away.

This book was ideal to get me started with strength training -- enough info so that I knew what to do and how to do it correctly, but succinct enough that I could read through this 'Little Book' quickly and get going.

I especially appreciate that I could start immediately without purchasing any gadgets or expensive equipment. Dillman provides directions for a whole set of strengthening exercises that use body weight for resistance. The rest of the exercises only required that I buy dumbbells, which I got at Target for less than the price of a take-out pizza.

The focus of this book is HOW to do strength training well and effectively. The simple instructions for each exercise make sense and the illustrations are clear.

The first few section of the book provide well documented scientific reasons for strength training and what it actually does for your body (and your mind!)

A good book for people of any age or ability who want to start strength training.

this is the perfect book to get or stay fit and/or lose weight, this book gives you a total workout in minutes, to burn fat and calories, build muscle, and boost metabolism. It's great for the gym or home and it's the perfect size to travel with -- I'm carrying this and the Little Yoga book (same book series) so I've got all my bases covered.

Contrary to the two reviews you display, this was a "One-Shot" Magazine that covered Pete's first three years at LSU. There were two Authors, Editors, and Publishers, John Muchemeche and myself. While John wrote most of the articles which were great, and took most of the pictures, the real credit for the Magazines professional look should go to Kirk Kirkpatrick, who did the artwork, Lay-out, and design. My only regret was that we didn't follow up with Volume 2, at the end of his Senior Year, and distributed it Nationally.

This is a hard to find program from Maravich's junior year at LSU. It was sold at the Pistol's home games in New Orleans. It's full of stats, interviews, and incredible photos (some color). I have seen used copies of this very publication offered for $125 in sports magazines. Two words: collector's item.

The program/book of Pete's junior year at LSU is a gem to any collector's bag. It is full of memoriable moments of Pete and Press and the LSU gang during that that year. It offers superb pictures, statistics, and in-depth analysis of Pete's flamboyant years at the collegiate level. I am so glad that I discoved this collectible item. It is a must have for any fan of the Pistol,or the average Maravich fan. Enjoy and treasure the reading. Superb!

This book gives great games for use both in and out of the gym. Student waiting is kept at a minimum with the ideas in this book. The book is laid out very logically and diagrams are VERY clear. Many of the games are great as lead up activities for team sports. Great for upper elementary (grades 3-6).

This is a great book for teachers starting off or looking for new ideas. It provides good written examples and pictures, along with providing guidance and student goals as well.

This book will get your class up and moving. Mr. Hughes has such innovative ideas. This will certainly be a great addition to your teaching library!

I have known David and Roger since the 70's and have other books by them. They love running foot races and it shows. You can count that this will be the best researched and well written book. I was not disappointed. I dug in and read the book over a couple of weeks. If it is not in this book then it is an unproved rumor.

If you are a runner (especially a marathoner) you have to get this book. It goes through every marathon in Olympic history, giving each race history, events, course, statistics, etc. It is very thorough, while pacing itself to get in all the Olympic marathons into a single volume. And, it was written in an interesting and readable manner.

The competition and sport of the races themselves give a great basis for an exciting read.

If you are doing a research project (like I was) this was the only book I would recommend - or, at least the first book. I could not find a book anywhere that showed the 1960 Rome Olympic course. Martin and Gynn had it. In fact, their race course map was better than the map a friend obtained for me from the Italian Olympic Library (Federazione Italiana Di Ateletica Leggera).

The authors, Martin and Gynn, have put together an unbelieveably detailed review of every Olympic Marathon in the modern era. The detail provided brings the excitement of each successive Marathon alive. The Olympic Marathon is, perhaps, the most grueling Olympic event, and the comprehensive coverage of each race makes the reader feel as if it's taking place before their very eyes. Read this book and you'll get a sense of the drama of the event, the personal history of the runners, and the historical setting of each race. The authors have even reconstructed old Olympic documents to trace the paths each Olympic Marathon took. The information in this book is truly encyclopedic, and the authors have given us with a wonderful sense of what this race is about. This book is a gem.

This is a great new addition to the Weston A, Price/Nourishing Traditions literature. "Performance Without Pain: A Step-by-Step Program for Healing Pain, Inflammation and Chronic Ailments in Musicians, Athletes, Dancers...and Everyone Else" is a long title for a book that is a modest 132 pages, but it lives up to its billing. The author is Kathryn Pirtle, who is a clarinetist with the respected Orion Ensemble, and has a long list of professional credits. Co-authors of the book are Sally Fallon, President of the Weston A. Price Foundation and Dr. John D. Turner, DC, CCSP, DIBCN and former National Qualifying Gymnast.
The author tells her story of increasing pain and physical disability related to her profession as a musician, and her search for answers. As her very successful musical career unfolds, she develops pain in many areas of her body, stiffness, nausea and other digestive disturbances, as well as something called "embouchure shaking" (shaking in the area of the mouth) which is apparently quite a serious condition, especially for a clarinetist. Ms. Pirtle seeks help from all sorts of alternative and medical professionals. Finally, someone identifies that she has celiac disease, and extreme sensitivity or intolerance to grains.
What's interesting in her tale is that all along the way, she seems to be doing all the `right' things, such as including supplements, massage, lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains, but it wasn't until she discovered the Weston A. Price (WAP) approach to nutrition that things really began to turn around for her. After this quite compelling true story, most of the book is a very succinct, clear explanation of the basic principles of the WAP diet, its relation to people who use their bodies in the special ways of dancers, athletes and musicians, and the extra problems of those with grain sensitivity.
There are good recipes, suggested readings and helpful ways to "make it practical". This book would make an excellent gift for anyone as an introduction to WAP principles and especially to any musician, dancer or athlete. As a university dance teacher and former ballet dancer, this book came along at a great time. I will be teaching a course in Dance Alignment, in which I try to cover many topics related to basic body care for dancers. I always try to include information about Weston A. Price, and the Nourishing Traditions approach to eating, but I feel that having this book available to show my students will make the information that much more credible. (I know they'll like the testimonial in the front of the book by Daniel Duell, a former New York City Ballet soloist.)
I also know that this approach to eating (it's not a 'diet' per se) works, as it has, over the past five years, changed my life dramatically for the better also. You can do yourself a wonderful favor by reading this book, and trying it!

Most disease and health problems start with the wrong food, bad quality of the food, bad digestion and trouble with a leaky gut, leading to inflammation and pain. Kathryn Pirtle presents this on the background of her own experience in an easily understandable way, helping the reader to a full understanding of the basic facts. This will free the reader from symptom treatment with potentially dangerous drugs ad lead the way to remove the causes of inflammation and pain.

Performance Without Pain is a remarkable book about surviving prevailing medical "wisdoms", dogmas, and devastating ailments caused not by bad genes or bad lack, but by foods which are, amazingly, considered "wholesome" and "healthy".

If you are a concerned parent, promising professional, aspiring artist, successful executive, or simply a health-conscious and responsible individual, you must read this book to assure yourself and your children productive and disease-free future.

Unlike most books about health and nutrition, Performance Without Pain is beautifully written and edited, concise, honest, and up-to-the point. And it is also inspirational: if the author had been able to overcome her career-breaking illnesses with, literally, a right menu, so can you!

At the end, it all boils down to this: food can kill and food will heal. Kathy Pirtle had suffered a great deal to tell which food does what. Get to know her story, so you too can eat without fear, live without disease, and perform without pain!