The Great Eight and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Buy Used
Used - Like New See details
$2.79 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable)
 
 
Start reading The Great Eight on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) [Hardcover]

Scott Hamilton (Author), Ken Baker (Contributor)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (141 customer reviews)

List Price: $24.99
Price: $15.58 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $9.41 (38%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Tuesday, January 31? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $9.99  
Hardcover $15.58  
Paperback $11.69  

Book Description

January 6, 2009

Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Scott Hamilton shares his eight secrets to finding happiness in the face of a life filled with challenges, difficulties, and career-canceling odds.

With never-been-told, behind-the-scenes stories from the skating world, personal challenges including testicular cancer and a brain tumor, as well as divine miracles, Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Scott Hamilton shares the secrets to his lifelong journey to find the silver (and gold) lining in the clouds of life. His life principles, fashioned into eight secrets that begin with the rote of learning to skate the figure 8, are the keys. Scott says, "Skating taught me how to be happy. I have always kept these eight as my own private, personal secrets that I practiced daily with repetition, focus, and discipline. Now I want to share them with the world."

"For the past twenty seven years Scott Hamilton has been a mentor and good friend. I've seen first hand the struggles he has had to endure and how he has continued to persevere with a confident attitude. He lives his life as a champion. Everyone needs the positive message of this greatly inspiring book."
-- Kristi Yamaguchi
 Olympic Gold Medalist

"I know and love Scotty Hamilton. You will too after you read this book." 

--William Shatner

 "Scott Hamilton is a champion in more ways than one. In addition to being one the world's greatest ice skaters, he has mastered adversity and a multitude of challenges. The Great Eight is an inspiration to us all."

--Donald J. Trump

"Scott's outlook on life continues to influence me in a very positive way, encouraging me to look at challenges in a larger context.  Within the metaphors of his skating career, the wisdom in this book is not only very inspiring and easy to grasp, but surrounded by great story telling.  I'm so glad he recorded it for the rest of us."  

--Brad Paisley, Grammy Award-winning Artist

"It's like my bud Scott says…"you can't just skate through life and expect to be happy!" So anyone choosing not to buy this book is choosing not to be happy.  Shame on you."  

--Kevin Nealon
Actor, Comedian, Saturday Night Live Alum

 "A gold medal literary performance from a true Olympic star."

Richard D. Lamm, Governor of Colorado

"For twenty five years I have been a close friend and business advisor to Scott.  He is an inspiration to all who know him.  I cannot imagine anyone better suited to write on the topic of happiness than Scott Hamilton.  Through a lifetime of facing incredible odds he has learned the secrets to maintaining a positive attitude and can-do spirit.  Spend time in the pages of this book and you will walk away truly inspired."


Bob Kain
Former CEO, IMG
Current Vice Chairman, Cleveland Browns

"After a myriad of setbacks, Scott speaks eloquently about survival in the face of adversity. This book deserves a 'ten' and a 'Personal Best' too! Bravo!"

Dick Button, Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Emmy Award-winning skating analyst

"In each successive chapter and challenge in his remarkable life-as Olympic champion, as cancer and brain-tumor survivor, as devoted husband and father and man of faith-Scott Hamilton has forged ahead with unquenchable spirit and uncommon joy, always emerging wiser than before.  This warm and insightful book will allow its readers to experience the blessing I've been privileged to enjoy in person: a delightful, practical, bracingly-honest conversation with one of our national treasures."

 Ken Durham, Ph.D., Senior Minister, The University Church of Christ at Pepperdine University

 

 


Frequently Bought Together

The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) + Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team + A Skating Life: My Story
Price For All Three: $52.84

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together
  • In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team $12.31

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • A Skating Life: My Story $24.95

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details



Product Details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0785228942
  • ISBN-13: 978-0785228943
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (141 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

141 Reviews
5 star:
 (53)
4 star:
 (52)
3 star:
 (21)
2 star:
 (12)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (141 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great read!, January 9, 2009
This review is from: The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) (Hardcover)
"The Great Eight" gave me a sense of hope and can-do-it like nothing I've read in a very long time. It's not just one of those "be happy" primers but is a realistic look at how to live a passionate and joy-filled life in the middle of tough circumstances. Scott Hamilton is an incredible real-life example. He has done it and makes me believe that I can too!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and Uplifting, January 9, 2009
This review is from: The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) (Hardcover)
I found this book right on the mark. To read about someone overcoming such odds with a positive attitude really helped me put my problems in perspective. I have always been a Scott Hamilton fan, so it was nice to be able to catch up with him and be inspired once again.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Read, January 11, 2009
This review is from: The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to be Miserable) (Hardcover)
This is not a book about ice-skating, but it is about skating through life and how, even though you don't come out unscathed, you can have hope. Scott uses his life as an example to show that no matter what comes at you unexpected and unwarranted you can rise above with faith. Great read!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
keep the ice clear, losses your wins, male skaters, triple lutz, skating career, cancer battle, fourth angel, other skaters
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bowling Green, Ice Capades, Gold Medal, Don Laws, World Pros, Scott Cramer, Blades of Glory, National Championships, Los Angeles, Bob Kain, Scott Hamilton, Olympic Games, Colorado Springs, World Championships, New Jersey, Great Eight
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(34)
(32)
(29)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums





Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject