What books inspire you?? Either in life or in sport.
Aloha
Question 2 - do triathletes read???
I just finished the Divinchi Code – great book - but not exactly training inspirational. I need a book that inspires me to keep training – have any suggestions??
Aloha
Does Maxim count as a book?
Gate of Fire by Steven Pressfield. 300 Spartans against 10,000 Persians. Fictional account of an actual event. A must read for leaders.
Although extraordinary valor was displayed by the entire corps of Spartans and Thespians, yet bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes. It is said that on the eve of battle, he was told by a native of Thrachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, when they fired their volleys, the mass of arrows blocked out the sun. Dienekes, however, quite undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh,“Good. Then we’ll have our battle in the shade.”
Gate of Fire by Steven Pressfield. 300 Spartans against 10,000 Persians. Fictional account of an actual event. A must read for leaders.
One of my all time favorite books – I have read “Gates of Fire” twice. The Spartans gave new meaning to ‘training hard’
Aloha
Take your pick
http://pbehmer.com/links/adventurebooks/
I just read one called “fever trail” about the discovery and exploitation of the Cincona tree, the bark of which is used to cure malaria. Great read. Also just read “hunted” about a guy who accidently kills a baby grizzly and the rest of the book is him running from a very pissed off mama grizzly. Real page turner!
Cheers, Karma
Always had a fascination for ancient history. Just picked up a copy of “Archeology” magazine and they have an ad for three books for a discount price. Haven’t decided which ones yet, but with the Olympics, I’ll order three books about ancient Greece.
Wow, I was surprised to see I had read quite a few of these selections. I really recommend Admiral Byrd’s Alone. Wrote a paper in college comparing it to Frankenstein and *Rhime of the Ancient Mariner. *I think I was in one of those moody, no-one-understands-me phases.
I found The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand very inspiring and motivating on multiple levels. I’m currently in the middle of Atlas Shrugged and it’s having much the same effect on me.
For some reason, Black Hawk Down (the book, not the movie, though I loved that too) always sticks out in my memory. I love to read about people giving so much of themselves. That book rocked, made me respect the uniform that much more. (Well, with the exception of the REMFs…)
Twain’s ‘A Tramp Abroad’ is one of my favorite books…one of the few fiction books that I have postit tabs inserted to refer back to.
Top of the list would be Pat Conroy’s ‘Beach Music.’
As follows:
Touching the Void
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Running With the Buffaloes (sp?)
Once a Runner
Gold in the Water
This is a good starter for 10
.
Anything on Nikola Tesla. That man’s life is quite an inspiration. He came extremely close to bringing free and unlimited energy to the world. The dude could make 100’ lightning bolts come out of the ground…insane. If you meditate on many of his ideas I think you’ll find they can be applied metaphorically to sport.
Also, The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, dealing with sacred geometry. I’m a math dork and the pictures, diagrams, and ideas in this book really resonate with me.
I am Sparticus!
No – You are Mr. Tibbs – I am Sparticus!!!
So, Grasshopper, Where is John Gault?
You will find yourself reading it again and again and getting something new each time. To me, it is much more than a reaction against the communist system. Ultimately, a very hopeful book.
Have you ever read his short story the mysterious stranger?
How about the war prayer?
"I have read “Gates of Fire” twice. The Spartans gave new meaning to ‘training hard’ "
Haven’t read the book but it’s obviously a romaticized story of what what really was a very bland culture. Had lived at that time, would much prefer to have been an Athenian.