Coach Michelle’s 2022 Fall Reading List

I know I’m jumping the gun a bit.  It’s not exactly Fall yet.  And the temps outside certainly don’t make me want to cozy up by the fire with my pumpkin spice latte.  But, have no fear – the season will change.  And when Sept. 22 comes, you’ll want your books ready!  So here goes – my Fall reading list!  

#1 – Open, Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi’s autobiography is simply amazing.  His beautiful storytelling takes the reader deep into his confused, angry, rebellious, courageous & driven heart & soul.  The only thing I knew about Agassi was that he was a tennis punk with crazy hair & a penchant for screaming on court.  And truthfully, I knew (and still know) next-to-nothing about the game of tennis.  Yet I found myself completely captivated by this book.  Read it.  You’ll be so glad you did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Little Girls in Pretty Boxes:  The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters, Joan Ryan

A most uncomfortable book – this book will potentially enrage you.  Written years before the Larry Nassar abuse scandal came to light (if you haven’t seen Athlete A, I also recommend this documentary), this book details the horrors that female gymnasts & figure skaters endure at the hands of their coaches & sometimes their own families in order to win “at any cost”.  A must-read to continue to push for safety & accountability in women’s sports.

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3 – Play It Again:  An Amateur Against the Impossible, Alan Rusbridger

Alan Rusbridger, the editor of The Guardian, leads a life run by the 24-hr news cycle.  Suffice to say he doesn’t have much time for hobbies!  Despite his crazy schedule he set a goal to learn to play Chopin’s Ballade No.1 in G minor, one of the most beautiful & challenging pieces of music ever composed…in 1 year.  This book is fascinating even if you’re not into piano…or music…or Chopin.  It’s really about focus, distraction, discipline & desire.  This book is for everyone looking to figure out how to more efficiently learn something new with minimal available time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 – Range:  Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein

I’m sure you’ve all heard of Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule (which he introduced in Outliers:  The Story of Success) – it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery.  In our society, this concept has certainly taken hold as we increase focus on early specialization, encourage single-sport focus in kids & devalue the concept of quitting (i.e.  “Winners never quit & quitters never win” Vince Lombardi).  Epstein’s research, however, examines successful people in all walks of life & suggests that generalists, not specialists, are best set up for success.   In a world of hyper-specificity, he makes a compelling case for the idea that broad-based thinking & diverse experience & perspective lead to increased creativity & agility necessary for solving the highly complex problems of today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5 – Breath:  The New Science of a Lost Art, James Nestor

What an interesting book!  As an endurance coach I found myself a bit shocked that I wasn’t more aware of the health implications linked to mouth versus nose breathing.  Nestor delves into the history of breathing detailing why & how it has changed over the course of human evolution.  Although some of his health claims seem outlandish & impossible, I did come away with a heightened interest in focusing on this simple act of air exchange that we completely take for granted.  This book, quite truthfully, has changed the way I breathe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see all of my reading lists, check out:

Coach Michelle’s 2022 Spring Break Reading List – Performance High

Coach Michelle’s 2021 Fall Reading List – Performance High

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