Train Your Mind for Athletic Success: Mental Preparation to Achieve Your Sports Goals

In this intense and comprehensive guide to the mental component of physical exercise, Taylor, a psychologist who works with athletes, adopts the stance of a coach taking the reader through a workout. Peppered with exercises, the book encourages active participation, challenging fitness enthusiasts to identify and confront their mental weaknesses. Taylor offers upbeat catchphrases such as “every day is a good day of training” and “remove the word perfection from your vocabulary.” The goal is to achieve the performance level he calls ”prime sport,” which means competing “consistently at a high level in the most challenging conditions.” Addressing the athlete’s attitude toward sport, negative feelings, and fear of failure, Taylor poses questions to ask and answer before an athlete even sets foot in the gym. Once in the gym, Taylor writes, “Train like you compete,” be positive whenever possible, and when things don’t go well, “use negative thinking positively.” Taylor has some unorthodox tips, telling readers, for instance, that smiling even when unhappy can help relax the mind and lower intensity. Even non-athletes should find value in Taylor’s sage advice about applying oneself purposefully to challenging endeavors. (Oct.)