54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing..., April 27, 2009
This review is from: Elite Forces Manual of Mental and Physical Endurance: How to Reach Your Physical and Mental Peak (Paperback)
As a combat veteran, former paratrooper, and 20-year combatives student/teacher, I thought this book would be interesting and maybe I would learn something new. However, I was pretty disappointed. Maybe for someone who knows very little (like almost nothing) about fitness, nutrition, and the military there would be some useful knowledge, but I see little value beyond that. The book teaches the same tired old nutritional nonsense that has been making this nation fatter and fatter for the last 20 years, namely the high grain, high carbohydrate, low protein prescription for weakness. I know it's what the 'food pyramid' preaches, but just look around and ask yourself if it seems to be working! Do a Google search for 'TBK fitness', dig around on that site and you will have a much better shot at learning something truely useful about nutrition and fitness, and it won't cost you a thing. (No, I'm not affiliated with TBK, it's just a good no-nonsense fitness/nutritional site). The military content of this book can also easily be replaced with a small amount of Google-work; I'd recommend passing on this one.
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37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Jedi Training Manual, December 19, 2006
This review is from: Elite Forces Manual of Mental and Physical Endurance: How to Reach Your Physical and Mental Peak (Paperback)
I purchased this book in Australia where it's titled, "The SAS and Elite Forces Manual of...".
I was extrememly impressed with the topic coverage and the depth that the author went into. Mr. Stillwell touches all the bases here... detailed pysical and mental preparation, several exercise regimens, nutrition fundamentals, basics on hand-to-hand combat and ending with a nice intro to "advanced techniques".
Mostly, I was impressed with the section on mental preparation, as this is a crucial area that similar books tend to gloss over, or exclude altogeher.
In this book we have interesting and detailed writing on things like goals, positive attitude and thinking, controlling emotions, meditation, self-esteem, and confidence.
The section on physical preparation is also excellent. Containing sample workout schedules, easy-to-understand illustrations, and just plain good information on exercise.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is endeavoring to join the military or take on any daunting challenge. Or to anybody who is just interested in improving themselves mind, body and spirit.
May the Force be with you.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Fluff, January 3, 2010
This review is from: Elite Forces Manual of Mental and Physical Endurance: How to Reach Your Physical and Mental Peak (Paperback)
This book is geared toward the armchair enthusiast, and would be minimally useful to someone looking to improve their fitness beyond a beginner level (although I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner either). It's a survey of basic fitness activities, a truly impressive collection of trite do-your-best-and-never-give-up verbiage, and random pictures of soldiers in training or action with captions like "soldiers need to master the environment if they are to master their enemy". There are also brief excerpts from various units' training schedules, a ten-page self-defense chapter that talks about deterring bullies via posture and handgun disarms, plus basic nutrition and brief unrelated tips on desert, arctic, etc survival. The chapter on 'advanced mental and physical training' covers pull-ups, crunches, and has a full-page illustration of how to do an eskimo roll in a kayak.
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