5 comments about Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster.

1. Any tale of the pursuit and possible success of summiting Mount Everest is a tale of human contradiction. The weeks of toil and degree of physical injury endured are all measured against some deep-rooted personal search for something more in this life. And this says nothing of the financial cost of the journey, which for most extreme-altitude climbers is a negligible issue. Historic mountaineer George Mallory is famously known for the quote "Because it's there" which was his answer to the question of why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. That Mallory ultimately died attempting the climb is perhaps telling.
   
   Jon Krakauer's account of the partially doomed 1996 expedition is haunting and unforgettable for several reasons. One is that it's a personal account - he was one of the survivors! Another is the randomness at which so much went wrong during the final days. The sporadic tales of triumph and tragedy are scattered, simultaneous and confused for those in the midst of it all. And finally, the utter pointlessness of the hardships and death hang over the whole recounted story.
   
   Pursuing a mountain like Everest is a strictly human effort. The mountain surely doesn't give a damn.



2. As someone who loved "Into the Wild", I equally enjoyed this deeply personal story of tragedy on Mt. Everest. Krakauer's investigative journalism is to be lauded, especially since this event was so personally painful to him. I am not an avid reader, but I tore through this book. Its vivid imagery of life and death on the mountain was amazing.



3. This is one of the best adventure books I have ever read. Krakauer knows how to illustrate in a very effective way taking the reader along for the ride all the way to the summitt.



4. "Into Thin Air" is a book that is hard to put down and, once it is put down, will be picked up again with much anticipation. It is a thrilling, scary, and tragic adventure of rival mountain climbing teams attempting to summit the highest mountain in the world in 1996. The disaster that transpired on May 10 produced the majority of casualties in the deadliest single year in the history of Mount Everest. Author Jon Krakauer was part of the New Zealand team lead by expert Everest guide Rob Hall. Krakauer was researching the commercialization of the world's tallest mountain for Outside Magazine. Although he had substantial climbing experience, he had never been near the altitude of even the base of Mt. Everest. His apprehension as he took Thai Air flight 311 to Kathmandu, Nepal was well-founded and; no doubt, the results turned out to be worse than expected.
   
   Krakauer had a long history of mountain-climbing before joining Rob Hall's Adventure Consultants to tackle Everest. His childhood heroes were Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein who summited Everest in 1963 via the hitherto unclimbed West Ridge. In his youth, his life revolved around his next climb. He, therefore, brought much technological understanding of the art of climbing to this book. As a member of the close-knit climbing community, he also explained the esteem many climbers gave to Everest which, surprisingly, was not very high due, in large part, to the number of less experienced climbers able to scale the 29,028 feet with the help of guides and Sherpas.
   
   In addition to first and second hand accounts of the tragedy that unfolded in May 1996, Krakauer gives the reader some understanding of the Everest climbing culture and experience from the way of the life of the Sherpas to the effects suffered from high altitude. One disappointment is the lack of photos in this edition. There are only a handful at the front of the book and a color photo of the Adventure Consultants' crew on the back of the dust jacket with no names underneath. An illustrated issue of this book is available but it would have added much to this edition to have more photos included instead of the drawings that begin each chapter. Many times when reading about a climber or a section of the mountain did this reviewer wish there was a photo to which to refer. For those who do not know the story and do not wish to know what happens to the climbers beforehand, do not read the captions under the photos. Another important element missing from this book is an index.
   
   The lack of additional photos and an index will not detract from the score, however, because "Into Thin Air" is one of the most spell-binding books this reader has read in a long time. It is extremely well written and, aside from the captions to the photos at the beginning of the book, does not give anything away so those (like this reviewer) who do not know the story beforehand, will probably feel some emotions when it is revealed who survives and who does not. This reader was surprised by some of the twists in the story. Anyone interested in real-life adventure and the struggle to survive will enjoy this book. The many one-star reviews mainly focus on Krakauer's critical assessment of Mountain Madness guide Anatoli Boukreev who, before his death in another mountain disaster, wrote "The Climb" to give his side of the 1996 tragedy. Boukreev is given praise for his acts of heroism in this book; however, the points about his decision not to take oxygen and to leave the summit before his clients seem fair. Actually, Krakauer is much harder on the leader of the South African team, Ian Woodall. Krakauer also expresses much guilt for not helping certain climbers. Only with hindsight is it known how close some of these climbers in distress were or what lay ahead for other climbers on their way down the mountain. Also, one should not forget the effects high altitude has on a person's physical and mental capacity. This reviewer highly recommends "Into Thin Air" so that readers can judge for themselves.



5. It is a bit sad that this exceptionally good story is hampered by the bad formatting.
   
   I really looked forward to re-read this book on my Kindle - in fact I decided that this book should be the first thing I read on my new K3.
   
   The publisher has done a very bad job when converting the excellent paper editions (I have read both the paperback and the hardback) to a Kindle Edition.
   
   For one, the pictures included in the book is of much lower quality than the Kindle screen can display. Also, the table of persons is less than stellar formatted.
   
   However, the worst thing about the book is that every foot-note is just thrown in the middle of the text instead of doing the right e-book thing: Creating a hyperlink to the very foot-note. The foot-notes should also be kept together in a separate apendix at the back of the book.
   
   There are also quite a few smaller annoyances through the book which really destroy the joy of reading this superb story.
   
   As the Kindle Edition now stands - you could really just have read a text file!
   
   If you really care to read this story - which you should do - avoid the Kindle Edition as all the formatting faults is getting in the way of enjoying the story.

5 comments about The Art of War.

1. This book and its tactics have been used by every socialist including Obama to defeat you even though your ideas were much better.



2. This is one of those "timeless classics," It is a very philisophical book & many of the thoughts in this text apply to various aspects of life outside of war. Sun Tsu is intricate about the heirarchy, communication, decipline, and tactical components of war while continuously shedding light on human nature. I found it very enlightening because when I read certain passages I recalled situations in my life that were similar or I remembered a segment from an action/war movie where some of those principles applied. I think I will view many things with more prestige after reading this book...



3. I was well pleased with the prompt delivery of my book,I think the book is a decent book for the price



4. The Art of war is an unique book which deals with management skill development tools. The techniques explained in the book are universal and applicable in all times and situations.



5. This edition is the stripped-down basics only. No commentary, no historical background, just the basic text of Sun Tzu's Art of War. I have a commentary version that is 4x thicker. Love this one for easy carrying and quick review.

5 comments about The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math, and Just About Anything.

1. I found this book interesting only through the first few chapters.
   
   The information on myelin and how we learn make a lot of sense. Coyle's first few chapters were written with this deep practice method in mind - short stories and good examples breaking down how the process works. Thus, I understood it better.
   
   Then, the book veers to tangentially-related tales about hotbeds of success -such as with the KIPP educators, who must have granted the author more access than the other hotbeds because it carried on and on.
   
   Admittedly I had to skim ahead. My eyes perked up later when I saw the chapter on Jamarcus Russell and his trainer. It is unfortunate that he was chosen as an example, considering he is one of the biggest NFL draft busts. The much-told Kurt Warner saga exemplifies deep practice (he learned from the compressed Arena League action, and failures) than Russell the underachiever.
   
   Fortunately the Jamarcus Russell story is late in the book - and many readers will have bailed by then.
   
   The book is OK at best and rates much lower than the excellent "Lance Armstrong's War". It is too bad the book does not practice what it preaches.
   
   
   



2. If you are serious about acquiring a skill or helping others acquire a skill of any type, this book is a must-read!!! The understanding of what happens to us physically when we practice to acquire a skill, any skill, is a real eye opener.



3. It was recommended by a friend, bought it, loved it, bought another for another friend.



4. Daniel has written a book that not only is a fun read, but documents his thesis well. The entire premise of the book, how we develop talent is fascinating and he has an innate ability to speak directly to the reader. His writing style is conversational, fun, and irreverent. The way we develop talent can be applied to all areas of one's life. Great read.



5. I had this book referred to me coupled with some pretty lofty laudatory praise. A sea parting event for the reader. That, it wasn't (for me)...but it is a fine book that largely restates established rules for deep learning towards outperformance capabilities to arise. It also provides some fine examples for each of the key themes the author is attempting to communicate. Coyle is an established and fine writer, so the text flows well. In sum, I found this book useful and likely to be very powerful for a reader who has not previously been exposed to general issues of training and deep learning for outperformance results.

5 comments about Open: An Autobiography.

1. This review is only pertaining to the audio copy. I checked it out of the library because I thought it would be a great "read" for my commute. I gave up before getting through the first disc. Eric Davies's voice was a terrible choice for me with this book. I felt like I was listening to a horror movie trailer the whole time. It was very unsettling and kept me from getting connected to the material. I'll get it in paperback instead.



2. All I have to say is, that I dont follow tennis at all, but reading this made me google every incident and every player mentioned!! Fantastic read !! love it.



3. To keep this short, this book is so well written. I am not a tennis fan but when the book came out, I thought it would be fun to read since he was from Vegas (so am I). I downloaded the sample to my kindle and had to go back to Amazon to purchase the book. WOW, caught my attention right away. This is a favorite of mine, recommend it often. I laughed, cried, experienced every emotion while reading this book. Wow, couldn't put it down. Loved every minute of it. Thanks for sharing your story, Andre. Well worth the read.



4. From everything I could tell, this was probably the most honest and least self-aggrandizing exercise in autobiography I've ever encountered. The more lurid revelations and surprises inside Open are surely well-known by now, so I'll skip mention of them and just say that what is unexpectedly contained within these pages is as much the story of one man's evolution as it is a revealing look into the career of one of the more famous players in the modern era of the sport of tennis. I liked reading this book and I'm glad I bought it.



5. I have never been a big fan of Andre Agassi, and I started getting interested in tennis when he was in the last year of his career as a professional tennis player. I remember watching that match he played with Bagdatis - it was intense...
   I didn't know much about Andre Agassi (other than that he is one of the greatest tennis players) before I have read the book, so I was neither disappointed, nor shocked by facts of his life. I wasn't troubled also because the overall tone the book is hopeful, as there is a definite force of the brightness and confidence from the author, from where he is right now, even when in the book he is insecure, messed up, or depressed.
   I think it's a great effort by Agassi to document moments of his life, dissect and analyze them, and so find peace in his self.
   I picked the book at a library, but now that I finished reading it, I am going to buy it because it deserves to be in my home library.
   It's a genuine, insightful and bright book by a genuine, insightful and bright person

5 comments about Into the Wild.

1. Absolutely mesmerizing and without a doubt the best piece of investigative journalism that I've had the pleasure to read. Krakauer gives McCandless new life on the page all the while paying tribute to wanderlust: the incurable ailment that has doubtless claimed thousands of lives over the millennia.
   
   Many continue to hold Chris McCandless in contempt for his apparent foolishness and the supposed meaninglessness of his death. In fact, Krakauer and his formidable writing ability have given McCandless and his story meaning and significance that a select few of us could ever hope to achieve.



2. This novel is well written. One could sympathize for the main character. One could really get inside of his head to understand why he was the way he was and why he chose to do what he did. This was a decent book, and I would recommend it, but it was not my favorite.



3. First caught a glimpse of the movie, than read the book, and than watched the entire movie again. Both were great, both where different. You just can't simply try to understand the movie without reading the book first, it has much more depth. My reviews are going to be more towards the bad reviewers and those who criticized Christopher McCandless.
   
   Isn't mankind's greatest ambition is to look beyond the stars and find ourselves amongst the universe? To set out blindly in the hopes that we discover something greater than ourselves.
   
   The human spirit is always seeking adventure and the greatest rewards come from the greatest of challenges and difficulties. The challenge of knowing you can never be fully prepared no matter how much preparation and time you've given yourself. The idea of making the best out of a bad situation and getting the most out of what you have. Christopher said it best in his letter to Wayne when he said that his travels where too easy with all the money he had given him with his paycheck. That things were a lot more exciting when he was penniless.
   
   Through the book you realize that his problem with his family meant nothing overall because the fact is everyone one comes from some degree of a dysfunctional family and the experience you gain from those moments in your life are what builds your characteristics. The story is about human ambition, the raw nature of the human spirit, to explore knowledge beyond our horizon and this is revealed through Christopher's story.
   
   Those who criticize his story and his individuality are those who are lost in today's society. Lost in their secure 9 to 5 jobs, weekend getaways, and nightly extravaganzas. Those who measure their lives with the wealth they've accumulated and could never see the world beyond their front door. Would you be on the same pages of those who thought it was insane to colonize in North America and deal with the Natives after Columbus had accidently discovered the new world. Or thought the Lewis and Clark expedition across America was too farfetched. Or perhaps the Wright Brothers should have never even attempted to build a machine that can fly because in your mind it goes against the realm of normal. Without the attempts of these historic individuals, America would not be where it is today. But that's alright, be content with your simple minded life because when it's all over and you're lying on your deathbed, you wouldn't even begin to comprehend your existence in this universe.



4. The book is as advertised. The only problem was how long it took to get here.



5. The book Arrive early thats great. But didnt like the condition of the book. Lets be more specific to the customers.

5 comments about Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.

1. Where Men Win Glory is another well written narrative by Krakauer about real events in our history. The story of Pat Tillman is not a feel good story but a story of how our government used Pat Tillman and others like Jessica Lynch to generate popular support for the war in Iraq. From the president on down, the propaganda created to make hero's of those two warriors is breathtaking. The coverup of Pat Tillman's death by friendly fire however is even more breath taking. If there is one person who is the true villain in this remarkable tale, it is then Brigadier General Stanley McChrystal who was at the center of the coverup, and yet still managed to keep his job, because after all he was the darling of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who felt he was the best general we had in the Middle East. McChrystal made it easy for the lower ranking officers of the U.S. Army to participate in the coverup and even extend it to fellow Ranger friends of Tillman who knew the truth but were told to keep their mouths shut. The only person who really got reprimanded over this incident was the Lt. General in charge of the Rangers, but then he was already retired by this time, so it was easy to make him the scapegoat. Another truism of war and the military is even when you follow orders you know are wrong, you can still be criticized later for carrying them out, especially if your superiors all of a sudden get amnesia about the orders they gave. If there is one criticism with Krakauer's book it is that he took an awful lot of pages to cover material about the history of terrorism against the U.S. and not enough about the aftermath of Pat Tillman's death and the impact of that on the country. Part of the reason could be that he did not have the cooperation of the Tillman family other than Pat's brother Kevin and his wife Marie. So there were gaps in the narrative during the most explosive part of this story. Another key theme in this story were Pat Tillman's personal belief system which put him at odds with the U.S. Army. He was a liberal and an athiest, and he had no qualms about questioning authority even in the military. There is a strong Christian fundamentalist viewpoint in the Army that did not care for Tillman's athiest views and they thwarted his explicit request not to have the military or religion involved in any aspect of his funeral. The hero of this story is Pat Tillman and this story of his life makes him even more so. He was an idealist who had a strong love for his country and for the underdog. He put little value in money and turned down a lucrative multi-million dollar contract with the L.A. Rams out of loyalty to the Arizona Cardinals. He also turned down a chance to get out of the Army early to resume his career in professional football. Tillman believed in loyalty and committments. No wonder the U.S. Army was to use him for their own ends. Be warned: if you think you're country can do no wrong, this is not the book for your. If you're a free thinker like Pat Tillman this is an honest accounting of a horrible event.



2. At the bare-bones level, "Where Men Find Glory" tells the true story of how Pat Tillman left the NFL for the Army Rangers after 9/11, was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, how the Army and White House covered up the truth and how his family fought to learn the truth about how he died. Jon Krakauer sketches Pat's youth and the misadventure that landed him in jail, transforming him from a shallow jock to a disciplined and hardworking athlete and scholar. As background to Tillman's story, Krakauer gives one of the most succinct and accessible accounts of the birth of the Taliban and of Osama bin Laden's rise to prominence. He is also unsparing yet truthful about the Bush Administration's march to war and its willingness to divert public attention from bad war news with concocted stories of heroism in the field. It is one of the story's many ironies that Pat Tillman was peripherally involved in the mission to save Jessica Lynch, who was made into a Iraqi-killing, clip-emptying heroine with the help of the White House political machine.
   
   Krakauer shows Pat the man rather than the icon. Tillman was remarkable, and unusual for our times, with a profound sense of self and a devotion to ideals - love of country, family and truth. His relationship with his mom, brothers and fiancée, Marie, show him as almost too good to be true - sensitive, smart, skeptical, inquisitive, welcoming risk and defending the downtrodden. Ironically, again, it was those ideals that caused Tillman, after 9/11, to leave the Arizona Cardinals and to do what he felt what was right -- defend his country.
   
   The book really takes off when Tillman joins the Army. He grapples with the absurdities of military life. At age 25 - a seasoned professional, college grad and disciplined worker - he bristles at the immaturity of the aimless 19-year-olds who joined along with him. Army life -- which rewards rank, obedience and longevity rather than courage, experience and results -- rubs him the wrong way. He sincerely disagrees with the war in Iraq. Krakauer's reconstruction of Tillman's last mission is full of the chaos and stupidity of battle - politically-driven strategies, pointless military objectives, errors in judgment and tactics, and the panic of unseasoned soldiers firing wildly at unseen enemies. Tillman's death (or someone's) was all but inevitable. What was avoidable, however, was the Bush administration scrambling to make political hay of Tillman's sacrifice. Almost as soon as the fighting was over, the Army concocted a story more favorable to its interests and conspired to ensure that Tillman's fellow soldiers would go along. It's a testament to the love of soldiers for each other that the truth leaked out after only a few weeks. But it still took years for Tillman's family, in the face of Army stonewalling and slow release of the facts - to get to something close to the truth.
   
   "Where Men Find Glory" tells us the truth about Pat Tillman's life and death. The book about self-interested military officers and politicians who are not ashamed to use the devotion, selflessness and sacrifice of others to advance their personal causes. But as Jessica Lynch said after her own experience, there's so much real heroism in battle that there's no need to invent it. If there is a larger meaning in the book it is that Americans who embody truth and courage still exist. Our nation is hugely diminished when those values are faked or conveyed upon the craven and the mendacious.



3. I'm a big fan of Jon Krakauer's writing. He's one of these great writers who can pull you into the action and immerse you in his world. Here he captures the issues and context around the death of Pat Tillman well but is so caught up with the details and issues that he fails to really draw the reader in.
   
   There's no arguing that Pat Tillman's death was tragic made even worse by the government's cover up of how it happened. But there's just not enough story to make it a real compelling book. After you get through the basics of what happened and the history of both Afghanistan and Pat Tillman there's mot much else to be explored. This story could have easily been captured in a Men's Journal article or even in Rolling Stone, as written it just isn't enough of a story to make a great book.
   
   I do think the beginning of the book where Krakauer traces the roots of the conflict in Afghanistan is interesting, but his light tough of the info just doesn't do it justice. That part of the book felt like it needed a hard news reporter who really dug into the info vs. a top level overview which we get here. Perhaps in the end Krakauer is simply out of his element and bungled the ball trying to balance telling a personal story and a exposing a political cover up.



4. The harsher side of Pat Tillman is revealed - High School bully,(felony charges for beating & hospitalizing a minor !!), the Judge reducing Tillmans charges for the God-Almighty-Football Scholarship .... UGH! What a stomach-turning revelation! This is the point where I began to dislike Pat Tillman. More "Jock than Patriot"
   
   As a side note.....Author re-hashes George Bush/Al Gore Presidential election....Florida "chads"...Blah...Blah..Waa...Waaa
   If Al Gore was such a shoe in, why have'nt the Dems run Al Gore again?



5. Krakeur certainly has a knack for telling the amazing, but twisted, story of Pat Tillman's life and death. I was pleasantly surprised to be provided with an in-depth history of the khost region, and a factual explanation of the situation the US has delved into in this region. There's no one better than John Krakeur to tell this one!

5 comments about Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity.

1. Helps the non-athlete drive to the goals in life and remain motivated when the oomph wains.



2. This is a great read for football fans (Saints fans in particular), but it is also an encouragement to all who have faced tragedy (such as the suicide of Drew's mother) or have had to overcome adversity (as Drew did following his shoulder injury and as the folks of New Orleans have done since Katrina). It is also encouraging to read of the Christian faith which I share with Drew. I highly recommend this book.



3. I recently had my faith tested, not in a religious fashion but faith in myself. I am working on a project that I created and am at the stage of development where others are now involved. I have been told from nearly everyone that, for one reason or the other, I have to change what I have created and do it the way everyone else does. I was close to caving to these critics when I heard and interview with Drew Brees. He talked about staying strong and using adversity as a tool to grow. He talked about having faith in yourself and your abilities. He touched me and I immediately made the call to tell my critics that this project would move forward according to my vision and no one elses. Twenty minutes later, by total coincidence, a good friend calls me from San Diego. She tells me that she is in line at a book store and has just bought me a copy of Drew Brees' new book and is in line to have it autographed. If that isn't the universe reaching out then I don't know what is.
   She sent the book, I read it immediately, and can truly say that it has changed my life. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a lift.
   I am also a 29 year San Diego Charger season ticket holder. I was at most of the Charger games that he references in the book. I was there when he hurt his shoulder. I miss him in SD. An awful lot of character walked out the door with Drew when he left.
   Hey Drew, I read your book, how about you return the favor? LOL.
   Justice Rules - 2010 Finalist Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest (A Brian Wylie Novel)



4. As a female Saints fanatic and season ticket holder since '72, this book definitely fulfilled my expectations! Drew Brees is a one in a million guy, and I believe it when he says God led him to N.O. We needed a hero, and Drew fulfilled that need, along with many other caring people, in helping to restore 'the city that care forgot'.
   
   The book was inspirational to me. I laughed, smiled, giggled, and cried. It was so well written that I felt I was sitting there with Drew as he told his story. In the face of so much adversity, his faith kept him going. So many of us would have thrown in the towel, but this man had the strength, determination, and faith to go on.
   
   I don't think I'll read a more heartfelt book for a long while to come. I could barely put it down until I finished it. And the photos! Oh my, they tell the story as well.
   
   A great read for anyone, whether or not a sports fan. A true story of a good man who has achieved great success is my kind of book! Who dat? Drew dat!



5. I asked my wife to get this book for me as I am a die-hard Saints and Drew Brees fan. In an effort to be totally honest, I wasn't expecting a whole lot; for a couple of reasons.
   
   First reason, Drew is only 31 years old. I'll admit that I thought to myself, "heck, I've got underwear approaching that age" (well, to hear my wife you would think that). What could he possibly write about when it comes to adversity (and I've been a full-time law enforcement officer for 33 years)!
   
   Second reason, he's a jock! Most jocks (not all), when I was growing up, were not known for their articulate literary ability (in fact I'm not sure many of them could spell that much less tell you what it meant).
   
   However and whatever the reason I asked her to buy the book, I'm truly happy that I did. Yes, it's true that I've been employed in the same job for longer than Drew is old but the adversity, the unknown and the unasked question "what happens if I can't get this fixed?" that he and Brittany faced in their relatively young lives, would have kept MANY a 'better man' down for the count.
   
   As for the 'jock' notion, that never even entered the picture after I began reading (the book was truly hard to put down). It's not only well written in the sense that it's articulate but it flows well and it's easy to keep up with where he was during a given event.
   
   During the few days I spent reading the book, I kept telling my wife, "this is a good book!" She finally couldn't take anymore and she picked it up and began reading.
   
   Finally and to me personally, most importantly, it remains funny to me how one person will percieve something while the person right next to them will have seen something totally different. God knows, I've seen that event countless times in my career as a police officer but for here, I am referring to at least one of the other reviews on this same book.
   
   I read where one other reviewer was 'reminding' Drew that there is no 'I' in teamwork. And while it's true, there is no 'I' in teamwork, I remained consistently and constantly, not to mention, pleasantly surpised to whom Drew did give credit. Virtually every other page had him giving the credit to whom credit should have been given but is often overlooked, if not ignored. God.
   
   Drew Brees is a star quarterback of a team that I suspect will go down in history as making the comeback of the century, yet he did not lose sight of who blessed him with his gift, his focus and the family and team that backs and supports him. To me, that says more than any book can hold in print, about the man.
   
   Great book Drew! Well done! God bless you, your family and your team.

5 comments about The Dr. Bob Rotella CD Collection.

1. If you are looking to improve your golf, make this collection your first investment. It will be the best money that you have ever spent on your game. "Putting Out of Your Mind" and "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" will make you a better player.



2. The content of the cd's is good. Lots of antidotal stories. Expected more thought provoking ideas than was presented. Plastic cases the the cd's came were mostly destroyed in shipping, really poor packaging. trying to contact supplier to lodge a complaint was not very easy. Would have to really want something to go through the procedure again.



3. Several of my amateur golf friends have the Dr. Bob Rotella CD collection. We tease one another during someone's challenging golf shot and ask, "What would Bob say?" Bob's words of wisdom are reiterated throughout our weekend game. Bob is our guru, our fifth player, our coach (we can't afford a live one). His soothing voice, superb credentials, and common sense approach make this a winner!! Bob is good for those having anger issues over lousy shots. I highly recommend this set. One needs to enjoy, laugh and move on regarding their golf game. Go Fore It!!



4. I purchased this cd set to improve my mental game and although it helped somewhat, it left me feeling very inferior to the folks he talks about and the stories he tells. Its definitely for the advanced golfers. He talks about players with handicaps from 12 down to scratch.



5. Dr. Rotella knows both the physical and mental side of golf, but his right-on mental approach allows golfers of all levels to directly apply these lessons to his/her game. Thank goodness that more information on the mental aspects of golf is available - there is plenty of info on the physical aspects of golf. Get this four CD set if you want to take your golf to the next, and beyond, level.

5 comments about Born to Run.

1. Once upon a workout dreary, while I trotted, weak and weary,
   over many quaint and furious heel-strike, feet now throbbing sore,
   while I stumbled, nearly bumbled, suddenly there came a stabbing,
   as of someone cruelly stabbing, stabbing at my insole's door.
   "Tis an odd pebble," I muttered, "stabbing at my insole's door-
   only this, and nothing more."
   
   Ah, distinctly t'was but likely, from the dark pits of my psyche
   as each separate worn out Nike, wrought its mark on arches sore.
   Lo, though I felt idiotic; - vainly I implored my new orthotic-
   mend my arches, end my sorrow- sorrow for my poor foot's core
   For the rare and radiant arch once named within this biped's core-
   nameless here for evermore.
   
   And with painful step uncertain, pulled aside my mental curtain
   Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
   So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
   "'Tis some pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core-
   Some odd pebble entreating entrance at my poor foot's core; -
   This it is, and nothing more."
   
   Presently the pain grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
   "oww," said I, "You pebble, though small have made running such a chore
   And as I run my strength sapping, and so quickly you came rapping,
   And so forcefully you came tapping, tapping at my poor foot's core,
   That I scarce was sure I felt you"- here I un-shod the poor core,
   empty there, and nothing more.
   
   Deep into that Nike peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
   Doubting, dreaming dreams no runner ever dared to dream before;
   But the silence was unbroken, and the emptiness gave no token
   The only word there spoken was to this biped's unshod core
   This I whispered, and an echo murmured back, "ouch- foot is sore"
   merely this, and nothing more.
   
   Back into the Nike turning, all my joints within me burning,
   Soon again I felt a tapping somewhat harder than before.
   "Surely," said I, "surely that is something in my orthotics:
   Let me see, then what therat is, and this mystery explore -
   Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
   'Tis a poor fit and nothing more."
   
   Now I stood and flung the shod, though not far, it landed whence I trod,
   Now stood I, bare and stately, looking on pale feet once sore
   Not the least pain in my feet; they smiled back as to entreat
   Now set freed and perched below me was my pale white core
   Perched in dust and now unshod there was my pale white core
   Perched and bare, sore no more
   
   Then this bony foot beguiling my sad frowning into smiling
   By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
   "Though thy form art shaped and true, thou," I said, "art sure no shoe,
   Ghastly grim and ancient foot wandering from the Nike shore -
   Shouldn't I shod you to protect you and your fallen core
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   Much I marveled this ungainly foot to hear discourse so plainly,
   Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
   For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
   Ever yet was blest with seeing naked foot in dust to adore -
   Foot or toe upon the dirty brown dust now below me, that I now adore,
   And now to shod "Nevermore."
   
   Now my foot, standing lonely in the dirty dust, spoke only
   That one word, as if its soul in that one word it did outpour.
   Nothing further then it uttered- no step had it stuttered-
   Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other shoes I've tried before-
   On the morrow you will pain me, same as shoes have left me sore."
   Then my foot said, "Nevermore."
   
   Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
   "Doubtless," said I, "what foot utters is its only stock and store,
   Caught from some cruel Nike master whom unmerciful Disaster
   Followed fast and followed faster till its steps turned arches sore-
   Till the dirges of its Hope when shoes turned arches sore-
   Cried' Never - nevermore'."
   
   But the bare foot still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
   Hastily found I seat next to my dear feet, looked at arches once held sore;
   Then upon the dirt road sinking, I betook my feet though stinking
   Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this fallen arch often sore
   What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and fallen arch often sore
   Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
   
   This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
   To the foot whose fiery soles now burned into my bosom's core;
   This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
   On the dirt road dusty lining that the bright sunlight gloated o'er
   But whose dusty dirty lining with the sunlight gloating o'er,
   shoes shall wear, ah, nevermore!
   
   Then me thought my stride grew lighter, like footwork of a prize fighter
   Stride like Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the dusted floor,
   "Doh!," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
   Respite - respite, delight, from thy memories of foot once sore
   Quaff, oh quaff this kind respite, but won't the foot again become sore?"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -
   Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,
   Desolate yet all undaunted, on this dusty path enchanted -
   On this sole by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
   Is there - is there relief by shoe to be had? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "Barefoot!" said I, "how very odd! - better still than shoes of devil! -
   Whether Nike sent, or over-pronation caused thee foot to sore,
   Tell this soul with fit orthotic, makes me run as though robotic,
   Shall mine foot have pain thought chronic and remain ever sore?
   Clasp arch fallen and broken, which has been forever sore?
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   "To you oh shoe this word in parting, shoe or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
   "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
   Leave no black swoosh as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
   Leave arches to be unbroken!- quit the pain that makes me sore!
   Take thy print from out my heart, and take thy form from off my floor!"
   Quoth my foot, "Nevermore."
   
   And the shoe, never fitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
   In the pallid dust of the trail just where my once shod feet were sore;
   And the Nikes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming,
   And the moonlight o'er them streaming throws its shadow on the floor;
   And my sole from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
   Shall be lifted - Evermore!



2. Super book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You'll see how easy it is to buy into marketing if nothing else! Author is a riot to read as well!



3. This was an excellent book, full of tales of both great humor and profound stories. I finished it in about three days - once you get sucked in, it's tough to get back out. If you are a runner, it will inspire you to keep running, if you're not a runner, it might just inspire you to start.



4. I wish I was a runner growing up. Born to run reads easy and fluid, with tangents on a needs to know basis. From the love of wind in your hair to the medical structure of your feet to paleontology and evolution Born build a convincing case about how we should be running in the future. And above all McDougall shares his compassionate style of writing on a passion we all should share.



5. Amazon won't like this- but save yourself some money and just go to his website. Most of the information I was really looking for was there-- which is what prompted me to buy the book. This said, I liked it anyway... it makes sense looking at biomechanics that big padded shoes dont help- and may well hurt us. I don't run with a "heel to toe" gait, but more of a flat foot strike- so I was looking for information on less constructed shoes & a way to run w/ less pain.
   This is not the most well written book- which is sad as he is apparently a sports writer. He can be funny- but the back story is so long & drawn out that I really skimmed over a lot of it just to get to the technical stuff.

3 comments about The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People & Teams That Win Consistently.

1. If you've been put off by leaders who leave a wake of wreckage behind as they bulldoze towards objectives, then Dungy's writing will be fresh air to you. His conviction is that the focus of a great leader should be not on outcomes, but on the good of those being led. His purpose is clear, people first, and then objectives.
   
   Dungy makes a clear distinction between a position of leadership and a person of leadership. Even without a formal leadership title, people can still make a difference as they influence those around them. Additionally, Dungy doesn't believe leadership is something a person is born with, but rather it's a trait to be developed. A person does this by committing to those around them.
   
   Unlike many books on leadership, particularly business books, this biographical account comes across sincerely, warmly, and compellingly. Dungy's focus on people is exemplified in his writing style - it's encouraging rather than demeaning.
   
   As one might expect, many of the anecdotes and the immediate context in which leadership traits are conveyed is couched in football. Dungy is, after all, a football coach. So, be prepared to hear about situations, and circumstances, and even conflict that has surrounded his many years of coaching.
   
   In short, if you're not afraid of the pig skin and if you could use some encouragement - this just might be the book you're looking for.



2. The Mentor Leader is an excellent book that is both inspiring, challenging, and practical. Coach Dungy offers a truly unique perspective as a Super Bowl winning football coach, a devoted Christian, and a man who has benefited much mentoring and who has intentionally sought for years to have a positive influence on the lives of those he touches. The book is certainly not shy of principles and thoughtful teaching on the topics of mentoring in leadership, but it really shines as a practical and wise approach that has been borne in the laboratory of life rather than taught in a business school. Author of best-selling book Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, he has seen firsthand "that the way to bring the best out of an individual or a team is to teach-by example and through one-on-one, step-by-step mentoring." The book is packed full of stories and anecdotes, but it is not just a random assortment of anecdotes. Dungy actually covers a lot of material, and arranges it thoughtfully.
   
   Table of contents
   Chapter 1. The Mandate of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 2. The Mind-Set of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 3. The Maturity of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 4. The Marks of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 5. The Moments of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 6. The Model of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 7. The Means of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 8. The Methods of a Mentor Leader
   Chapter 9. The Measure of a Mentor Leader
   
   If you're a fan of leadership books, you'll recognize ideas and quotes by leadership experts such as Ken Blanchard, Steven Covey, John Maxwell and others. If not, that's ok too, as he weaves these in naturally along with stories and real-life illustrations. Dungy also does a great job at pointing out where ideas like mentoring and servant leadership are taught and modeled in the Bible, especially in the life of Jesus.
   
   Some of the topics or concepts that I thought were particularly interesting: focusing on strengths, the preeminence of character and integrity in the live of a leader, building a team whose strengths complement yours and each others, the importance of just hanging out and being present in the lives of those you hope to influence, the need to create a culture to effect change, and the idea of treating those you lead as volunteers. Now, there's nothing ground-breaking in any of this, but Dungy does a great job of modeling all of this, and of explaining it in a down-to-earth way.
   
   Towards the end he finishes by acknowledging that a lot has been covered, and the idea of being a mentor leader might be a daunting one, a lot to remember. So he encourages us with this advice: "Don't worry about remembering it. Think instead about beginning to live what we've talked about - each and every day, in every setting of your life. And let me encourage you to start right where you are, with the people right around you, doing something as simple as engaging with them and talking. Sometimes the smallest things we do have the biggest impact. Just start."
   
   Being a mentor leader is being about the journey, adding value in the lives of other people in every moment. The Mentor Leader should be of great interest for fans of leadership and football alike.



3. Jim Caldwell provides and critical introduction to another great book by Tony Dungy, where Jim points out that he was not able to obtain a head coaching position because there were some things that he was not paying attention to. After asking Tony about things he could do to be a head coach, Tony was able to point out great books by Michael Fullan and Jim Collins that are now mainstays for leadership no matter where you work or what you do. With that piece of information, Tony lays out a structure of how and why mentor leaders are important in every organization. He gives different examples of types of mentors and what mentors can do to empower those around them. A fantastic read for anyone and everyone.