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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Michael Johnson is one of the greatest Olympian athletes of all time and makes sure that we know it. He talks of his trials & tribulations, his analyses of triumphs & failures, seasons the accounts with interjections from other greats, together with his opinions of them and makes mention of his business developing athletes and sports people generally.
It is interesting, without being exciting. Very like the man himself, when seen on TV commentating on athletics events, his delivery is measured and positive and seldom goes over the top. His fervour is confined to a limited number of topics, which include his hatred of drugs and his amazement at the abilities of Usain Bolt, his successor as the greatest sprinter of all time, while managing to have fun as well!
Mr Johnson has a soft spot for the UK and regards himself as an honorary Brit; which is - to most of us - as nice a compliment as you can get. His book is a very useful technical treatise for any aspiring athlete or administrator; both these categories will find the content fascinating. The reader of (auto)biographies will also enjoy an insight into how those in that elite bracket of athleticism work (and I mean WORK) their way to the top.
It is interesting, without being exciting. Very like the man himself, when seen on TV commentating on athletics events, his delivery is measured and positive and seldom goes over the top. His fervour is confined to a limited number of topics, which include his hatred of drugs and his amazement at the abilities of Usain Bolt, his successor as the greatest sprinter of all time, while managing to have fun as well!
Mr Johnson has a soft spot for the UK and regards himself as an honorary Brit; which is - to most of us - as nice a compliment as you can get. His book is a very useful technical treatise for any aspiring athlete or administrator; both these categories will find the content fascinating. The reader of (auto)biographies will also enjoy an insight into how those in that elite bracket of athleticism work (and I mean WORK) their way to the top.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This is a really interesting book written by Michael Johnson the Olympic champion of Atlanta where he won the 200m gold medal in world record time of 19.32, and the 400m gold medal.
Michael Johnson starts of recalling his career before looking into what constituents make an Olympic champion by combining his experiences with those of other athletes including one who may be your hero out of; Nadia Comaneci, Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, Usain Bolt, Sally Gunnell, Steve Redgrave, Mark Spitz, Seb Coe, Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe, Daley Thompson, & Tanni Grey. A truly great selection of people to evaluate.
This is a must read for anyone with aspirations of competing at a high level.
For other mortals, this book is pure gold dust and opens your eyes. A very enjoyable read.
Michael Johnson starts of recalling his career before looking into what constituents make an Olympic champion by combining his experiences with those of other athletes including one who may be your hero out of; Nadia Comaneci, Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, Usain Bolt, Sally Gunnell, Steve Redgrave, Mark Spitz, Seb Coe, Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe, Daley Thompson, & Tanni Grey. A truly great selection of people to evaluate.
This is a must read for anyone with aspirations of competing at a high level.
For other mortals, this book is pure gold dust and opens your eyes. A very enjoyable read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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As a big Michael Johnson fan, I really looked forward to reading this book. Johnson uses the upcoming London Games as an opportunity to review the careers of some of the great Olympic Champions -- from Mark Spitz right through to current champions Rebecca Adlington and Sir Chris Hoy -- and suggest some common threads in their successes.
He draws on extensive interviews with his subjects, and of course a great deal of material from his own stellar career, to examine what it takes to be a champion at the highest level.
Johnson concludes that there is no single road to success, but the way he explores and compares the different stories is what held my interest.
Among the better chapters are those that examine the ongoing inconsistencies in anti-doping policies and the media pressures on modern athletes.
So why only 3 stars? The disappointment stems from the perhaps unrealistic expectation that Johnson might set himself the same standards on the page as on the track. Ultimately, this is an interesting book, but also eminently forgettable. It is not helped by the gratuitous mentions of his sports performance business, which litter the first half of the book and then suddenly disappear in the second half.
Most disappointing of all are the obvious factual errors. Perhaps Johnson wasn't listening carefully when he interviewed Sir Steve Redgrave about his illustrious career. "Just two months before the Los Angeles Olympics he jumped into a coxless four with Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster and James Cracknell ..."(p139). James Cracknell was twelve years old when the LA games were held in 1984 -- Redgrave didn't row with this crew until the Sydney games in 2000.
Again, on p. 185, Redgrave is reported to have said about the Atlanta games,"I was rowing then with Matt Benson," but Redgrave never won Gold with anyone named Matt Benson. Obviously, he was talking about Matt Pinsent.
It's hard to believe that these avoidable errors made it into print.
So -- sorry, Michael, but it's a "bronze" for you.
He draws on extensive interviews with his subjects, and of course a great deal of material from his own stellar career, to examine what it takes to be a champion at the highest level.
Johnson concludes that there is no single road to success, but the way he explores and compares the different stories is what held my interest.
Among the better chapters are those that examine the ongoing inconsistencies in anti-doping policies and the media pressures on modern athletes.
So why only 3 stars? The disappointment stems from the perhaps unrealistic expectation that Johnson might set himself the same standards on the page as on the track. Ultimately, this is an interesting book, but also eminently forgettable. It is not helped by the gratuitous mentions of his sports performance business, which litter the first half of the book and then suddenly disappear in the second half.
Most disappointing of all are the obvious factual errors. Perhaps Johnson wasn't listening carefully when he interviewed Sir Steve Redgrave about his illustrious career. "Just two months before the Los Angeles Olympics he jumped into a coxless four with Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster and James Cracknell ..."(p139). James Cracknell was twelve years old when the LA games were held in 1984 -- Redgrave didn't row with this crew until the Sydney games in 2000.
Again, on p. 185, Redgrave is reported to have said about the Atlanta games,"I was rowing then with Matt Benson," but Redgrave never won Gold with anyone named Matt Benson. Obviously, he was talking about Matt Pinsent.
It's hard to believe that these avoidable errors made it into print.
So -- sorry, Michael, but it's a "bronze" for you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
olympics cash in
I was going to get this book as i thought it would have more about Johnson's personal experience acting as a coach and mentor. Read more
Published 11 days ago by sam
Golden
We all know what Michael Johnson achieved at the Olympics and World Championships. This goes some way to telling you how. Natural talent is never enough. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Donald Thompson
Please stop telling us you're a top-class athlete !
This review has been written with some highly objective input from my daughter who, for a number of years, has competed regularly in triathlon events and, last year, successfully... Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. D. Dawson
Old golden shoes
Michael Johnson has been one of my favourite athletics commentators ever since he picked up the mike, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by B. Roche
Inspiring
An candid insight into the mind of a true champion, alongside plenty of information and anecdote on his various subjects. Read more
Published 2 months ago by daisyrock
liked it
I actually really enjoyed this book, I am an avid fan of success learning and although theres nothing earth shatteringly new here, I think Johnson's experience as a professional... Read more
Published 2 months ago by PureSymmetry
Insighful Deconstruction
Multiple Gold medallist, Michael Johnson, deconstructs the gold-winning athlete piece by piece and offers a closer examination of the key qualities that contribute towards their... Read more
Published 4 months ago by David A. Evans
Great athelete but could write more succintly
I enjoyed this book but was left with the feeling that, whilst there is no question on Johnson's ability on the track, his writing can seem repetitive. Read more
Published 4 months ago by spiderboy
A teensy bit dull
Four-time Olympic Champion (having to hand one back still rankles) Michael Johnson tries to understand what makes an Olympic Champion. Read more
Published 5 months ago by R. A. Mansfield
Gold rush
Gold details the mental preparation that Michael Johnson undertook to win gold in the 400 m from the heats to the finals.
Published 5 months ago by kdog
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