Book of the Day: The Inner Game of Tennis

Title: The Inner Game of Tennis

Author: W. Timothy Gallwey

From the book: A very wise person once told me, “When it comes to overcoming obstacles, there are three kinds of people. The first kind sees most obstacles as insurmountable and walks away. The second kind sees an obstacle and says, I can overcome it, and starts to dig under, climb over, or blast through it. The third type of person, before deciding to overcome the obstacle, tries to find a viewpoint where what is on the other side of the obstacle can be seen. Then, only if the reward is worth the effort, does he attempt to overcome the obstacle.”

Takeaway: This is University of Portland Men’s XC/TF Head Coach Rob Conner’s favorite book — and for good reason: it’s a powerful text on the mental side of peak performance. Gallwey repeatedly frames dealing with common stresses of athletic performance in a novel and highly effective manner. This is a must read for any athlete who wants to master the moment, enjoy the now, enter a flow state and maximize their potential — in practice, competition, and every day life.

Shop: Get your copy of The Inner Game of Tennis here.