Solid advice to think as a Warrior/Champion.
345175
Want to find the mental edge in sports and career? This quick read gives the no-nonsense steps, positive self talk, move like a champ, task focused breathing.  Good story also about a student learning from a master and eventually becomong the master for other students.
3980633
In the game of life we often face, are confronted, and experience all kinds of testing and trials. Like a blitz in football, sometimes hardships blindside us. At other times, we see the assault preparing to enter and disrupt our lives. Facing the Blitz provides a solid game plan to handle lifes challenges.

The intended target audience is anyone who has faced and experienced extraordinary challenges in life. This book addresses how a person can deal with difficulties and hardships that surprise and confront him or her without warning. The author stated, The purpose of this book is to share the lessons I learned (and keep learning) from dealing with blitzes, so that you can avoid unnecessary fear, setback, and misery when circumstances fall short of what you want them to be, and instead experience courage, growth, gratitude, and joy (Page 19).

Facing the Blitz is well organized and the author provides direction and structure to its content. Kemps communication style matches and connects well with his audience. He introduces three main principles that lay out the books framework. He says there are, three simple principles  strategies, if you will  which are as easy to understand as they are difficult to follow:
1. Take a long-term view.
2. Be willing to change.
3. Reach out to others. (Page 19)

Throughout the book there are questions, quotations and personal stories that keep the reader actively engaged with the content. Its a very good playbook to give you perspective, a plan, hope, and encouragement to take on lifes challenges. Ive purchased several copies and have given them to friends. I highly recommend Facing the Blitz.
163933
I love reading ancient texts of martial arts, warriors, and the like because I find in their articulately crafted words such great wisdom about life in general. When it all comes down to it life is about that balance and realizing that everything comes full circle. Reading this book I was reminded that we must not focus all efforts into only one thing and to clear the mind of anything that could cause confusion. The illustrations were excellent to help shape the story. Perhaps things can be said best by text from the latter part of the book.
In emptiness exists Good but no evil
Wisdom is existence
Principle is existence
The Way is existence
The mind is emptiness
626275
Joe gives us his well earned real world knowledge of combat training and "politician labeled assault"  rifle (and even pistol) usage techniques. The book is a well thought out course for evaluating and then training yourself, with benchmarks for your own progress along the way.  Be prepared to get out and actually perform the exercises, as this is not a strictly armchair get-it-into-your-head reading book.
2103235
I really enjoyed this book.  It was my background in martial arts (I am a BJJ black belt and teacher with over 20 years of experience in grappling) that initially drew me to this book.
The shared experiences of lives spent on the mat will interest many in the jiu jitsu and MMA community.  However, there is more to this work than just BJJ stories.  These are reflections on life and the ways in which the human spirit faces, and rises above, challenge.  The lessons on discipline from Mario Sperry and tenacity from Franjinha alone make this a book worth reading.
Beyond that, one of the things that really stood out in these reflections was the raw candor.  As an author who has interviewed a range of characters, I know the difficulties of getting people to reach a place of honesty.  Chuck Rylant found a way of drawing out a stark sincerity that creates stories which leave a powerful imprint.
I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a means to overcome the challenges found in life.
-Adam benShea, PhD
4231335
Good solid advice, but most importantly it's nicely targeted at masters athletes. Too much training advice designed around elite athletes or young indestructible kids (anyone under age 35). This book does a great job of incorporating stretching, cross-training, nutrition and rest, which can be just as important as the actual workouts.
4389560
The book is divided into segments, beginning with a high-level history of Patton's life, then presenting his style of leadership in nine parts.  Each page is a standalone chapter, beginning with a direct quote from Patton,  then interpreted by the author.  For example, the above quote was a  favorite catch-phrase of Patton's.  He once explained it like this:
"Any operation, reduced to its primary characteristics consists in  moving down the road until you bump into the enemy...When you have bumped,  hold him at the point of contact with fire with about a third of your  command.  Move the rest in a wide envelopment so that you can attack him  from his rear flank.  The enveloping attach should start first.  The  initial nose attack starts to move forward only when the enemy has properly  reacted to the enveloping attack.  Then the direct attack can go in easily  and fast."
Axelrod points out that the surface advice not to blunder  into battle is important, but there's a more subtle lesson in his style of  communication.
"Compare Patton's statement of tactics--'Hold the  enemy by the nose and kick him in the pants'--and the straightforward  paragraph in which he elaborates on it with the typical tome on business  strategy or even the typical 'mission statement' of the typical business.  Where these rattle and creak with empty jargon, Patton expresses his  guiding tactic in a vivid image and with the most direct language  possible."
The book provides lots of clear and concrete advice from  Patton's leadership style.  The ideas are both conventional and, at times,  controversial, but there are plenty of pearls of wisdom for everyone.
4498148
As a financial expert and martial artist I am always combining the principles of personal and financial self-defense and referring to Sun Tzu. Ms. Sheetz-Runkle has done an admirable job of tying together the "Art of War" teachings and good business strategy. Anyone who wants to achieve success in business should read it.

Hollis Colquhoun, author
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Women-Empowering-Themselves-A-Financial-Survival-Guide-For-Women-at-Risk-of-Drowning-Financially-Before-During-and-After-Divorce/dp/1598589814/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Women Empowering Themselves: A Financial Survival Guide - For Women at Risk of Drowning Financially Before, During and After Divorce</a>
3307474
In Unleashing the Warrior Within, Richard Machowicz provides the perfect balance between outlining the steps you need to achieve your goals - and providing personal anecdotes on how he's applied what he teaches.  That  makes this an entertaining as well as informative read.  This is a book  that you can refer to again and again, both for inspiration and practical  advice.
I got a real sense that Richard is the kind of guy who walks  his talk.  In the week since I read the book, I've already been able to  apply several of his principles in my business life, my personal life, and  even my weight training workouts.  I am recommending this book to everyone.  I sincerely hope we hear more from Richard; he has a wealth of knowledge  and experience to offer.
627680
"Turning PRO" has helped me bet my butt in gear and stay on track with progress toward my various goals. Honestly, I read a little bit of either this, or it's companion, "The War of Art" every single day.

Buy it, read it, wear it out.
2054830
A lot of good advise packed into 39 points.  Take your time to digest one at a time. Good read.
2763916
I have been a fan of Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking" for most of my life.  It is a classic in the field.  However, I discovered that reality cannot be denied and has a way of punching you in the mouth if the only thing you have going for you are positive thinking principles with no preparation to win the fight. I have found in my own 60 years of training and teaching that one should be confident but never over-confident in whatever you do in life.

 Though I am not Bobby Knight or basketball fan, (I am more into the combative arts of karate, boxing, MMA fighting etc), the basic principles he emphasizes in this book are excellent.  I had some preconceived notions about this book before I read it, but by the time I finished the last page I began to like the approach Bob Knight has used throughout his life as both a player and coach.

His basic philosophy is teaching "preparing to win" rather than hoping to win.  He makes many valid points that cannot be denied.  He has produced numerous winners using his unique approach and his words of wisdom should be taken seriously by anyone who desires a balanced and realistic plan for winning in sports or in life.  If you were to classify Bob Knight you would have to say he does not believe in relying on optimism or pessimism, but to succeed you must be a realist.  He believes it is important to eliminate mistakes and not to celebrate too much after a win, but rather to prepare for the next game or goal.  I found myself agreeing with most of the principles he is emphasizing in this book.  As a lifetime student of the martial arts, the thing that is always emphasized is BASICS. BASICS. BASICS.  Bob Knight's approach is the same but he emphasizes: FUNDAMENTALS. FUNDAMENTALS. FUNDAMENTALS.  In reality, they are the same thing.

In conclusion, I recommend this book for anyone seeking a more realistic and effective approach to winning in sports and in life.

Rating:  4 Stars.  Joseph J. Truncale (Author:  Martial Art Myths)
684301
This book does a great job at geting you to think about how to attack life.  It urges you to push yourself to find out what you are capable of.  If you get out of your comfort zone, what you once thought of as a "tough" situation, is not really that bad anymore.  Even though the book focuses on Spartan Races and stories of ultra endurance races, the message is central to us all...hard work pays off.  Awaken your senses.  Rekindle what it feels like to be human again.  Lead a healthy life.  Get out there and Spartan Up!
621545
This is the kind of book that many martial artists will welcome because it gives very practical and valuable suggestions on how to live your life. It is the kind of book you can take your time reading, as each section gives a piece of advice and philosophical wisdom.  I enjoyed reading this book and will come back to it often in the future. I can recommend this book to anyone interested in the philosophy of the martial arts.

Rating: 4 Stars.  Joseph J. Truncale (Author:  Predator Hunter: A Warrior's Memoir)
863040
If you are a fighter, learning is the key, to being better. Take a chance.
1066838
This is absolutely one of the most concise and on the mark books on self defense written. These people are masters in their fields, listen to them. They are as thoughtful and engaging here as they are in person (I've trained with several of these folks). For YOUR sake, read this book, then read it again. There is much to learn and much more to brush up on or look at in different ways!
4175233
This is a good examination and simplification of the "Why" part of training. It can be read by beginners and masters alike. This sensei is a principled man and it shows in the book...it helps us examine our own training and lifestyle principles by creating opportunites to think and evalute "why" we would do the things martial artists do. Thanks for the inpsiration.