Athletics Books

The book gives great advice. We have heard some of it before but lots of it is new. It is all practical and builds confidence for all of us on the long haul.

Even if it didn't have spectacular content, which it does, this book is beautifully put together with colorful pictures, and backdrops. It is fun just to look at and even better to read. It is very practical, and although I have picked up most of this information from my personal research and coach, it is a great concise book on the athlete's sports diet. Not a penny wasted and the presentation is well worth the few extra bucks to get the new edition. It also has many helpful tables, charts, and important/highlight tips and info in the margins. Well written, well designed, and well published.

You don't have be be a Marathoner to benefit from this book. Once again, Nancy Clark shows that it's easy to be fit, eat well -- and go beyond. For those who are - or aspire to be - marathoners put this on the top of your list. The book is full of easy-to-understand information. The photos are beautiful, and the layout makes it a joy to use. I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to eat better, and who likes to cook easy, wholesome recipes. Go for it!

The book is very practical for somebody that is only beginning to dabble in running. For everybody else, a lot of the information is way too general and can easily be found elsewhere. I also would have liked to see more recipes in the book and less advice along the lines of "do not try food before a Marathon you haven't tried before", that is way to obvious for me.

Finally a nutritional guide for marathoners! And one that is written to the reader and not in scientific lingo most of the public cannot understand. This book is definitely easy to read, not full of text, and filled with colorful, appllicable pictures. I love how Nancy highlites certain information and puts it into charts and paragraphs away from the main text so it catches our eyes. Nancy tells us all we need to know about vitamins and supplements, dispells myths about carbohydrates and tells us exactly what to do the week of the marathon. I would reommend it to any of my clients!
Bobbi Hitchcock, RD, LD of Rebecca Bitzer, MS, RD and Associates

As a high school coach for over ten years, I have always looked for new and unique ways to motivate my players. I hoped that this book would generate fresh, creative alternatives. Instead, I was served a 400-page liberal athletic manifesto. Don't get me wrong; I believe in utilizing positive motivational strategies and teaching techniques with my players. If like me, you believe that winning is actually an important aspect of athletic competition, you will find yourself at odds with the author from the introduction. Perhaps in the youth leagues, rules demanding equal playing time that foster an "everyone is a star" attitude are effective. At the higher levels, these ideas become highly ineffectual (too many chiefs and not enough indians). Eventually, players must understand that their skill level (or lack thereof) limits them to a lesser role as a reserve or practice player. While the author offers sound ideas for communicating with players, the techniques are just another by-product of sixties liberalism run amuck. I agree with the author that many children have enjoyed a less-than-successful athletic career based on poor coaching; and I'm sure I could have been a surgeon if only my Cub Scout den mother was better with her pocketknife. The truth of the matter is that most kids don't become good or great athletes because they aren't willing to put in the time and effort necessary to do so (while approaching every aspect of life in pretty much the same fashion). In my experience, most of the problems in youth athletics are caused by adults! The kids know who to pick; it's the adult looking to create "fairness" for the cross-eyed, overweight child who can't tie shoes without sustaining a career-ending injury that creates the problem - first by demanding equal opportunity, second by placing the child in a situation where there is little chance for success. When the fat, blind kid struggles and feels like a failure, this is the coaches' fault? It is if you believe in Jim Thompson's doctrine. I'll admit there are some good ideas for dealing with players on an interpersonal level. P.S. Don't let the Foreward by Phil Jackson fool you! (How many titles did his positive coaching win without Michael Jordan?)

I don't doubt for a minute that you completely missed the theme and messages of this book - you expose your true colors and attitudes towards kids with your "cross-eyed, overweight child" and "fat, blind kid" pejoratives. "Players must understand their skill level limits them" - I can hear you now getting that message (loudly, clearly and strongly, no doubt to toughen them up for the "real world" - yeah, right) across to young adults on a daily basis. What magic you must weave in the lives of these young people. If the generalizations fit, go ahead and wear them - clearly you have no use for any child that isn't contributing to that bottom line (for you) - WIN. Rest easy that your opinion is the dominant one in the youth coaching ranks, however - and thus the need for this book.

The reader from Trenton, Michigan missed the point of this book. Readers of that review should carefully consider the source and its use of hateful ideas and language. This is an excellent book for amateur coaches of kids. It teaches how to interact with kids and how to motivate them to do their best without resorting to screaming and put-downs. If you are a coach or parent, this will be both fun to read and useful to learn from.

I coach volleyball in grade school and junior high school, and I usually get the "B teams" (the leftovers who are not as talented as the girls on the "A" team.) Therefore, if there ever was a crying need for a book on how to coach these types of athletes, this book more than served its purpose for me. Actually, this book had a positive effect on me since it saved my coaching career.

Don't get me wrong, though, this book will turn around any coach's career whether he has an A or a B team. I coached a group of 13 and 14 year old softball players the year that I purchased this book. At the beginning of the season, the only team these girls could beat was themselves; in fact, that was primarily the reason they were losing was the fact that they were beating themselves! Well, after one mediocre game, I sat the girls down on the bench and instead of reading them the riot act, I took to heart a suggestion by the author. I emphasized all the positive aspects of the game they played just to show these girls that they were capable of doing some positive things. I did this after each game from then on, win or lose. Wouldn't you know it, these same rag tag girls lost the last the last game of the season: the city championship game by one run (to a team that annihilated them by 12 runs in the first game of that season.) This was an example of positive coaching, and I've used everything in this book to my advantage to become a successful POSITIVE coach. Thanks Mr. Thompson for turning my career around!

I got this book just as I was about to coach a new teeball team and found its insight very helpful. Not a book about what drills to use but about motivation, handling people and protecting peoples love of the sport. More cerebral than I would expect in a coaching book. I used much of the material in my business career. Now I am starting his next book, "Shooting in the Dark".

Amby carries on where George Sheehan left off. Great motivational essays at a great price. Amby and Joe Henderson are two of the best living running essayists.

Amby is a great runner, editor and human being. Give his book a go or give it to some runner you know...

I ran all through grade school and high school and am picking up the sport again after some years off. I found this book to be a great re-introduction after some time off. I think Amby describes it best as that book that has lots of answers to the questions you've been asking yourself for months (or years), and instead of buying many books to find the answeres, they are all in one small, relatively inexpensive book.

If you run, buy it, you'll like it, if you are thinking about running, buy it, it'll help you along the path towards your running goals.

This book is great for runners of all age and experience. I have never been much of a fitness nut, but Mr. Burfoot's book inspired and helped me to begin a personal running program. I have already recommended this book to many people and will continue to do so.

execellent book for the beginners. the principles are short, comprehensive, precise and right to the point. but for the intermediate and advance runners, this book has nothing new to offer other than repeat and remind of what you have already learnt.

If you're an advanced or intermediate runner, you probably
understand most of what is covered already. In my opinion,
this book is more for the beginner runner, or the runner who
is returning to the sport after a long layoff. However, even
respected runners such as Frank Shorter (1972 Olympic Gold
Medalist Men's Marathon), Joan Benoit Samuelson (1984 Olympic
Gold Medalist Women's Marathon), and Jeff Galloway have
endorsed the book. The author himself is the winner of the
1968 Boston Marathon. However, that is not the point. The
point is that this book is compact and easy to read. Someone
in elementary school who is starting out as a runner could
benefit from this book, even though it is probably intended
more for high school runners and older runners.
In the introduction, the author says the book is only to
cover the basics. If you want a tome on running that is
comprehensive, I suggest Timothy Noakes' book The Lore
of Running, which is nearly 1000 pages. The Principles
section is essentially a summary of what the topic he is
discussing. It is written in a nice sequential order,
even though you can use it as a reference guide. I am
deducting a star because it is brief, and doesn't contain
everything you need to know about running, but then again
that wasn't the point of this book, since it would be
redundant. I would recommend getting additional books on
running if you're a serious runner and are looking for
something more comprehensive. It lacks training schedules
for anything besides the marathon in this book, and getting
started towards running if you're not running already.
The breakdown of the book is as follows:
Introduction

Part I: The Joy of Running
For The Health Of It
The Real Runner's High

Part II: First Steps
Getting Started
It's Okay To Go Slow
Motivation
Aches and Pains
Blisters
The 10-Percent Rule
Running and Walking

Part III: Women
Safety
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Menopause
Special Concerns

Part IV: Equipment
Shoes
Apparel
Heart-Rate Monitors
Treadmills
Indoor Exercise

Part V: Nutrition
Carbohydrates
Fats
Proteins
Vitamins and Minerals
Before and after a Run
On The Run
Drinks, Bars and Gels
Vegetarian Diet

Part VI: Warming Up and Cooling Down
Hard and Easy Workouts
Progressive Training
Hills
Cross-Training
Groups
Long Runs
Tempo Training
Max VO2
Speed-Form Training
Burnout

Part VII: Weight Loss
Running Works Best
The Running Diet
A 24-Hour Program
Maximum Weight Loss

Part VIII: Weather
Heat
Cold
Dark, Snow, Ice and Rain

Part IX: Injury Prevention and Treatment
Overuse Injuries
Stretching
Ice
Pain Relievers
Shinsplits
Knee Injuries
Achilles Tendinitis

Part X: Racing
The Decision To Race
Goals
Mental Preparation
Tapering
The Start
Pace

Part XI: The Marathon
Commitment
Building-Up
Essential Element
Yasso 800s
Taper
Carbohydrate-Loading
Final 24 Hours
Early and Middle Miles
The Wall
Recovery

Part XII: A Lifetime of Running
Slowing Down, Feeling Great
Use It or Lose It

This book certainly gave me a basis to build on and was very influential in my initial weeks of training. Highly recommended for the beginning runner who desires to know more. Easily understood and enjoyable reading. Highly recommended.

I've gone to a person who would hyperperventilate on a one lap run, to a comfortable 10 k runner in less then 6 months. I it ALL to this book. Not only did his workout plan keep me interested, and more imporatantly EASY while I progressed, but it taught me how to do it right, without a single injury. If I got meet the author, I would kiss him. Great book for bigger runners, I've recommended it to all my friends, who are currenlty doing their first 5 k race this weekend.

I love this book, and recommend it to anyone interested in taking up running - it has tips for beginners on up to expert runners.

Almost everything that you could want in a running reference!

Beautiful layout, and great pictures... very impressive for this type of book.

I've completed two marathons and used this book for my second marathon training program. This is a spectacular book. So good that I've recommended it to serveral friends.

What differentiates this book from most running books is the variety of programs for different race types (10k, 1/2, full) that are offered. Also, it provides programs in either miles or km.

I'm now training for my third and am pushing for a more challenging time. The book is my bible!

This really outstanding book has it all! If you want to train for a short race, a marathon or anything in between, this book is the way to do it! Colorful pages! Easy to read charts. Advice on just about everything any runner or would-be runner needs! Great book!

Greg's plan makes sense and you see immediate results. More importantly is how you feel about yourself. Early into the second week, you just start feeling trimmer, stonger, generally better! I highly recommend the Ultimate Lean Routine as a way of life and this book captures it all! Many thanks, Jill Bertolet

This is an excellent book. It's written simply and clearly, no real complications, and the author can really connect with the reader.

The workouts are expained in a an excellent way; the alternating of workouts is the most effective I have ever tried, and particularly the type of training applied to each workout can create incredible changes for the better WAY faster than any other workout system I tried. It's simple: with a test, you find the right rate YOU need wo do your cardio at (and no, it's not the same old stuff), and work at that rate, until you feel you have improved and then you can take the test again and work out at the newly found rate. Same for the strength training: you find your 10-rep max, perform 3 sets (a warm-up set, a work set and a blast set) and stretch in between sets - a technique that is most effective for increasing muscle strength and particularly for women, to get rid of cellulite in your thighs.

The dietary prescription may be too much work for some, not doable for some others and fast burners (see metabolic typing) will probably need a little more protein and good fats to feel full; but generally the dietary guidelines are good and a definite improvement over most people's diets. The fact that the diet part of the plan cannot really be personalized to the needs of the reader made it lose 1 star, I would have given it 5 stars otherwise. But it really is an excellent book. If you feel it's time you start working on improving your body shape and your health, or if you have been working out but you don't feel you are getting the results you deserve for your efforts, this is the book for you - you'll change for the better, really fast.

I used this routine last year for about 4 months, and found that I could achieve results that I had been unable to reach previously. Top notch stuff.

i liked the workout routines and overall it is a good book, but the diet breakdown was quite confusing with all the different percentages that you needed to figure out. not a simple plan.

This book is easy to understand and easy to follow. One does not have to follow every recipe. Just use it as a common sense guide, eat accordingly and follow the exersize regimen. It takes no more than one hour a day, sometime less than an hour. I lost 30 pounds of fat in 90 days following this program. I just wish that Greg Isaacs would write a follow up regimen for those who want to take his advice and move on to another level of health and fitness.

This book is full of information, but I found it somewhat difficult to get through because it is very technical in nature.

Vern Gambetta requires respect. His words and actions speak for themselves. This book doesn't do justice to the depth of his knowledge and experience as a trainer and educator.

Athletes, trainers, and anyone studying sports medicine should check out this guide to sports conditioning. It's a great help to prepare for the CSCS exam.

Vern has been around the block and he knows his stuff. Read every word of his book and let it sink in.

The thing that makes this book so very exceptional is its seamless combination of the author's significant personal coaching experience and the state of the art in exercise and sports science. There is just enough theory and background to understand where the ideas come from, helping to put them into better context.

Although there is no formula that works for creating a training program for every athlete, this book probably comes as close as you can get to that goal. It provides you with the basic principles you need for assessing what each athlete needs in order to achieve their potential and training them to attain it. The components of performance are clearly laid out, along with the methods for developing them and also the places where qualities depend critically on other qualities.

The author addresses all of the usual questions along the way with unique and practical answers that can be applied to any sport once you understand the needs of that sport. Get realistic, effective answers to your questions about sets, reps, periodizing, plyometrics, machines, bands, weights, strength vs. power, functional strength vs. absolute strength, flexibility vs. mobility and stability; all of the important questions that arise in the mind of any athlete or coach who takes the training process seriously.

No fads here, just good solid principles proven by experience and explained in terms of current theory. No matter how much you already know, you can't help learn something about training for human athletic performance if you read this book. If you are a trainer, this book may well become one of your most treasured resources, a place to go to help cut through the fluff and fashions of the industry when you have a real question.

Mr. Watterson has presented us with a volume that is unique among sports books - a comprehensive history of college football and its relationship to college life and American society. I recommend it for two reasons:

1. It is incredibly well researched; Watterson has spent years digging through college and university archives around the country. He has amassed a mountain of valuable information about the progression and development of the college game that is not available elsewhere.

2. Despite being an academic, the author writes in a style that is easily readable. In my experience, it is rare to find a scholarly book that is also comprehensible to a lay audience.

Though it has many positives, there are two major flaws that drive me to distraction.

1. Watterson insists on repeating himself, sometimes making the same point in the very next paragraph or on subsequent pages. At times, I found myself wondering whether I had mistakenly lost track of my place in the book and was reading a page that I had already covered. The author's tendency to rehash previously made points slows the reader's progression and makes each chapter significantly longer than it needs to be.

2. The index is woefully incomplete. For example, references to Glenn "Pop" Warner are listed on three pages - 137, 146 and 172 - but more information about him appears on page 180. Likewise, Richard "Von" Gammon is referenced in the index on pages 36-38, but he also appears on page 47 (misspelled as Richard Gammen). There are many such instances in the index.

Nevertheless, this book is very valuable for the many nuggets of insight and history that bubble to the surface. The information contained in this volume is found nowhere else, and far outweighs the drawbacks in writing and editing.

This a dry read and takes some effort as it is essentially an academic tome that is concerned with the evolution of modern college football from a political, policy, and business standpoint. But it is quite thorough and hits the nail on the head. The final pages discuss how the game can be saved .... since reform is not an option. This is the weakest part of the book, but understandably so since it would take the wisdom of Solomon to fix this problem. I have always felt that a return to one platoon football makes a lot of sense regarding costs (less insurance, travel and equipment, scholarship dollars).

The editing in the book leaves something to be desired. There are a number of typos - and a few sentences that make contradictory statements. The author is not a well versed student of the game since there are several technical mistakes which indicate some deficiencies in research. Some of these are listed below as examples.

(1) Identifying Brian Bosworth as an Oklahoma lineman when he was a linebacker,
(2) Claiming All American status for 4 years (1982-1985)for a very average SMU running back,
(3) Confusing the major Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with the minor Rocky Mountain Conference,
(4) When describing the 1943 game between the College of the Pacific (COP) and USC attributing Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) membership to COP which was in fact an independent school during the 40's and never was a member of the PCC or its later version, the Pac 10.

That said I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in the history of college football.

This enlightening book covers the history of college football from an interesting and neglected point of view. That is to say, it contains none of the usual lionisation of players and coaches, and no re-working of big games we're all familiar with. Rather, Watterson examines (and questions) the place of the game in American society and its role on campus. The book establishes quite clearly that the over-emphasis placed on gridiron is hardly a recent phenomenon or even (as I foolishly suspected) down to the evils of television - that schools have been fielding ineligible players, fiddling grades, and operating slush funds from the days of Walter Camp. Watterson details the various movements which have attempted to reform the game and how it is run, and explains lucidly why virtually all of them failed. A seemingly insatiable desire for victory and glory to the alma mater has resulted in a gradual yet steady erosion of the original purpose of sport on campus, to the point where today a college President can express a desire to "build a university the football team can be proud of" without a trace of irony.

The book's only real fault lies in some woeful editing, which results in a few stories being re-told, and several paragraphs being repeated almost word-for-word many pages later (not to mention some grammatical howlers which don't strike me as being the author's fault). I found myself able to to overlook this, though, and can unreservedly recommend it. It may not be one which the more avid Sooner, Fighting Irish, Crimson Tide, or Buckeye-backer will gravitate toward, but those who enjoy big-time football and yet abhor how tainted it has all become will find it difficult to put down.

College Football is an outstanding and important work. It is a true history--not a greatest teams and greatest players-type of celebratory writing--and falls under the rubric of sport history. Sport history, which is a subcategory of social history, relates sports to broader themes in society, and John Sayle Watterson in this regard does a terrific job in relating the history of football to the issue of collegiate life as a whole, and even to society as a whole (particularly where the colleges had to fight the pro game for the public's entertainment dollar).

College Football is published by a university press (Johns Hopkins), but it is marketed as a trade book. Thus, the misleading subtitle "History-Spectacle-Controversy," as there is not much spectacle in this book. But there is plenty of controversy, relating to violence, subsidies, and cheating scandals throughout the sport's history and the mostly failed attempts by the college football establishment to reform the sport.

Watterson's work is actually a more narrow history of the governance of college football, rather a broad history of the sport (Johns Hopkins surely did not want to put the word "governance" in the title). As such, however, College Football is the best overview of the subject ever written, primarily because the author takes the story from the beginning up to the present day.

I have some minor carping: there is an excessive number of typos and errors in this book for a university press book.

A useful book for everyone who has a long-lasting interest and knowledge on the College Football, but it can be a little bit dazy and hard-to-understand for the beginners. College Football by Watterson is an analytical book which also solves the past-time football's problems according to the periods national crisis' and situations with huge acknowledgements. If you already have a good knowledge on College Football, then you will find a lot of interesting things in this book; if you have no or a little knowledge, then I will suggest you to read easier books to prepare yourself for this book. I really liked reading and learned a lot from this book though.

Rick Talender creates a new view of collage football for the eyes of all involved. Talender stumbles over an unusual premonition. "Child abuse" constantly realed across his mind. He related it to the treatment of the collage players by the collages and spectators treat the players. Student dealing with collage life as well as playing tirlessly with no pay and no moral support except for the little relatotionship they have with their coach. Rick Telander casts some light on the much ignored situation.

Rick Talender creates a new view of collage football for the eyes of all involved. Talender stumbles over an unusual premonition. "Child abuse" constantly realed across his mind. He related it to the treatment of the collage players by the collages and spectators treat the players. Student dealing with collage life as well as playing tirlessly with no pay and no moral support except for the little relatotionship they have with their coach. Rick Telander casts some light on the much ignored situation.

Telander exposes rampant cheating, exploitation, and NCAA hypocrisy in this searing look at the sordid underside of college football. The author attacks amateurism as fraudulent and unworkable, and shows that scandals have recurred almost since the game's founding (by rebellious students) in the late 1800's. We also learn that athletic programs rarely turn profits or boost fund-raising for their host schools. Despite these criticisms, this author (and ex-player at Northwestern) remains as attached to the game as us fans. Telander concludes his concise and highly readable book with a sensible proposal for reform. "The Hundred Yard Lie" fell on predictably deaf ears when first published in 1989. Still, it's an eye opener for those who dare question football's relationship to education.

Read this 10 years ago, and have never viewed bigtime college athletics the same way since. In a just world, this book would be very well known. In reality, this is the type of thing that the NCAA, big 3 networks, sports magazines, and sports announcers don't want you to know about. Too many cushy, do-nothing jobs ride on the exploitation of superstar college athletes that really have no business being in college at all. Telander's writing is clear, simple, passionate, and grabbing. His arguments are lucid and well constructed. Unfortunately, they fell on deaf ears.

A good book with some slow parts in the middle where the author goes to subjects that could be shortened. Telander is a former player in college and is watching the game he played be ruined. But he honestly discloses more than once that what is being said now has been said since the 1930s.

Maybe Telander should stop tilting at windmills and just give up to fight another fight and that may be my feelings also. But then you read his well-thought suggestions for changing the game and you see they could solve the problem. Let big colleges run professional sports team for entertainment and segment other colleges. The players would be paid and would not be required to attend college. The suggestions are fascinating and seem to address most of the points of weakness in the problem. All it will take is backbone from the college presidents and a few other powerful players. Oh, well. There goes this problem as no one associated has backbone. Witness the Oklahoma president presiding in the late 80s who years later tries to downplay the problems he faced. Witness Walter Byers who presided over the NCAA and now has his own book stating that there is a problem and it should be solved. Where were you years ago Mr. Byers?

If you love college football, you should read this book. Maybe it won't change your mind but it should at least let you see there is a problem. And Mr. Telander still doesn't cover football. Nice boycott.

Full of great drawings by Salvador Beltran, excellent quality MRI images, and handful boxes. The most didactic book on msk MRI. Greatly improved from the previous version. Definetly worth it, much better than the one from the Diagnostic Imaging series.

Best book in orthopaedic surgery. Huge amount of photos and illustraions, in detail review, almost every disease and the sports injuries are covered in this book. Very practical, easy to read, must-have for orthopadeic surgeon. This is not only the best textbook, this is the beautiful artwork.

This is the definitive work on orthopedic imaging. The illustrations and images are all of high quality. Unlike many other reference books, this one actually gives you an approach to image interpretation for each joint, in addition to detailed discussions of the pathology. There is also a sample report with images provided at the beginning of each chapter. Although it is pricey, it certainly blows the diagnostic imaging book out of the water. Highly recommended for any radiolgist interested in providing high quality reports to your referring orthopedists.

The illustrations are beautiful. There has been tremendous attention to detail. This is a definitive tome on high end orthopedic imaging. It contains information and concepts that are pretty cutting edge (that seem to just be getting into the literature). If you're looking for THE text on orthopedic imaging, this is the one. It BLOWS away the DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING Series - Orthopedics (by Dr. Stoller also).

This is a very large series of 2 books. Like that it's broken up into upper and lower extremity. Initially, cost freaked me out a bit. But, for what you get ... particularly the really high quality images and illustrations (and lots of them), it's well worth it.

This remains an essential textbook for musculoskeletal radiologists although one criticism would be that is a little dry . It steers clear of the opinion which makes books by Resnick or Helms so entertaining and useful. Stoller and some of the authors he has used for the chapters are enormously experienced and it would be good to read a more personal perspective .

This was a very enjoyable book about the great Ovett/Coe rivalry. The book delves into the roots/family influences of the two very talented middle distance runners including Ovett's very influential mother and Coe's father and coach. The author captures the excitement of breaking world records, running in the Olympic games and the expectations associated with being athletes at thier prime. Two very different personalities are contrasted both in their private and public impressions. A fascinating read.

Excellent book for anyone who followed track in the 70s and 80s.

Lots of light shed on what may have been the most significant and consistent rivalry on the oval. The backgrounds of both runners are very revealing; Coe's training routines, while widely discussed, were revolutionary. Meanwhile, Ovett is shown as an agressive and confident runner, and nothing like the arrogant antagonist that the media portrayed. Additionally, he was immersed in the science of footwear and helping develop better products for runners. Why he never got the acclaim he deserved is a mystery.

A great read for those who have been there.

Very good book, well written, not boring at all, interesting information not only about the lifes of the two runners subject of the book but also of the sport of running in general those days in Europe. I am a "serious" runner a serious reader and also a writer myself. As such, I collect all sorts of books about running. Many are forgetable, this is not the top of the line but very good and worth reading

Mr. Butcher has produced an outstanding book. All great books start with a great story and this a great story. This rivalry began in the mid '70's and carried through to the '84 LA Olympics. Mr. Butcher has a runner's knowledge of the sport and a writer's command of the language. This book was meticulously researched , many of the principles have participated in the telling of this tale. The "British" slang is sometimes is difficult to follow but does not detract from the telling of the story. I like the fact that Mr. Butcher does not hesitate to share his opinions. This is a GREAT READ for any track fan.

This is a very detailed and rich biography not only of Ovett and Coe but of history of the mile particularly from the British view point. As the author notes, the emergency of Ovett and Coe strides right into British middle distance runners dominating the world scene in the late 70s and early 80s with Cram, Elliott and Moorcroft. The Ovett and Coe duo are so different in racing styles, personalities and family life as Ovett emerges from blue collar roots with a very strong guarded mother and wonderful grand parents while Coe comes from a more upper class conservative family coached by an efficient and strong willed father. Butcher captures both athlete's abilities in detail with Ovett's amazing ability to run the sprints and high jump at early age to running events aside from 800 and 1500 to the 5K ,cross country and even jumping into a half marathon. Coe develops slightly slower but run as if a greyhound taking the pace to avoid contact with his 119 pounds particularly dominating the 800 while he and Ovett trade the 1500 and mile back and forth. The differences in mental and emotional make up between the two men is captured well in an excellent photograph of the two after a surprise loss to a relative unknown in a championship 800 where Coe literally looks crushed while Ovett has dangled his arm around Coe while looking off with chin up as in "well another day". The comparison between the Hagg and Anderson (includes interviews) and Ovett and Coe are well done as Ovett and Coe dominates the English sports news. Americans may require a little more patience as the author does discuss the world's best milers that include Walker, Bayi, Wessingham along with the US's Scott and Maree but the focus is on the English with running clubs and their depth of great runners at that time. Also, unlike Coorder Nelson's great book on Jim Ryan, this book has more depth into the history of middle distance running and the athletes' personal lives. Amusing that the author identifies Kenny Moore as an excellent writer but identifies him as a fourth place marathoner at the Montreal games when it was actually at Munich and he confuses the details of the New York and Boston Marathon's of Rosy Ruiz into one race. The book also contains some interesting British humor and phrases. I wish there was a more detail on the races in Moscow particularly the 1500 as Coe steals one from Ovett to avenge his 800 upset. It is quite tragic that Ovett became so ill at the LA Olympics that he became hospitalized but continued to compete and make he finals in both the 800 and 1500. He literally looks like death going into the last lap of the 1500. And Coe comes back from devastating illness to get in world class shape after being written off to be the only man to win successive Olympic 1500 titles. This was a glorious time for Track & Field when these two men from the same country seesawed world records back and forth almost weekly.

As the author notes, these two were such amazing competitors even the Falkland Islands were bumped in Britian foir the news of what Coe and Ovett did the night before.