By: John Wooden
Pages: 272
Biography, Sports
My recommendation: 9 / 10
Date read: 14th Dec'17
Brief review: I am a fan of John Wooden. He was the first person to be honored with Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player as well as a coach. The book gives a glimpse of his life and career, mostly his coaching stint at UCLA. He guided UCLA to a record 10 NCAA titles (including 7 in a row). You will be enriched with many life lessons and awed with the simplicity of John Wooden. He candidly talks about his mistakes (though they were few). I found a few chapters too detailed and a bit technical at times (since I don't follow basketball much), yet this book is a gem. A must read.
By: Miyamoto Musashi
Pages: 160
Self Help, Sports
My recommendation: 9 / 10
Date read: 1st Aug'17
Brief review: Written in the 17th century by undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Though the book was written for martial artists but it possesses timeless principles which can be learned and applied by anyone reading this book. The book is widely recommended but I was not sure of reading it considering the subject of the book (martial arts). In the end I am glad I read it. It carries deep learning’s in a subtle way. Musashi suggests that we should practice daily to become an expert in whatever we do. When practice accumulates over time you make no misses, ten times out of ten. In his words, 'a thousand days of practice should be followed up with ten thousand days of practice for refinement'. The whole book is full of wisdom. I specially liked a few lines from the book (1) It is essential to see to both sides without moving the eyeballs. It is possible with practice (2) Speed is not the true way, rhythm is. (3) The performance of an expert seems relaxed but does not leave any gaps. A must read book by all.
By: Harsha Bhogle
Pages: 196
Motivation, Sports
My recommendation: 8 / 10
Date read: 10th Feb'16
Brief review: Harsha Bhogle is among the finest in the history of Cricket commentary. His observation, analysis and sharpness is unparalleled. In this book, authors (Harsha and his wife Anita) dwell upon the recipe of success. They explore as to why some teams keep on winning while others can't keep the momentum going. It's a simple read and you will find some meaningful insights from someone who has witnessed the world's best players from a close angle. The key message in the book is (1) Work ethic is non negotiable (2) Blaming others is a recipe for failure and (3) Hunger, passion and energy are the attributes of success.
By: Sanjay Sharma
Pages: 258
Inspiration, Sports
My recommendation: 7 / 10
Date read: Year 2015
Brief review: There is no limit to human potential. If you set out to do and achieve what no one expected could be done, you become an inspiration to the world. This is so true for ten sportspeople featured in this inspiring book. It is the story of athletes who brought glory to India, both in the national and international arenas. Not deterred by the the limitations of the human body, these men and women showed extraordinary courage and resilience to overcome adversity to became champions in their respective sports. In this book you will read about the 'magician on the badminton court', 'the one eyed cricketer', an iron lady with polio who won golds for India' and others. The book also takes cognizance of the fact that the country's bureaucrats need to be more sensitive towards such extraordinary stars. True stories related to sports are always inspiring ro read.
By: Matthew Syed
Pages: 268
Motivation, Sports
My recommendation: 10 / 10
Date read: Year 2014
Brief review: Written by a table tennis champion turned sports reporter, the book makes a strong case that champions are made; not born. You will know more about the he athletes superstition of rituals, the curse of choking, the placebo effect, the myth of child prodigy and the power of 10,000 hours of practice and how a father made all three of his daughters world champions in chess. The book cites several champions and their painstakingly hard journey to become the best. Sports is definitely a subject which motivates a lot of us and this book will match your expectations.
