From Publishers Weekly
After winning the gold medal for the decathlon in 1976, Jenner rode the wave of Olympic fame, working in sports broadcasting, public speaking and commercial endorsements. Gradually, he spiraled downward into a series of B-movie acting jobs and, finally, virtual obscurity. But using the same methods by which he rose to Olympic heights, he turned his life around and worked his way back to even greater career and personal success. Here, Jenner uses each of the 10 events of the decathlon to describe how others can do the same, a metaphor that provides an unusual and captivating way to present motivational material. Jenner's descriptions of his personal experiences are compelling, and his enthusiastic encouragement to others to find their life's mission and fulfill it is memorable. Unfortunately, the book is padded with so many quotations and anecdotes from other sources that Jenner's voice often gets lost. He also leaves out so much information about himself that it's a surprise when, late in the book, he mentions that he has been married and divorced twice and has four children. These would seem to be important elements in a story of personal journey, as would an explanation of how he managed to overcome the daunting obstacle of "200 dollars in the bank and... approximately 300,000 dollars in debt." With some judicious editing and more candor from the author, this would have been a stand-out among motivational books; as is, it's merely adequate. Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club and Doubleday Health Book Club alternate selections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Jenner, best known for winning a gold medal in the decathlon in the 1976 Olympic Games, was indeed a world-class athlete. He outlines here the practices and principles that earned him the title World's Greatest Athlete. Jenner is another fine example of someone who has overcome a disability?dyslexia has been a challenge throughout his life. Using the premise that life is a decathlon, Jenner guides the reader through the 100-meter run, the long jump, the shot-put, and other sporting activities. Strategies are presented under these headings, which are supposed to guide the reader through life's problems. Although the idea is a good one, his strategies and dedication to hard work are conveyed through sports metaphors, weak writing, and vanity. Equally awkward is the author's resort to third-person dialog about himself, and the overuse of quotes from other publications makes this a difficult read. Although somewhat inspirational, this should be purchased only if a need exists in the young adult area.
-?Priscilla Davis Dann, Gates Mills P.L., OhioCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
