Reviews (1)

BOOK DESCRIPTION FROM THE AUTHOR, ROSS BERNSTEIN
I had actually been working with Herb Brooks for nearly a year at the time of his untimely death this past Fall on writing a series of motivational/self-help books. You see, Herbie had recently turned down an offer to come back to the Big Apple and coach the New York Rangers again, opting instead to spend more time with his family and doing more motivational speaking - which is what the books were for. So, when I head the horrible news that August 11th, I decided right then and there to turn our project into a memorial. The result is the new book, "Remembering Herbie," a tribute to my friend and mentor.

Several months and nearly 100 interviews later, the book was finished, complete with both warm and fuzzy memories as well as hilarious and riveting stories from Herbie's closest friends, family members, former teammates and former players. The biography chronicles not only the accomplishments and achievements of a man who touched literally millions of lives throughout the sports world, but also a heartfelt story of an amazing person - as told through the eyes of those who knew him best.

People from all spectrums of Herbie's life were interviewed for the book, including former teammates of his from St. Paul Johnson High School, the University of Minnesota and from various U.S. Olympic & National Teams. I also spoke to former players of his from the Gophers, the 1980 & 2002 Olympic Teams, New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. While some people opened up and poured out their emotions on what Herbie meant to them, others shared heartwarming or hilarious stories. Some laughed, some cried, but they all remembered Herbie.

I found that as I wrote the book and talked to more and more people, a picture emerged of who Herb Brooks really was. The common denominators were fascinating: the way he motivated people, his relentless determination, his honesty, his passion, his integrity, the "Brooksisms" he was so famous for saying, the way he championed the underdog, the way he was always looking to make hockey better, the way he could never make up his mind, and the way he loved his family - it's all in there.

You see, Herb Brooks never forgot where he came from - always remaining loyal to his colorful working-class neighborhood roots on St. Paul's East Side. There, he was like royalty, but if you asked him, he would say that he was just another "Joe Six Pack" from Payne Avenue. That was Herbie, modest as ever. Herbie was the ultimate team player and lived by the adage that the name on the front of the sweater was always more important than the name on the back. Looking back at the now famous last second call from the 1980 Olympic 'Miracle on Ice,' which will forever be linked to his legacy, "Do you believe in miracles?... Yes!" - one can only assume that Herb probably didn't. That's right. Sure, he was a dreamer, but there were no short-cuts or divine interventions for this guy, it was all about hard work, commitment and passion. And luckily for us his obsession was hockey, and through that medium he changed the face of American history.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the newly created "Herb Brooks Foundation," which will benefit amateur hockey throughout the United States.

(To learn more about this book please visit my web-site: www.bernsteinbooks.com. Thanks! - Ross Bernstein, Author ... Read more

Book Description

Ryan Newman grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and, with encouragement from his parents, has been racing since the age of four and a half. He started with quarter midgets, which he describes as "go-carts with roll cages," moved up into Midgets, and later, Sprint cars. Despite his youth, Newman has a remarkable record so far in his racing career, including over 100 quarter-midget victories. The year 2000 marked the successful debut of Newman's career with Penske Racing. That year he had six starts: five in the 2000 ARCA Bondo Mar/Hyde Series and one in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. In the five ARCA starts Newman earned two wins and three poles. In 2001 Newman drove a blended "ABC" season -- ARCA Re/Max Series, Busch Grand National Series, and Winston Cup. In 26 starts he finished in the top-ten on 11 occasions. In addition, he had one ARCA win and pole, one Busch Series win and six poles, and the Winston Cup pole at the All-Star race in Charlotte. In 2002 Newman drove the newly-numbered #12 ALLTEL Penske Racing Ford Taurus full-time in the Winston Cup Series. He finished the season as the Raybestos Rookie of the Year, with 22 top-10 finishes, six poles, and one regular-season win. In addition, he won the Winston All-Star race. Newman has the brains to go along with his talent at driving race cars. He completed his degree program in vehicle structure engineering at Purdue University, where he was the recipient of the Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship. ... Read more

Book Description

The racing world held its collective breath in 2001 when Alex Zanardi lost both his legs in a horrifying accident at the Lausitzring in Germany. The racing world again held its breath nineteen months later while witnessing his incredible return to racing. Bentley Publishers is thrilled to announce the publication of the North American edition of Alex Zanardi’s autobiography, which quickly sold over 50,000 copies in his native Italy.Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory recounts his incredible story as only Alex can tell it. He takes us from his childhood in Italy through his hard-fought racing success to the moving story of perseverance and love that motivated his recovery. Along the way, Zanardi presents his triumphs and setbacks in kart racing, Formula 3 & 3000, Formula 1, IndyCar and CART racing, culminating in back-to-back CART championships for 1997 and 1998. In riveting detail, Zanardi relates his terrible accident, the long path to recovery and his return to Lausitzring in a specially modified 750hp Champ Car to complete the 13 laps he didn’t finish in 2001.In addition to 32 pages of color photos, including many from the Zanardi family albums, Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory also includes the following new features: a foreword by Alex Zanardi’s friend and supporter Mario Andretti, a chronology of Alex’s racing career, and a new final chapter in which Alex discusses his return to competitive racing in the 2004 European Touring Car Championship driving for BMW Team Italy-Spain.Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory is an inspiring story of how personal strength and passion can triumph over even the most challenging circumstances. ... Read more

Book Description

Smarty Jones: America's Horse is in the tradition of similar instant books celebrating the achievements of championship teams and individuals, including Top Dogs: UConn’s 2003-04 Men’s Championship Season with the Hartford Courant and 2004 NFL Champions: New England Patriots with the Boston Herald. Sports Publishing presents the first title to be available on the market to salute the tremendous racing season of the horse that captured America's imagination, Smarty Jones. The book promises to tell the complete story of Smarty’s amazing season through action-packed articles, columns, and photos from the Associated Press. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Smarty Jones 21st Centry's Great Champion
Smarty Jones has proved to the critics that he is a true Champion, even though he was edged out in the Belmont. After all, up to that point this great race horse, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was undefeated in his young career. This book tells his heartwarming story through all of his exciting races leading up to his run for the triple crown and the stunning upset. The great part for fans is it has absolutely wonderful color pictures of Smarty and his whole Smarty Jones team. Smarty was gallant in defeat and his whole crew are first class people, they showed it at Belmont. This little horse will be a fan favorite for a long time. Don't count him out yet--yes he's that good. Just remember that this is a fan book, with more pictures than verbiage. The whole 'Seabiscuit'-type story remains to be told at the end of this colt's remarkable career. ... Read more

Book Description

A Season on the Brink—a book about Bob Knight—is the bestselling sports book of all time. Here is the only book that can surpass it—a book about Bob Knight by Bob Knight.

In college basketball, the name Bob Knight is synonymous with greatness and winning. Just take a glance at the Knight file. The numbers and achievements that prove what he has done, not only for Indiana University, but for the game itself, are there in black and white. In this riveting memoir, Coach Knight talks about his extraordinary basketball career, addressing both the public triumphs and the highly publicized controversies, often providing his side of the story for the first time.

His story begins with the most public and painful event in his life: his front-page dismissal as Indiana University’s basketball coach after 29 years in that position. But the story of Bob Knight is so much more than that. Above all, it is a story about one man’s tremendous success. How did he become the head coach at Army at the age of 24? How did he build a dynasty at Indiana? What principles has he lived by—and coached by—that kept the best players coming to Indiana to play for him?

Knight:My Story reveals a very personal and until now unseen part of Bob Knight’s life. His legions of fans will all line up to learn more about him.

Bob Knight has shown time and again that he is the most well-known coach in college basketball:

• He has won over 700 games (618 with Indiana University)
• He has been National Coach of the Year four times
• He coached ten Big Ten MVPs
• He is the only coach who can boast an NCAA Championship, NIT Title, the Pan American Gold, and the Olympic gold medal
• He was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991
• He graduated 98% of his players
• He maintains a remarkable .737 winning record
... Read more

Reviews (48)

America, America, God shed His grace on thee
I truly believe there is only one way to judge a college basketball coach.League titles, NCAA appearances, total wins, Final Fours and National Championships are the norm in measuring success.And, of course, prowess in these areas will secure the legacy of anyone.However, the way I quantify coaching greatness is much more important than wins and losses.It's something you can't tangibly gauge.Simply stated, it's the relationships he or she cultivates with players.And the loyalty they show after they graduate.

Even his staunchest critics can not deny that Bob Knight is a Hall of Famer in this category.

In "Knight: My Story" Bob Knight writes about the relationships he has developed throughout the years with his former players.One needs to look no further than Landon Turner to realize why the ones he coached are tenacious Bob Knight supporters.

Landon Turner played on Knight's 1981 championship team.Tragically, shortly after, Turner was paralyzed for life in a vehicle accident.Through the efforts of Knight, Red Auerbach selected Landon Turner in the late rounds of the NBA draft.A simple gesture which, Turner says, meant the world to him.

The book is a window into the philosophies of a man who through the yelling, screaming, so called intimidation, language, and perceived sour demeanor, somehow has found the greatest allies in his former players.

Some of Knight's pundits clearly know absolutely nothing about how to coach a basketball team; how to lead young men through a season of intense pressure and adversity.And, they are obviously not bright enough to understand that basketball is a metaphor for life.Knight is preparing boys for manhood.Do you think anyone of them (who gets it) make excuses when their boss asks them do accomplish a task?I think not.

Knight is not a coach of basketball, he's a teacher of life.

You need to look no further than his "eight greatest words", which appear in the first sentence of his book,"America, America, God shed His grace on thee", to realize how deep his character flows.

I've been anticipating book since I was 15 years old.It was worth the wait.

Bob Knight

Whether you love him, hate him, or are neutral toward him (I'm in the last category), Bob Knight's book is a fascinating glimpse at his personality, his Indiana basketball teams, and college basketball in general.For Indiana basketball fans (I'm an ACC fan) and college basketball fans in general (a category I fit into), this is a must read.Knight gives a lot of detail about his Indiana teams, especially those that won national championships, and discusses his point of view on the state of college basketball today.

There are really two main topics that run throughout the book - and that is Indiana basketball and the controversies that have surrounded Knight - mostly because of his volatile temper.From a basketball standpoint this is really a great inside look at the college game and the Hoosiers.Knight's detestation of losing and lack of effort are part of what gets him into trouble because he is clearly a disciplinarian and expects a lot from his players and others involved in the program.On the other hand that is also why his teams traditionally have been over achievers.In my opinion, his success in college basketball has been mostly because of his coaching talent and getting his teams to play like a team instead of selfishly.

Even though in some ways Knight claims, and I think in a lot ways rightfully so, that a lot of controversies about his temper and clashes with players, officials, or others is a result of his reputation and are undeserved.Frankly, I do believe him on this account.And he does seem contrite about some incidents that are clearly his own fault where he's lost his temper.Some may argue that he is not apologetic enough or doesn't face his own faults in some of the controversies and I can't disagree with that either.On these issues the reader will have to decide what to believe.

But either way, this is highly readable and very interesting.

One for the ages
What a book. It is filled with info I never really knew. Never an Indiana basketball fam, I was always a Bobby Kight fan. I finished the book in one reading. I could not put it down. His love for fishing and hunting is explained in his book.

A Hoosier Must
I moved to Indiana near the end of Bob Knight's reign as the Head Coach at Indiana University.I was fascinated by the intensity and loyalty that the IU fans showed toward their coach and team. I personally have always appreciated Bob Knight as a coach, though I may not have always agreed with his antics. I do believe that college athletes need a coach who will teach discipline.His autobiography gives you an inside look at his life and perhaps a better understanding of how the coach really is.He definitely tells it as it is and does not pull any punches in this book.One of the strong points of this book is the emphasis the coach puts on in his coaching philosophies and his past accomplishments.You begin to understand, through the detailed recollections of important games, why the coach is revered by so many.He seems to take you there and let you know what was going through his mind and how he handled the situations.Also, the coach briefly addresses many of the "situations" he has been in over the years.Although they are his side of the story, you get the story as Coach Knight saw it, not how the media reported it.I thought it was particularly interesting when he discussed his firing from IU.He firmly believes that the school was out to get him, and for a brief moment, you may begin to believe him.I know that the media sure gave it a lot of attention here in Indiana, of course their spin on the situation was different then his.A common theme in this book is Coach Knight`s disdain for the media.
Overall, I think that the book is something that any "import" Hoosier should read.You begin to understand the idiosyncrasies that are Coach Knight.It also will help you understand why you see so many Texas Tech Red Raiders bumper stickers in Central Indiana.

Straight from the general's mouth....
If you're a Knight fan, you will love this book.If you're not, you're likely to hate it.Coach Knight recounts many of the incidents that have made him one of the polarizing figures in sports.Find out what really happened in his final seasons at IU.Laugh heartily at his tales of run-ins with non-fans from New Orleans to Puerto Rico.Observe his relationships with colleagues (Parcells, Larusa, Woody Hayes), players (Jordan, Thomas, Alford, Cheney), and friends (Ted Williams, Dick Vitale).Best of all, appreciate how he uses basketball as a vehicle for teaching character.

My only disappointment was his neglect of the reported friction between him and some of his former players (who I also admire) like Alford and Krzyzewski.I wish he would have explained or dismissed the media's fixation on these supposed grievances.Instead, he ignores it.

If you are disgusted by the deluge of recent negative stories from the sports page, then read this and be confident that at least one man requires his players study, behave, and play hard. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

The World's Greatest Fighter Teaches You: How to Master
Joe Lewis was voted The World's Greatest Fighter by his peers. Martial artists have voted him into over a dozen various Halls of Fame. In his era, Joe Lewis was the Greatest. When some of the greatest legends of the martial arts (Jhoon Rhee, Dan Inosanto, Chuck Norris, Bob Wall, Mike Stone) contribute to his long awaited piece of work and the highly respected publisher Walter Anderson writes a favorable review of the finished product, nothing else really needs to be said...Buy the book, its worth the investment.

This is like three books in one.
When it comes to legends in the martial arts, Joe Lewis is on a rare level. His first book is like three books in one.
1. Detailed analysis and breakdowns of what Joe Lewis and Bruce Lee worked on.
2. Detailed photos illustrating the techniques (they're animated on bruceleebook.com)
3. Fly on the wall stories by Chuck Norris, Danny Inosanto (he tells about when he heard Bruce had died), Mike Stone, Bob Wall, Jhoon Rhee, Joe Hyams (great Hollywood stories about Bruce) and, of course, Joe Lewis. This stories work great to break up the book and make it a fun and valuable read that will be on the must have library list for martial arts fans and fighters for many years to come.

Chuck Norris was 10 times better than Joe Lewis!
That being said, let me point out that this book is another example of someone cashing in on the legacy and greatness of Bruce. Joe Lewis was just another student of Bruce, and there are others (Jerry Poteet and Dan Inosanto being two of the most well known) who spent much more time training with Bruce than Joe Lewis did. If you want to learn about JKD then you're better off reading the Bruce Lee's Fighting Methods series. Also, in the Art of Expressing The Human Body, author John Little covers Bruce's training routine for Joe Lewis and it certainly wasn't anything extraordinary. Nothing that any pro fighter would do these days. This book is an average read if you've run out of good books on Bruce/Jeet Kune Do. Otherwise, stick to the John Little books because they're written from the notes and interviews directly from Bruce and his (long term) former students.

A Great Book on Sparring, With a Few Extras
Joe Lewis, considered by many to be the greatest karate fighter of all time, has written, with the help of some friends, a nice martial arts text about fighting with an emphasis on Bruce Lee's fighting system known as Jeet Kune Do. This book succeeds where his early work, also reviewed by me, failed. His other book was a sequential photo book with very little written information. Relying primarily on the visual approach, it did not get into the serious thoughts on fighting application.

Further, the biographical section of the latter book also was a little disappointing. This book helps redeems Joe Lewis' efforts. First, the books primary objective is established in the titled and the text gives the reader the information necessary to understand many of the most important fighting concepts. Although the information presented has been presented elsewhere, Joe succeeds in communicating the ideas to where the novice to intermediate fighter can easily understand the material and should be able, with the help of a partner, learn and develop the advice into their own martial repertoire. While there are some photographs displaying some of the concepts the material strength is in the writing and it surpasses other books that have tried to deal with some of Bruce Lee's concepts. The strongest chapters are "The Science of Movement", The Art of Distancing", "The Explosive Initial Move," and "Angular Attack."

The extras in this book are a nice surprise in that they give one a break from the study of fighting material and allow the reader to get an understanding of Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis from the perspective of others, most of whom are great martial artist in their own right. Chapters I particularly enjoyed were by Dan Inosanto, John Korab, Gene Lebell, and Bob Wall. Even some of the contributions I did not necessarily like (Mike Stones' piece) I did think it was honest and fair to put the essay in the book.

This is a good book and achieves what it sets out to do; which is to simply explain some of the innovations and ideas pioneered by Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis.

Highly Recommended
"How to Master Bruce Lee's Fighting System" by Joe Lewis is a surprisingly substantive book that belongs in any Bruce Lee fan's book collection. Not simply a book on martial art technique, "How to Master Bruce Lee's Fighting System" contains bonus chapters written by some of the greatest martial arts contemporaries of Bruce Lee, all of whom knew Lee intimately and many whose stories about Lee have never been told. This book will definitely help Bruce Lee's fans to understand him better and aid the martial artist in perfecting his Jeet Kune Do skills. ... Read more

Book Description

The memoir of a former top tennis player who dedicated her life, andthe entirety of her immense fortune, to helping disadvantaged children.

In the 1980s, Andrea Jaeger was a tennis phenomenon -- she turned pro at theage of 14 and was the #2 ranked female tennis player in the world. But, despiteher success, she was unfulfilled.

After an injury ended her career early, Jaeger began to answer her true calling: following the Word of God. Listening to Hisvoice ultimately led Jaeger to put the entire fortune she had amassed on thetennis court into developing The Silver Foundation, a non-profit camp for childrenwith cancer, and dedicating her life to bringing joy to others.

This is the story of how she went from tennis great to her “second service” and the story of the incredible kids she's helped along the way.

Reviews (4)

A great example of Loving your Neighbor.
Arthur K. Dugan, an avid reader.

Andrea Jaeger's book " FIRST SERVICE " is one of the finest I have ever read on personal spirituality and I have read many. Her life of service to God through the giving of all her great amount of money to develop a place for children with cancer called The Silver Foundation. As I read through her book she reminds me of dedicated people like Mother Teresa in her work with the poor. I will read the book again and highly recommend it to others and how each of us needs to be aware of the less fortunate.

Wholesome Inspiring Book
Andrea is defintely an exceptional person, first as a tennis pro, then as a philanthropist.The latter is easily her passion and her excelling service to God.

She relates this story as it unfolds in personal memoir of her life and its turns, each one very much influenced by experiential leadings by God.This continues to develop as she senses signs which she responds to which eventually culminate in the founding of her magnificent work with cancer children.

Puzzling and of concern is her admission that she was babe in the Scriptures and still seems to be convinced by outward confirmation of rather bizarre happenings, rather than clear fountain of God's Holy Word. For example, her story in Detroit with the key to the kingdom is more poignantly given in Scripture repeatedly said to be Christ crucified for sins, e.g. Luke 24 et al.

While truly a model for all, but especially young and talented, to serve humanity, her tendency to follow outward occurrences and inward emotions to the exclusion and reduction of clearly revealed Word of God is dangerous and suspicious.

Don't let any of this reviewer's spiritual concerns detract anyone from this fine read and inspiration to all to get involved and serve.

The Inspirational Autobiography of a Former Tennis Champ
In the early 1980s, Andrea Jaeger was a household name, even among people who had little or no interest in tennis, the sport that catapulted her into the limelight. One of the youngest players ever to turn pro, Jaeger at 14 was everywhere --- in newspapers and magazines, on television. Her signature long, blonde pigtails made her immediately recognizable. She was the media darling of the tennis world.

Her career was cut short by an injury, prompting her to pursue a dream she had had since childhood --- not all that long ago, at the time --- to work with children. After spending several years acquiring business skills and other related experience, Jaeger and a friend moved to Aspen, Colorado, where they eventually set up a foundation and started a ministry to reach out to cancer-stricken children at a place now known as the Silver Lining Ranch. Jaeger's entire $1.4 million in lifetime earnings provided the seed money for the organization.

That's the straightforward account of what happened. In FIRST SERVICE, Jaeger fills in the details, the often remarkable, behind-the-scenes story of a woman whose childlike faith in God never questioned that He would bring to pass the hopes and dreams she held out for the future --- a future she always knew would not find its center in professional tennis. In her telling of the story of her life, her faith and her ministry, Jaeger clearly demonstrates that what was once considered to be her youthful exuberance is instead who she really is, because her energy, excitement and enthusiasm for life is every bit as much a part of her personality today, at the age of 38, as it was when she was a celebrity teenager.

Throughout her life, as well as the pages of the book, God plays the dominant role. From an early age, Jaeger sensed the presence of God even though she did not grow up in a strong faith environment. Many of her experiences with God have been nothing short of mystical; as a child, she had a vision of the Children's Crusade long before she ever knew anything about the actual event in history. Her narrative is sprinkled with accounts of dreams and visions that are bound to make believers shiver with supernatural delight and skeptics question her grounding in reality. But much of what she saw in those dreams and visions has come to pass and has contributed to the success of the ranch, so the skeptics may have to look elsewhere for something to disbelieve.

True to her nature, which apparently is an extraordinarily generous one, Jaeger is donating all of her proceeds from sales of FIRST SERVICE to help hurting children. In addition to the Silver Lining Ranch, Jaeger and the Silver Lining Foundation (www.silverliningfoundation.org) support children's charities in the U.S. and around the world.

First Service -- Finding a Purpose to Life
This book by Andrea Jaeger is ideal for anyone who wants to get insight into finding out what is important in life. Andrea was a great tennis player but she has found joy and purpose off the court -- helping others and being close to her faith. She tells her story in a way that makes it clear how others, too, can find joy. The book is also excitng to read as you learn about miracle after miracle that has helped her build a beauitful ranch in Aspen, CO, where children with cancer go to have great days of peace and joy. Andrea rocks! This book is a perfect gift for anyone you love. ... Read more

Book Description

In the growing world of NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is a new kind of star. His down-home modesty, rock-and-roll lifestyle, and blinding intensity on the racetrack represent the new face of this fast-paced sport. Now Dale Jr. straps you into the #8 car for a wild ride through his rookie year.

In this full-throttle story, Dale Jr. shares a tumultuous year of victory and joy, tragedy and heartbreak. At the age of twenty-five, he embarks on his first Winston Cup season. In a time filled with lofty expectations, when he tries to concentrate on winning, he is thrust into the limelight and forced to endure the crush of the media, huge crowds, endless travel, and faster and more dangerous cars than he has ever driven before. Week after week he goes bumper-to-bumper with his father and more than forty of the world's finest drivers-all the while trying to carve out his own identity and win the respect of his peers.

DRIVER #8 takes you on NASCAR's inside track. You'll see how races are won or lost and the strategies that go into every lap and every race. You'll get a compelling look at the bond necessary between a driver and his team and understand how, come race day, the spotter is often the driver's best friend. And you'll learn how that bond can be stretched when the season begins to turn sour and the weight of racing against a man who is not only your father but also your boss, your toughest competitor, and a NASCAR legend takes its toll on a young driver.

Powered by a high-octane mix of bravado, humility, and a lot of beer, Dale Jr. captures the unique pressures of making split-second, life-and-death decisions behind the wheel of a racecar...and highlights the perks-and often the drudgery-that go along with being a rising star in the world's most colorful and exciting sport. Thrilling, vivid, and authentic, DRIVER #8 is one helluva ride. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

A fabulous book
This book is one of the best I have ever read. It is definitely a must read for any NASCAR fan, especially one that is a fan of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. This book is extremely captivating, and I completed it in two days. There is not a bad spot in the book, although he does tend to focus on Bud Girls...there are hilarious moments in this novel, one of them being the 2000 Winston and it's tale about a man dressed as a giant Oreo. Although it was penned by Jade Gurss, you can tell that the stories are entirely Dale Jr.'s, and his personality comes shining through. You feel closer to him somehow after the completion of this book. Dale manages to use colorful language to his advantage; it's an easy read, but definitely makes you think. The photo inserts in the middle are a great addition, as is the epilogue covering the events of 2001 and how he coped with his father's death. He is very candid about everything, and it's refreshing. Overall: it's just a great, great book and can definitely be reread numerous times.

Fresh & Honest Prospective on NASCAR
This is a wonderful read for all NASCAR fans even if you are not a Dale Jr. fan. I was glad to find that Dale Jr. divulged emotions regarding the death of Dale Sr. appropriately and respectfully while conserving the privacy that he and all NASCAR drivers fight daily to preserve. As a twentysomething NASCAR fan I naturally related to his new millenium attitude and approach to the industry, his career, and often complicated issues such as media infringement, sponsor committments and unstable fans. Additionally, this book provides the reader with fantastic play by play descriptions of the races along the NASCAR circuit of his Rookie season with driver oriented explanations of various technical issues of the cars and tracks.
Overall, I rated this book 5 stars for its easy readability and attention keeping entertainment factor. By the end of this book you'll be ready to invite this guy over for a cold Bud!

I laughed, I cryed and I was pleasently surprised
This book was one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. I laughed and cryed and could not put it down. Dale Jr. has a nack for writting and seems to really speak from his heart. I hope he will continue to give us more to read on his exciting journey through the NASCAR spotlight. This book is a must read for any NASCAR fan.

Loved it!!
I actually bought this book as a gift for a friend. I opened it up to read the front cover, and could not put the book down!

Dale JR.'s First Season
The Book "Driver#8" is a must read for all Dale JR. fans. You really get to know how he acts and what he does. "Driver#8" tells you all about his first season. How his first season had ups and downs and wins and loses. And the tradgety that happen in 2001 at Daytona is in the Epilogue. This book uses some very strong language. Its a must read for all fans! ... Read more

Book Description

“I can tell you that some force within me rejected death at the last moment and then guided me, blind and stumbling — quite literally a dead man walking — into camp and the shaky start of my return to life....”

In 1996 Beck Weathers and a climbing team pushed toward the summit of Mount Everest. Then a storm exploded on the mountain, ripping the team to shreds, forcing brave men to scratch and crawl for their lives. Rescuers who reached Weathers saw that he was dying, and left him.

Twelve hours later, the inexplicable occurred. Weathers appeared, blinded, gloveless, caked with ice — coming down the mountain as a “dead man walking.”

In this powerful memoir, Weather describes not only his escape from hypothermia and the murderous storm that killed nine climbers; he describes another journey, a life’s journey. This is the story of a man’s route to a dangerous sport and a fateful expedition, as well as the road of recovery he has traveled since.

In Left for Dead, we are witness to survival in the face of certain death, the reclaiming of a family and a life, and the most remarkable adventure of all: what we can do when we’re offered a second chance.
... Read more

Reviews (69)

Not that bad of a book
I just finished the paperback. Actually I could not put this book down. I stretched it to 10 days and have ordered another round of Everest books (being a fellow Everest junkie like all of you.) The first Everest book I read was the superb "Into Thin Air." Since then, I have been finding all the subsequent Everest books on Amazon.

The only complaints I have about this book is the lack of high quality photos (paperback version), the only photo's being grainy blk & whites group shots of Beck Weathers and friends. The other is that there is a rather large section of the book going into deep detail on Beck's family tree. I skipped that part and went on to experiences Beck had on the other 7 summits of the world and the narrative was worth the purchase price ( I had bought "The 7 Summits" and the narrative was so bad, I could not finish that book...and what an interesting subject. Too bad that book wasn't written by a good ghost writer.)For Everest junkies, this book is very well written and gave me some insights into my own marriage. Beck has had a life-long mid-life crisis it seems and Everest finally purged the demons from his life. I hope he lives a long happy life.

"this book is boring me ****less." - a comment to my wife
To be perfectly clear, I am glad I read this book. The problem is that I'm only glad to have read about 20% of it, the rest is stuff that I frankly could care less about. Now, there are people would appreciate the soap opera Weathers describes as the relationship between he and his wife deteriorates. You can find these people in the trash-novel section of your local booksture. The folks who browse the mountaineering section of said bookstore are more interested in the 20% that I was referring to above - The actual experience on everest and its aftermath, which is presented honestly and is quite intriguing. Even gripping. It has value. It is worth the $7. It is the reason why I gave this book two stars, not one. However, the majority of this book is a chore to read.

Not much of an Everest book
I read this book and was severely disappointed in the story. I've read a lot of the accounts from the 1996 tragedy and Beck Weathers story was particularly fascinating. I truly expected someone who came back to life to really have something good to say, lessons learned, but that was not what I got out of the book. He does not seem contrite that he left his family alone most of the time for years for his climbing pursuits, comes back half dead needing them desperately. The book makes me think he'd do it over again and did not learn much from his ordeal. His wife seems extremely bitter (probably not unjustified).

High Expectations, Low Returns
The subtitle is "My Journey Home From Everest" which should actually be the title. By page 99 out of page 340, Mr. Weathers is out of the mountains trying to cope with being back in civilization after going through lleh.

I didn't read the subtitle when I was buying the book and was expecting most of the book to be about his time on Everest. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. By page 160 when he is battling with his psychological demons, a problematic family life, etc., it was time for me to put the book down and move on to other books. While he was successful with most of his battles and no doubt is inspiring, he uses his Mount Everest experience to springboard into his personal spiritual battle.

If you want to read this book, read it as a spiritual conquest by someone who happens to climb mountains.

Do not read this book as a mountaineering book.

I have listened to a speech that Mr. Weathers gave to the American Bar Association and think the world of him and what he went through on the mountain. Unfortunately I think very little of his book here. :-(

expected more
Somehow, Beck Weathers managed to write a book about the tragic climb and descent and death and coming back to life atop Everest totally boring. Enjoyed Beck and Peach's chapters on their cats more than anything. ... Read more

Book Description

He was The Intimidator. A nightmare in the rear-view mirror. A unique winner in the boardroom. A seven-time Winston Cup champion. A driver whose personal success story and dedication inspired the adoration of millions of fans.Then on February 18, 2001, just seconds from the Daytona 500 finish line, the world of stock-car racing suffered a devastating loss as Dale Earnhardt fatally careened into a track wall.The tragic shock waves, and an unprecedented outpouring of respect and love, have not stopped since.

At the Altar of Speed takes readers behind the scenes of Earnhardt's celebrated life, tracing his rags-to-riches journey to the top of America's fastest-growing sport.Beginning with Earnhardt's early days growing up in small-town North Carolina, veteran sports writer Leigh Montville examines how a ninth-grade dropout started on the dusty dirt tracks of the South, went through two marriages and a string of no-future jobs before turning twenty-five, then took about a million left turns to glory.Through the pitfalls and triumphs, Earnhardt would ultimately become a celebrated champion, whose lifetime earnings would top forty-one million dollars.The son of a legendary racer, the father of a NASCAR star, he lived a total auto-racing life filled with triumph and sadness, great joy and great pain.

Transporting readers to the colorful, noisy world of stock-car racing, where powerful engines allow drivers to reach speeds of 200 m.p.h., At the Altar of Speed vividly captures the man who drove the black No. 3 car, a man whose determination and inner strength left behind a legacy of greatness that has redefined his sport.Illustrated with a section of full-color photographs, At the Altar of Speed is a tribute to both the man and his unbeatable spirit.
... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Book for ALL Nascar Fans...Not Just for Earnhardt Fans
I love books about NASCAR. As a female fan of the sport, I love to learn about not only the history of NASCAR but about the men who make NASCAR so popular. This book is not only for Dale Earnhardt fans but I would recommend it for those people who didn't like him. I think they will be surprised at how different Dale Earnhardt was off the track. "The Intimidator" only describes his on-track persona.

What makes this book a great read is that with each story you can almost hear the sadness in the voices of those folks who have lost a very special friend. Some of the tales told are humorous and with each recollection you learn more about Dale Earnhardt the man, husband, father, and friend.

Leigh Montville has put together what I can honestly say is the best tribute to a man who is missed by so many of us. He made me realize NASCAR will never ever be the same without that Goodwrench Black Number 3 Monte Carlo of Dale Earnhardt.

Dale, Rest in Peace!

Great Book for Casual Fans
First off, I need to explain that I'm a big NASCAR fan. Every NASCAR fan, no matter what they thought of Dale Earnhardt when he was alive, understands what a terrible loss took place the day of his crash. He is impossible to replace and was the one of the toughest competitors in all of sport.

That being said I looked forward to reading this book hoping to get a new insight into Earnhardt's life and the man. Unfortunately, I didn't read much that I didn't already know. If you were already a big fan of Dale Earnhardt and followed the sport closely, this book will add little to your knowledge. Mr. Montville is a great writer and he does a great job in writing about Dale Earnhardt in this book. In many ways, this is much like a good article in Sports Illustrated that has been lengthened to fit a book. If you are a casual fan or have just started to follow the sport, I would recommend the book to you.

As for myself as a long-time fan, what I liked best about the book was the stories about Dale and fellow races Neil Bonnett. It brought out the human side of two very close friends who both left the world far too early. The problem is that there isn't enough of that in the book. I already know about Dale's racing history and it's not hard to find out from many sources.

In addition, I had a few problems with the book. The problems I had is that Andy Petree is misidentified in one of the book's photos and there seems to be an effort to smear Earnhardt's business manager Don Hawk. Yes, Dale Earnhardt managed to make millions of dollars in his career, and one reason that happened was because of Don Hawk. It seems as if there is a bit of resentment out there because of Earnhardt's success off the track as well as on it.

While I recommend this book to new fans, I would urge long-time fans to find the article that Ed Hinton wrote in the Orlando Sentinel immediately after Earnhardt's death. As this book brings out, Hinton and Earnhardt were often at odds with one another, but Hinton wrote a beautiful story that shared a number of great anecdotes about some of the unknown stories in Earnhardt's life. That's what I want to read about and I wish this book would have had more of it.

At the Altar of Speed
This is the first Dale Earnhardt book I have found that was NOT a coffee table book filled only with captioned photos.

This book covers Dale's life from the beginning, discussing his friends and family. It tells the story of his struggle to become so successful.

Dale was always a very private person, and until now, it was difficult to find anything about his personal life away from the racetrack. The book even mentions that Dale advised Dale Jr. that he would regret living his "Club E" image in the public eye.

I been a huge Nascar fan for over 20 years, and admired Dale since he finally cast the monkey off his back by winning the Daytona 500.

All in all a very good read, leaving me the desire to find out even more about Dale.

Montville informs well
I just finished this book, and I absolutely loved it. It had me laughing, crying, and everything in between. I'm an avid NASCAR fan, and Dale Earnhardt is and will always be my favorite driver. I am following the path of his son, and I have also read Driver #8. Both books are fantastic, and a lot of fun to read. Very hard for me to put down!

This Book was Written by a NASCAR Outsider
It's obvious that this book was written by an (admitted) outsider to NASCAR. After finishing the book, I felt like Leigh Montville sat around listening to stories about Dale and then decided to write a book about those stories. I'm sorry, but I feel like the only reason this book was written was for compensatory reasons.

In one section, Mr. Montville writes that whereas other NASCAR drivers said that they were friends with Dale, Dale did not feel that they were his true friends (saying that you would always see them hang out at his trailer, but you would not see him hanging out at theirs). Dale did admittedly hang out with other drivers (outside of race weekends) and go vacationing, hunting, and fishing with them.

Being a huge NASCAR fan, I was overall very disappointed with this book (though I did enjoy the section about Dale and Neil Bonnett). If you want a brief overview of Dale's life, then this may be the book for you. If you want to find out the real/more in depth story, then I would suggest you buy a book from an author who either really knew Dale personally or has spent most of their life affiliated with NASCAR. That's what I plan to do. ... Read more

Book Description

Chair Shots and Other Obstacles: Winning Life's Wrestling Matches is an introspective look into the wit and wisdom of legendary professional wrestler and manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

"Chair shots" is a part of wrestling vernacular, but it is also a metaphor for setbacks and impediments that one experiences in life. Heenan has had his share of challenges - both personal and professional. He also has learned his share of lessons, but not in a formal education setting. The world has been his classroom and observing life around him, his curriculum.

In his new role of "self-help guru," Heenan dispenses that wisdom through tangible and downright funny examples and anecdotes of a 59-year life and a five-decade career in professional wrestling.

And what a career it has been. Heenan shares his many "chair shots," from battling pesky promoters and fanatical fans to combating cancer, which Heenan refers to as "the ultimate heel." Heenan also shares his seemingly infinite supply of humorous stories about many wrestling legends including: Dick the Bruiser, Andre the Giant, Vince McMahon, and Hulk Hogan.

Finally, "The Brain" sums up his experiences with a last bit of advice: "Don't be a 'Bobby Heenan.' I'm not even saying to be a Ray Heenan. Just be a clown. That's the best advice I can give anyone...Now, when do I get paid?" ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Heenan is an Entertaining Man
A self help book from a wrestler is a bit hard to swallow. It is particularly hard to swallow when the wrestler played the role of a crook or con-artist so well. Through his second book, we see a different side of Bobby Heenan. While I would not call it a helpful book, it is entertaining.

In "Chair Shots ...", Bobby Heenan uses wrestling terminology as a metaphor for life. As a man with an eighth grade education, working for wrestling companies since his teen years, he has not written anything revolutionary in this book. Much like his first book, there are a lot of entertaining stories and anecdotes. I found them entertaining as a fan of old time wrestling. For the entertainment value of the stories, the book is worth its price.

While I feel this book is inferior to his first book, I enjoyed reading wisdom on life from Bobby Heenan. Few people realize that there is a human being behind the character he played. This is an opportunity to know the character of the real Booby Heenan. My hope for the future is that Heenan puts out a book of his best one-liners and insults from his wrestling career. A book like that would be a must for me.

No reason for a second book
I loved Bobby's first book but this book has almost nothing to it. It's repetitive and monotonous. Wrestling tales are at a minimum as compared to the first book and I can't believe Bobby would run out of stories. Very poor effort considering Bobby's lengthy career.

Funny stuff
"Chair Shots" is a really funny book with some classic Heenan wit and some really funny stories. Probably the best wrestling book to come out in the last two years. It doesn't appear that cancer has effected his sense of humor!

The Brain Does It Again
Bobby Heenan is one of the funniest men alive. Period. Need proof? I submit his assertion that he has been hit in the head with a chair so many times that his head now smells like a**. Bobby is a great story-teller, and this book is a great read. There's a passage in the book where he says that he wanted this book to read like you were sitting around having some beers and just talking with him, and it does. He has overcome some pretty serious obstacles (i.e., throat cancer) with his humor intact, and his advice is that we all embrace the healing power of laughter. Not really groundbreaking stuff, but it's from the heart. The cartoons are great and the last chapter written in character as "The Brain" is awesome ("Some people are so dumb, they can hide their own Easter eggs."). If you cracked up at the antics of Heenan and Monsoon in the WWF or his later commentary with WCW, you're going to love this book.

Founding Father
A great book from one of the Charter Members of the wrestling fraternity. This is infinitely more than a self absorbed memoir of his well documented life. This is about over-coming challenges (in this case cancer)and other things that may surprise. You will also find a plethora of great stories about wrestling itself (Bobby most certainly didn't want to disappoint the core audience). And don't worry, Bobby can still entertain with the best of them, what a fun book.
A must have for not only the Wrestling fan but also for people with personal challenges.
"The Brain" at his best...5 stars! ... Read more

Book Description

He's got 61 PGA Tour victories to his credit, is a highly sought-after spokesperson, has authored several books and designed a few golf courses in his day, not to mention he pilots his own plane, but to millions of fans he's not Mr. Palmer, not even Arnold. He's simply Arnie-the world-famous guy next door. His achievements on the green may have made him a celebrated athlete, but it's his approachability and down-home humility that have secured his status as one of the most admired people in and out of sports. In this, his first illustrated, autobiographical book, he shares the adventures of his extraordinary life in the same accessible, entertaining voice that's already made him such a familiar figure.

Arnold Palmer: Memories, Stories, and Memorabilia from a Life On and Off the Course gives readers the opportunity to spend some time with Arnie and enjoy firsthand his fascinating anecdotes both personal and professional. These tales alone would be enough to entice any golf fan, but the book features not only rare photos from Arnie's private collection but also removable facsimiles of 12 collectibles from his archives: golf souvenirs, letters, and pictures, all displayed in glassine envelopes. The next best thing to a scrapbook handcrafted by the man himself, for fans of the legendary golfer it's the gift equivalent of a hole in one. AUTHOR BIO: ARNOLD PALMER is commander-in-chief of "Arnie's Army," the world's largest noncombative force. Among his 61 PGA Tour victories, Palmer won the Masters four times, the U.S. Open once, and the British Open twice. A gifted athlete, Palmer is also an accomplished entrepreneur, a skilled aviator, a prominent advertising spokesperson, a talented golf course designer, and the author of four books about the game. He resides in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. ... Read more

Book Description

He's wrestled under many names, "Stunning" Steve Austin™, The Ringmaster, he even wrestled for a time under his own name, Steve Williams. But to fans he is and will always be Stone Cold Steve Austin™. The wrestler with the f-u attitude, the working-class guy who stood up his boss, a multimillionaire, and told him where he could put it. His quick wit and colorful use of language combined with his everyman character captured the hearts of fans worldwide and rewrote the dynamics of professional wrestling forever.

Steve grew up in a small town in Texas, one of four boys, who were fondly called by their parents the "Williams gang." Always a fan of wrestling, Steve seized the chance to study wrestling at a school in Dallas. His ability to take the bumps and hard falls required by his new profession, and his never-say-die attitude, connected him with the fans and his fellow wrestlers. His capricious firing by the WCW™, World Championship Wrestling®, lead to his being hired by World Wrestling Entertainment™.

However, it was Steve's own ability inside the ring and his quick-witted responses that led to his becoming one of the most popular WWE Superstars™ of all time. With the creation of the Stone Cold character, Steve's popularity expanded exponentially. It seemed nothing could stop the Texas Rattlesnake, except himself. In 2001 Steve's life seemed to spiral out of control and he walked away from it all. Now, with his triumphant return to the world of professional wrestling, he is finally ready to tell his story, his way.

The Stone Cold Truth is an unvarnished take on his life, his loves, and his days as a wrestler told in a way that only he could, and you know it's the truth " 'cause Stone Cold says so!" ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Here's cheers to the man that drinks beers
A top read for any Stone Cold fan! He goes through moments in his life, nothing in great detail but definatly picks out little pieces that were obviously important to him. it's pretty quick to get to him getting a start in wrestling. Probably not getting enough perspective from his parents and what they thought (they had editorial pieces during the book along with Jim "J.R." Ross). He probably doesn't say enough about his WCW days, and that might be because he truely doesn't want to remember them to much. It's enough to let us know what's happening but really, most of that and the ECW stuff is covered in the DVD (which I saw before reading the book).

What I was mostly interested in was why he left WWE which, although might be true, kinda left me thinking "is that it?" It's a fair enough excuse but I get the feeling it might have been a little sugar coated. Not much but a little.

It is a good read! And all wrestling fans will enjoy it. Others might not quite get into it but that's the audience. It's a wrestling biography. It's dominated by wrestling stuff.

Maybe Not Perfect But Still Satisfies
All Austin fans will love the Stone Cold Truth. For all his fans, they will get to know everything about Austin they did not know. Any wrestling fan in general should like the book as well, since it has more than enough information to satisfy the reader. I do have to say they really could have been more, but the bottom line is information wise it gets the job done. I thought maybe Austin should have commented more on the people who had had such a great impact on his life. Also some chapters in general are bit short such has the WCW section which, could have been longer since Austin made his debut as a well known profesionally wrester in WCW. Th book in general follows all previous wrestler bios with 300 plus pages broken down to plenty of chapters. Even though Austin did not write evry single bit of the book, the majority is Austin's words. I would have to give it 4 and a half stars, maybe not perfect but still satisfies.

Very enjoyable for the most part
What a great read. This book was very interesting, altough some parts were a liitle too brief there is certainly more than enough information on the life of on of the greatest Wrestling stars and maybe even the best superstar in the wrestling bussiness. Peronally, I really enjoyed reading the whole story invoving Owen Hart. The whole story of him breifly leaving the company was also ver interesting. Overall, thereis plenty of information for any fan to enjoy this autobiography of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

a typical WWE biography, but we get a sense of the man
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is, arguably, one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time. Without question, he is one of the most successful in the World Wrestling Federation (currently World Wrestling Entertainment). He has sold more merchandise and sold out more arenas than any other WWF/E superstar with the possible exception of Hulk Hogan. He was that big. "The Stone Cold Truth" is his story, told in his own words (or at least in his own voice).

Steve Williams takes the reader on the journey of his life, through his days playing high school football in Texas, through college and into his first days as a professional wrestler. Steve tells the reader, in general terms, what he was thinking and feeling and why he made the decisions he did in his life. We follow Steve through the indy wrestling feds, through WCW, ECW and finally the WWF. What is valuable and interesting in this book, other than the easy tone the book takes, is that we get Steve's side of the story in why/how he left WCW, and the story of why he walked out of the WWF following Wrestlemania 18. We also get his side of the story and his thoughts about having his neck broken in a match against Owen Hart.

Every wrestling biography inevitably gets compared to Mick Foley's book, and in comparison, this one does not have the level of detail that Foley provided. It is a typical WWE autobiography in that there are short, fast moving chapters that give us a sense of who Steve Williams is a person, but not quite giving us the full details (without the glitz) that you might find elsewhere. Nonetheless, I did get the feeling that Steve was being honest in the details that he provided, and that this is the way that he sees things about his life and career. This may not be the best wrestling book out on the market, but it's a pretty good one and entertaining.

Jim Ross ruins this book
I was under the impression this was supposed to be Steve Austin's autobiography, but I was wrong. What it turns out to be be is part Austin's book and part some fat man with one eye crying about people he doesn't like. Ross makes many tasteless comments that should not have been printed. Most have nothing to do with Austin or his career. It just has to do with many personal vendettas of this mutant. This was unnecessary and Ross should have just wrote the preface like normal people do. He totally butchered and destroyed the book and this will turn off the reader. Its a shame because Austin was very honest bu ti ti is overshadowed by Ross's crying. ... Read more

Book Description

Let the irrepressible president of the Philadelphia 76ers show you how to succeed in this invaluable blueprint for business and life.

A pioneer in the sports physical therapy industry, Pat Croce went from the training room to the boardroom in one of the most unlikely stories in sports history -- a classic rags-to-riches tale made possible by his indestructible positive attitude. With the same unstoppable character that has made him a favorite motivational speaker of Fortune 500 executives, Croce recounts the moments that taught him to strive for and achieve greatness.

But I Feel Great and You Will Too! is more than just the story of one man's remarkable journey. Throughout this moving, often hilarious, and always brutally honest book, Croce hits you with pointers on goal setting, communication, creative thinking, desire, dedication, and much more. Croce also includes his "Ten Commandments of Customer Service," the same guidelines he used to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the sports industry. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Pat Croce feels great and I do too!
whether or not you know the name pat croce, once you read his inspirational story you can't help but know the name. his motivation and drive launched him from the training room of sports injuries to the front office of sports ownership. an endless go-getter who went and got, pat croce reminds the reader to be hopelessly positive. his 'ten commandments of customer service' is a bible of business. and if owning the 76ers basketball team and starting the high-altitude Slamball league weren't enough, Pat Croce is also a highly motivated motivational speaker, author, television personality, and as his book says 'big scorer.' he'll tell you the secrets to being able to drain that 3-pointer, block that kick, and make that sale (though not all at the same time)! don't think of him so much as an 'entrepreneur' but more as an 'encourageneur.' he even inspired me to write this review! read this book!

Inspiring, funny book for even the non-sports fan
Even if you're not "into" self-help books, do read I FEEL GREAT
AND YOU WILL TOO! by Pat Croce (with Bill Lyon) . . . nor do you
have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this rags to riches tale of a
self-made entrepreneur who became Philadelphia's best known
sports executive . . . it is funny, as well as inspiring . . . I loved
it! . . . you'll often find yourself thinking--as I still am--about the
numerous "Pat Croce Pointers" . . . they emphasize valuable
lessons on goal-setting, sales and marketing, communication,
creative thinking, desire, dedication, and much more . . . I only
regret that the 76ers may soon be losing the charismatic Croce,
but regardless, methinks that you will not have heard the last of him.

There were many memorable passages; among them:
When you're Michael Jordan, you're never allowed to take a
night off because somebody may be in the audience who's
never seen you before and never will get to see you again. That's
a philosophy worth imitating.

Fortunately, our employees took to it [paying careful attention
to detail] instantly. In turn, I consistently let them know they were
appreciated. I made sure our managers lavished compliments,
both verbal and written. And I averaged about 50 personal notes
a week myself. Positive reinforcement is a wondrous thing. It
begets itself.

Want to know another great way to let an employee know how
much you value him or her? Try unleashing the power of these
four words: "What do you think?"

Do Good, Have Fun, and Enjoy the Wealth!!
There are several bloody good points in Pat Croce's book "I Feel Great and you will too!"

First and foremost, it is the power of positive attitude. According to Pat, it was his permanently positive attitude that helped him score big in life. A positive attitude, in turn, comes in several dimensions. It is self-confidence and sincere believing that life is an extremely great thing to experience. It is expecting success in the future and doing the best you can to help God make you prosper (and this does not mean lighting lots of candles in churches, at least not limited by that). It is pushing other people's limits, helping them achieve more than they have even dreamed of. It is "doing good" to "do well". And this all genuinely generates your excitement and further reinforces your positive attitude.

Pat also stresses the importance of balancing your passion and tolerance, the Yang and Yin, in doing things. Being an extremely choleric person himself, Pat emphaqsizes the importance of cultivating tolerance and caring, the Yin, while it is clear from the book that the lack of Yang (agression, energy and passion), or over-restraint of your Yang, can damage the optimal balance as much.

You have to have enough passion and energy to quickly rush into doing what you think is good and worthwile, to "buy" the minds and souls of your pals into the idea; but you also have to sometimes calm yourself down, sit still, and listen to the emotions, concerns and advice of others. Or, more in Pat Croce's style, to restraint yourself from getting too hot and breaking the skull & bones and ripping off the heart of someone who dared to say a bad word to you. And that all requires a good deal of Yin.

Being a physical therapist himself, Pat shamelessly advertises the healthy lifestyle (physical therapy in particular), and does that so damn great, that I just couldn't keep myself from going to the gym the day I finished his book. So if you wish you had yet another stimulus to get yourself to a fitness center - this book will be a double benefit for you.

Overall, the book is mostly a fun read, tells lots of interesting stories, and gives plenty of great advices. It also motivates you to do good things, become rich, engage in sport, and enjoy your life to the fulliest. A great book.

P.S. I recently heard Pat Croce live, and it's nice to see that he learns and progresses. His motivational speech was mostly based on the facts from this book, but they were used more skillfully and also demonstrated some important points that this book does not make clear. Holla at you, Pat!

Just READ it Now!
There are useful pointers when you don't have the time to go through the 2nd or 3rd time. Also, Pat gets straight to the issues (i.e. not beating around the bush) to lengthen the book.

Trust me, it is worth your time and money. And yes, I FEEL GREAT !!! after reading this book.

I Feel Great and You Will Too!
I have followed the work and success of Pat Croce during the past 20 years. His life is the classic American rages to riches story. He is in your face with challenges, no excuses given or taken. His books [also 110 Percent] are inspirational, thought provoking, a good dose of smelling salts in the conformity of America's lackadaisical attitude of today regarding conducting oneself in day to day activities.
There are many excellent reminders throughout his book borrowed from other writers/poets. I especially enjoy his breakdown of G.R.E.A.T.

I have employed many of his points that I have learned over the years in business-and they WORK! ... Read more

Book Description

What's it like to fly a powered paraglider? What's it like to fly like a bird? What's it like to strap an engine and wing to your back and run into the sky? Now you can find out! RUNNING INTO THE SKY follows the adventures of ultralight pilot Chris Wolf as he learns to fly a powered paraglider - the world's smallest powered aircraft! Even if you're not a pilot, you'll enjoy reading this book!

Wolf shares with his readers the incredible exhilarations--and pitfalls--experienced with powered paragliding. Especially valuable for novices, "Running Into The Sky!" provides an honest appraisal of what one can expect to experience in this emerging sport. Told by one who's been there, this book contains many useful tips and provides a wealth of information not found elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Flying high with Running Into the Sky
Even though I'm not a paraglider pilot, I really enjoyed this book! I've always been fascinated by paragliders, but could never find a book about what it's like to fly them. There are plenty of "how to" books on the subject, but I'm not really interested in the details of selecting a wing or an engine. I just want to know about the experience!

Fortunately, Chris Wolf keeps the nitty gritty technical jargon to a minimum in his book. Wolf advertises his book as "What it's REALLY like to fly a powered paraglider". That's exactly what he delivers. He tells the reader what happened to him when he decided to learn to fly a powered paraglider and why he stays with the sport. The details are very entertaining to anyone who has an interest in aviation or wants to experience the thrill of flying through paragliding. Even if you're not a paraglider pilot, some of the stories in the book are hilarious! (I loved "The Great Ostrich Ping Pong Ball Drop".) Some of his adventures are downright scary!

I also liked the fact that Wolf is completely honest. He tell the reader about his crashes and mistakes, along with his triumphs. This is a refreshing change from many of the "sanitized" aviation books, where the author never seems to makes a mistake or makes a bad judgment call. Wolf gives the reader the benefit of his mistakes.

This book has a real "You Are There" feel to it. If you want to know what it's really like to put on a wing and an engine and fly like a bird, this is the book you should read. If you are considering the sport, you need to read this book. I highly recommended it! ... Read more