Post by LongBlade on May 22, 2005 12:01:19 GMT -6
Harnessing Anger: The Inner Discipline of Athletic Excellence
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1888363673/qid=1116783839/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-1577738-4693401?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A six-time Olympian and 13-time U.S. national champion, Peter Westbrook is one of America's most decorated athletes. As a fencer, he toils in relative obscurity, yet his accomplishments in and out of the arena are legion. As a black man in a white sport, he's become an Arthur Ashe with sword instead of racket, a pioneer with deep community roots. Westbrook's chronicle is a sharply told tale of controlled rage and inspiring self-discovery, filled with fascinating insight into an incredibly demanding, psychologically challenging, and fiercely competitive sport.
The New York Times Book Review, Margalit Fox
Harnessing Anger does contain some fascinating material, notably the section on fencing history. Regrettably, though, Mr. Westbrook's co-author, Tej Hazarika, seems unequal to the task of giving the book an overall architecture and flow.... Too bad Mr. Westbrook did not find a collaborator as skilled at writing as he is at fencing.
Booklist
Westbrook may not be a household name among the general public, but in fencing circles, he is legendary. A former U.S. champion and Olympic medalist, he came to fencing from an unlikely direction: the inner city. Westbrook's compelling account of his remarkable life begins with his Japanese mother, who convinced him to try fencing. A Newark teenager in the 1960s, Westbrook brought anger to the sport: anger over his largely missing father, his poverty, and his status as a biracial man in a racist society. Westbrook harnessed his anger and used it to his advantage as a competitor, but in his personal life he had difficulty setting aside his warrior mentality along with his saber. Young athletes--fencers especially--will benefit from Westbrook's motivational message and enjoy the exciting match accounts. The rest of us can identify with--and learn from--a man who had to keep the very quality that led to his success from becoming a negative factor in his life. An outstanding sports autobiography.
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1888363673/qid=1116783839/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-1577738-4693401?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A six-time Olympian and 13-time U.S. national champion, Peter Westbrook is one of America's most decorated athletes. As a fencer, he toils in relative obscurity, yet his accomplishments in and out of the arena are legion. As a black man in a white sport, he's become an Arthur Ashe with sword instead of racket, a pioneer with deep community roots. Westbrook's chronicle is a sharply told tale of controlled rage and inspiring self-discovery, filled with fascinating insight into an incredibly demanding, psychologically challenging, and fiercely competitive sport.
The New York Times Book Review, Margalit Fox
Harnessing Anger does contain some fascinating material, notably the section on fencing history. Regrettably, though, Mr. Westbrook's co-author, Tej Hazarika, seems unequal to the task of giving the book an overall architecture and flow.... Too bad Mr. Westbrook did not find a collaborator as skilled at writing as he is at fencing.
Booklist
Westbrook may not be a household name among the general public, but in fencing circles, he is legendary. A former U.S. champion and Olympic medalist, he came to fencing from an unlikely direction: the inner city. Westbrook's compelling account of his remarkable life begins with his Japanese mother, who convinced him to try fencing. A Newark teenager in the 1960s, Westbrook brought anger to the sport: anger over his largely missing father, his poverty, and his status as a biracial man in a racist society. Westbrook harnessed his anger and used it to his advantage as a competitor, but in his personal life he had difficulty setting aside his warrior mentality along with his saber. Young athletes--fencers especially--will benefit from Westbrook's motivational message and enjoy the exciting match accounts. The rest of us can identify with--and learn from--a man who had to keep the very quality that led to his success from becoming a negative factor in his life. An outstanding sports autobiography.