recommended books...?
- Thread starter jcpoolgod
- Start date
Besides "The Inner Game of Tennis" I recommend Bob Fancher's "The Pleasures of Small Motions." I think most of the "mental game" comments in other pool books are not useful.
Mental Toughness Training for Sports by James E. Loehr, Ed.D.
Winning: The Psychology of Competition by Stuart H. Walker. This is about yacht racing but very good on attitude.
Overcoming Contenderosis by Ryan Elliot-I got this on cassette tape, it's now on CD, I believe.
Edit: You might glean a nugget or two from Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy. Even if you don't, it's a great read for anyone who's ever been remotely interested in golf.
Winning: The Psychology of Competition by Stuart H. Walker. This is about yacht racing but very good on attitude.
Overcoming Contenderosis by Ryan Elliot-I got this on cassette tape, it's now on CD, I believe.
Edit: You might glean a nugget or two from Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy. Even if you don't, it's a great read for anyone who's ever been remotely interested in golf.
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I've been reading this book, and the information it presents is amazing. It has definitely helped me and completely shines some light on exactly how wrong and off-base all the traditional insight into the mental side of pool really is. I highly recommend it.
Another good one is Zen Golf. A lot of gems in there.
I really wish I could say the same. It's definitely not for everybody.
+1
I first read 'the inner game ..' 20 or so years ago, but I didn't really get it - that is to say, it did not make a huge impression on me. But I have recently started re-reading it and think that it is absolutely spot on.
'Pleasures' also good.
I have just remembered another book that is very interesting (although it is rare): "Precision Billiards" by R M Geyer.
Geyer was amateur English-billiards champion of India and had Precision Billiards privately printed in 1928.
It is said that he was also a practicing psychologist, although I have not been able to find hard evidence of this (and I have some doubts).
But anyway, it is an interesting read, showing that some core ideas found in 'Pleasures of small motions' and before that in 'Inner game of Tennis' have been around for many years.
The book is rare, and when an original copies do come onto the market, they go for about $1,000 I believe. But I picked up a ring-bound photocopy on EBay for the equivalent of about $20.
Recommended.
Geyer was amateur English-billiards champion of India and had Precision Billiards privately printed in 1928.
It is said that he was also a practicing psychologist, although I have not been able to find hard evidence of this (and I have some doubts).
But anyway, it is an interesting read, showing that some core ideas found in 'Pleasures of small motions' and before that in 'Inner game of Tennis' have been around for many years.
The book is rare, and when an original copies do come onto the market, they go for about $1,000 I believe. But I picked up a ring-bound photocopy on EBay for the equivalent of about $20.
Recommended.
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Go to your Library..Public that is
"The Inner Game of Tennis" might be there.
Go to your Library..Public that is
"The Inner Game of Tennis" might be there.
Pushout,
You are correct in this choice; by far the best book on the mental game in sports.
Mark Wilson's upcoming book has several very strong chapters on the mental game for pool specifically - but is heavily influenced by (and credits) Loehr.
It is simply the best in my opinion (and I've read the others in this thread). Very scholarly approach to a difficult subject.
P.S. - "Pleasures..." is okay, but not as thorough and well-researched as Loehr's book.
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In pusuit of exellence by Terry Orlick
Peak performance by David Kauss
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Peak performance by David Kauss
1
I agree, I'm looking forward to Mark Wilson's book. Often after reading/posting in a thread like this, I'll get out Pleasures again but I'm afraid it's a right/left brain thing with me. Like my wife and our son are great in math and I'm terrible at it. The last time I got it out, which was a few weeks back, it just made no sense at all to me.
Pushout,
There is a very fine line between helpful mental game advice and "psycho-babble." The majority of sports psychology books seem to me to be very heavy on the psycho-babble, and I just can't wade through it to get the useful nuggets. Loehr is very light on the psycho-babble; which is why I prefer it.
I'm hopeful that Mark Wilson's book will have little or no psycho-babble...that is the plan I believe.
i bought this book.
I bought this book. and didn't really like the way it is written. I feel like the author is trying to be a "writer"....it seems like the author is just trying to write instead of talking like a normal human. I didn't get too far into it because I was waisting all my time thinking about his writing style. I think I need to reread and focus on content not delivery. I really liked some of the things he was talking about like rhythm and actually making it a "dance" I have downloaded a metronome on my phone ....im gonna try it.
I bought this book. and didn't really like the way it is written. I feel like the author is trying to be a "writer"....it seems like the author is just trying to write instead of talking like a normal human. I didn't get too far into it because I was waisting all my time thinking about his writing style. I think I need to reread and focus on content not delivery. I really liked some of the things he was talking about like rhythm and actually making it a "dance" I have downloaded a metronome on my phone ....im gonna try it.
See if you can find "Neon Flamingos: The Art of Lap Dancing" by Sally Thornton.
It's all about a woman overcoming her affliction with CED (Chronic Explosive Diarrhea) and becoming the most sought after lap dancer in Galveston, Texas.
After that try any of Freddy the Beard's books. Then learn One Pocket. :smile:
It's all about a woman overcoming her affliction with CED (Chronic Explosive Diarrhea) and becoming the most sought after lap dancer in Galveston, Texas.
After that try any of Freddy the Beard's books. Then learn One Pocket. :smile: