Yes, the Inner Game of Tennis is a great book, and completely relates to the mental game of pool. By far the best book I have read on metal aspect of competition.
Pleasures Of Small Motions
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Yes, the Inner Game of Tennis is a great book, and completely relates to the mental game of pool. By far the best book I have read on metal aspect of competition.
Couldn't agree more. I actually liked "The Inner Game of Tennis" better, but they are both good. To be honest, certain parts of the Monk's book "I Came to Win" are actually quite good, if you can see through the somewhat fluffy and pseudo-zenlike way he writes. The quote from his book I remember the most is "when the shots shoot themselves, the master has arrived." This is essentially the exact same concept that Gallway is describing in Tennis (though Gallway explains it in a far more down to earth and clear way-which is more accessible to most readers).
In any case Spidey has pretty much said it all...if you read the book and don't see why people like it, it is not too likely that any further explanation will turn you around on that idea.
KMRUNOUT
get The Inner Game of Tennis. Its only like 70 pages...I highly doubt you will be disappointed.
Folks:
If you discount the Acknowledgments and For Further Reading sections, this book is EXACTLY 140 pages. It is a small, and I repeat, small paperback book. It's not even half the size of most pool instructional books. The TV Guide is bigger than this book! Heck, I've even seen certain Cliff Notes editions themselves larger than Pleasures of Small Motions!
Are we actually saying that reading 140 pages of medium-faced type is a stretch for this crowd? We want Cliff Notes on 140 pages??
When reading books, sometimes you have to slog your way through material that won't immediately catch your fancy; that's standard fare with *any* written material. It doesn't mean you abandon the whole volume right then and there. Many times, if you slog through something that's not interesting, it'll come to you later, when you read the subsequent sections, and then a huge lightbulb will illuminate. Or, you can use the skimming technique, flipping through the book and stopping at something that catches your eye, and reading from that point, discovering that you really *do* need to read the book from start to finish. The skimming technique "lights your fire" to read the book in its entirety.
Folks, nothing comes for free in this world. You have to expend at least a little effort for it. At least those things worthwhile pursuing, anyway. And while I myself can probably write a decent "here's 'Pleasures of Small Motions' boiled-down into 10 pages for the DCP crowd" style of Cliff Notes, I simply won't. It's not worth the effort for folks that won't meet those of us [who've read the book] halfway.
As for Steve J.'s comments about the OP posting questions in the Ask The Instructor forum, and then arguing with those that give him direct answers to his questions, yup, I've seen it. Ya gotta wonder what people's motivations are...
Read the book. If after you've read it, questions arise about what you've read or there's something that you don't understand, post 'em here -- we'll be glad to answer!
-Sean <- consumes at least 200 pages of written material a day, often in one sitting
P.S.: "...if it's like a buddy of mine told me about his class on 'How To Meet Girls' ...?" Oh my...
If you discount the Acknowledgments and For Further Reading sections, this book is EXACTLY 140 pages. It is a small, and I repeat, small paperback book. It's not even half the size of most pool instructional books. The TV Guide is bigger than this book! Heck, I've even seen certain Cliff Notes editions themselves larger than Pleasures of Small Motions!
Are we actually saying that reading 140 pages of medium-faced type is a stretch for this crowd? We want Cliff Notes on 140 pages??
When reading books, sometimes you have to slog your way through material that won't immediately catch your fancy; that's standard fare with *any* written material. It doesn't mean you abandon the whole volume right then and there. Many times, if you slog through something that's not interesting, it'll come to you later, when you read the subsequent sections, and then a huge lightbulb will illuminate. Or, you can use the skimming technique, flipping through the book and stopping at something that catches your eye, and reading from that point, discovering that you really *do* need to read the book from start to finish. The skimming technique "lights your fire" to read the book in its entirety.
Folks, nothing comes for free in this world. You have to expend at least a little effort for it. At least those things worthwhile pursuing, anyway. And while I myself can probably write a decent "here's 'Pleasures of Small Motions' boiled-down into 10 pages for the DCP crowd" style of Cliff Notes, I simply won't. It's not worth the effort for folks that won't meet those of us [who've read the book] halfway.
As for Steve J.'s comments about the OP posting questions in the Ask The Instructor forum, and then arguing with those that give him direct answers to his questions, yup, I've seen it. Ya gotta wonder what people's motivations are...
Read the book. If after you've read it, questions arise about what you've read or there's something that you don't understand, post 'em here -- we'll be glad to answer!
-Sean <- consumes at least 200 pages of written material a day, often in one sitting
P.S.: "...if it's like a buddy of mine told me about his class on 'How To Meet Girls' ...?" Oh my...
Dr Bob ...
Google search...
Specializing in "Bewilderment at life"
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Bob_Fancher_PhD_Portland_Oregon_49026
Google search...
Specializing in "Bewilderment at life"
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Bob_Fancher_PhD_Portland_Oregon_49026
Specifically, for me, the two main parts of the book i found the most helpful were the sections on setting appropriate goals and being aware of your emotions. The author talks about ways to let the set goals that are achievable, right now, and also ways to avoid setting goals that only lead to frustration. For example, if I'm not a run-out player, I shouldn't set my goal to run-out every time at the table, that will only lead to disappointment, which leads to frustration and then anger - which inevitably leads to losing the match. however, if i'm honest with myself and set a goal of making the 3 easy balls then playing a good safe off the trouble ball, thats much more achievable and win generate positive emotions for your game.
As for emotions, a good point is made about how we can not control emotions, only react to them. if we ignore them, they will flare up. if we get upset because we missed a shot we should make, we can't ignore that feeling. we have to deal with it, process it and then go on from there. all of this helps to keep an even and level mental head, which will let our subconscious work freely to do what it does best: play the game.
Those are the 2 biggest points I got from the book. i can't remember the exact chapter and i don't have the book at my desk at work. The first was early in the book, the 2nd was in the last half somewhere.
As everyone else here has already said, if you don't get it, then you're not reading it right.
As for emotions, a good point is made about how we can not control emotions, only react to them. if we ignore them, they will flare up. if we get upset because we missed a shot we should make, we can't ignore that feeling. we have to deal with it, process it and then go on from there. all of this helps to keep an even and level mental head, which will let our subconscious work freely to do what it does best: play the game.
Those are the 2 biggest points I got from the book. i can't remember the exact chapter and i don't have the book at my desk at work. The first was early in the book, the 2nd was in the last half somewhere.
As everyone else here has already said, if you don't get it, then you're not reading it right.
I couldn't disagree more. It's not that the book is too big, its that the book is way biiger than it needs to be. I could write 1000 page to tell you how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when only 1 page would do. Just because I say its too big doesn't mean I am mentally deficient and can't handle books without big print and colorful pictures! It just means that i think it would have been better without the repetition and over analysis.
The only light bulb that illuminated for me after reading the entire book was "he could have said all of that in 40 pages...OR LESS. Obviously 40 page books don't sell as well as 140 page books but I really felt he was just trying to stretch everything out to cover up the fact that he didn't have allot of "Gems" of knowledge there to begin with.
As far as you saying that nothing comes for free in this world your right, I think I paid about 20 bucks for this 10 dollars worth of info.
Have you ever heard the expression, the simplest answer is usually the best answer?
Here's a good pool book for you, "Golf My Way" by Jack Nicklaus. Someone like you would never get it while someone who has a shred of wisdom would learn that his philosophy on how to approach the pin translates 1:1 to position play in pool.
Read beyond the apparent one time.
It's possible too that the author was trying to present the information in various manners, as any teach can tell you, some ways appeal to students that don't to others. So the more ways you can give the information the more likely it is the bulk of the readers will find a way that speaks to them.
I will agree there was a lot of repetition - but I dont think it detracted from the book. I saw it as his "hammering" the info down. Reading something over and over again tends to stick in your brain.
I will agree there was a lot of repetition - but I dont think it detracted from the book. I saw it as his "hammering" the info down. Reading something over and over again tends to stick in your brain.
LMFAO that IS the secret to meeting girls!!!!!! You guys must all hang out together. HAHAHAHA
Cdryden:
Have you ever published a book? I have. Publishers *NEVER* tell the author to "make the book 'x' number of pages." In fact, when I wrote my books, I got the opposite -- to trim certain sections down, cut them out completely, or to rephrase them a different way. So your idea that books are artificially inflated goes out the window.
And btw, I wasn't directing this at you specifically -- but rather at the OP. Remember, it was I who introduced the phrase "Cliff Notes" into this discussion, and stood by it. You happened to state that yes, you wish a Cliff Notes was written for this book, in which case only a piece of what I wrote was in response "to you."
Could this book have been written into a smaller volume? Possibly. Is this book a great example of Bob Fancher's writing style? You bet. What you may think is "fluff" and "could be snipped out," was probably Bob's best way to explain and cement the points he was trying to make. It's his style. Every author has a style. You probably got Bob's point from the first couple of sentences. Other readers may need the expanding material to do the same. One thing that publishers *do* encourage, is that the author lets his or her style out. Any editing that their editors recommend is not to "sanitize" the author's style, or to crush creativity, but rather to help clarify the point the author was trying to make, to make sure each different "type" of person reading it will understand it.
When you're talking solutions to a problem, solutions to a mechanical or mathematical issue, yes, "the simplest answer is usually the best answer." But this concept doesn't often apply when you're dealing with human communications, which, most often, needs a different answer for each "type" of person. When writing, you have to take this into consideration, you sometimes have to explain something sometimes five different ways to Sunday. Hence, somewhat expanded written works.
Make sense?
-Sean
Pleasures of Very Small Motions
It hit me the same way. If it was condensed to 4 pages I would read it a third time...
............ Naaah
It hit me the same way. If it was condensed to 4 pages I would read it a third time...
............ Naaah
Here are a few other comments on Pleasures of Small Motions :thumbup: :
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=38309
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=38688
I tend to agree that Inner Game of Tennis covers similar material a bit better. Having said that I think reading both is a good idea. They present techniques that can be applied, but as with most things it will be different strokes for different folks.
Dave
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=38309
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=38688
I tend to agree that Inner Game of Tennis covers similar material a bit better. Having said that I think reading both is a good idea. They present techniques that can be applied, but as with most things it will be different strokes for different folks.
Dave
LOL..umm the OP knows about these threads...he started them..lol
Simply put he over inflated the book to the point that it made it undesirable to me. And if you need to have things explained to you 10 different ways then I think the use of a scientific psycho analysis is wasted on you.
You can get upset with me if you want about my opinion but it wont do you much good will it?
Really
Is the OP saying that he didn't learn ANYTHING from this book? Wow. I have read the book at least 3 times and I from beginning to end I learned a lot. However I must say.... The first time I read it I was not ready for the info and after about a year of actually playing seriously I read it again and slowly started to understand the book and relate to what it said. If you are not serious then this book definately is not for you. And yes, it is way over some peoples heads.
Is the OP saying that he didn't learn ANYTHING from this book? Wow. I have read the book at least 3 times and I from beginning to end I learned a lot. However I must say.... The first time I read it I was not ready for the info and after about a year of actually playing seriously I read it again and slowly started to understand the book and relate to what it said. If you are not serious then this book definately is not for you. And yes, it is way over some peoples heads.
You actually have read this book and then put up a question like that? Throughout the book the author states that empty, non directed and non focused ideas like "have confidence in yourself" is exactly what is wrong with much of pool advice these days. Did you actually read the book or did you just fan through the pages, then go try a few shots at the table, realized you didn't immediately get better, felt you put yet more money into another bag of "magic beans" that didn't work for you, and declare it as useless and worthless?
You want a quote from the book? Go read Chapter 8, the section on "The disaster of single-mindedness." You remind me of the character Joe, except for the fact that Joe is actually good at pool.
AMAZING Book. The biggest thing I took from it was finding a rhythm in my pool playing. It gave me the insight to know how to approach a table in the correct mind set. I'll admit I did read it twice before it really sank in.
Cdryden:
You're getting me wrong. I'm not "upset" with you or your opinion. I thought this was a civil debate? So far, it has, IMHO. And actually, I've been enjoying you piquing my debating skills. So I certainly don't have any negative emotions towards you or your opinion. You are entitled to it, and your ability to defend it (and not just "this is just what I think and I don't know why") is laudable.
What I *do* have a problem with, is exactly what the OP posted -- he's got the book, but instead of reading it, he's asking us to point him to the exact chapter, exact paragraph, exact sentence that would be "of value." Like we're supposed to know what's going to be of value to him. Or, what I call the "Easter Egg hunt" -- i.e. everyone tells him what was of value to him/her in the book (again, exact chapter/paragraph), he collects these, and then he pointedly goes to these exact chapters/paragraphs and basically "Easter Eggs" his way through them. "No, this one was boring... no, this one doesn't make sense... no that one doesn't apply to me..." etc. Instead of reading the book (jeez christmas, it's in his possession, afterall -- it's not like he's borrowing it from a friend during lunch and needs to get the book back before lunch-hour is over!), he wants to be spoon-fed. In my book, there's no excuse for this. We're not writing a quick thesis on what Leo Tolstoy was thinking when he wrote a certain chapter in War and Peace, and we need someone to give us a quick pointer on where to look in that chapter because the "thesis paper is due in an hour." No, we're reading a little paperback book, medium-faced type, of only 140 pages.
Anyway, like I said, I have no issue with you at all. Just a friendly debate, and you'll notice I didn't respond to those areas in your post where you expressed a little emotion. Just the points themselves.
I hope you're hitting 'em good!
-Sean
