Customer Reviews

The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"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!

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.

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!

A fellow brain tumor survivor said to Scott Hamilton, Gold Medal Olympian and Hall of Fame figure skater, "Scott you have every reason to be miserable, but you're the happiest guy I've ever met. What's your secret?"

Scott Hamilton with Ken Baker tells us how to be happy in his book, The Great Eight, How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable).He gives eight secrets to finding happiness. As a figure skater Scott had to learn to do on ice, what is called figure eights. He took the discipline he learned from perfecting figure eights and applied it to every aspect of his life. The eight principles he shares in this book are the lessons he lives by.

In this splendid book, Scott Hamilton shares stories from his own journey as a celebrity, Christian, husband, and cancer patient to illustrate the principles that have shaped his life. He challenges readers to take charge of their circumstances, commit to a goal, and go for the gold medal of happiness. Scott doesn't approach difficulties with a Pollyanna attitude. Instead he looks at life realistically and gives eight principles for living a happy life.

As a Senior Minister for forty-seven years I found chapter two, Trust Your Almighty Coach, the most interesting and helpful. In this chapter Scott talks about how faith in God will give meaning to your life and help you live the best life you possibly can.

This is a book you will read and share with others. However, you will have to buy another copy for your friends. You will not be able to part with yours. It will be a reference book for life.

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

Scott Hamiton is the famous Olympic skater. He has suffered from a brain tumor and testicular cancer. He tells his story in this book and explains how to be happy even when you have every reason to be miserable.

This is an inspirational, positive thinking book! It has lots of good points. The book is obviously built around eight principles that Scott believes are secrets to your happiness. I think every book I read can be worth the read if I find one or two thoughts that are worth it. This book contains more than that.

One of the truths that I enjoyed as a pastor was found in the chapter on "Trust your Almighty Coach!" Scott discusses different types of coaches. He tells stories about his coaches. The part that applied to me was that coaches should be careful not to get in over their heads.

Many coaches try to take the skater to a level where they have no understanding. He says that few are willing to say that I have done all I can for you. It is time for me to help you find the person that can take you to the promised land. The great failure he says is when the skater becomes an extension of the coach's ego!

Another great truth was on using our past failures as a crutch to keep failing. Since we refuse to forgive ourselves for the past we can't get over it and on to the next thing that is before us.

Another great truth was on keeping the ice clear, or open lines of communication. We often are people pleasers and will not confront people when we should. We build up bitterness that only hinders our future success.

Last truth from here is that you need to focus on building up others and you will find your own self worth. I like the idea that you have no success until you build a successor. I do not want to be one of a kind. I want to reproduce in others the truths that God has used in my life.

The book is an easy, quick read! It will give you some good ideas about happiness and success.

Scott Hamilton (with Ken Baker) shares his story of working his way to the top of his profession only to discover that fame and wealth do not bring happiness. Through triumph and tragedy, Scott learned eight principles that helped him take hold of the happiness that eluded him and shares them with his readers.

With stories from his professional and personal life, Scott takes his readers on a journey to discover what his love for skating taught him about happiness. "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."

From learning to truly trust God to standing in the spotlight, Scott speaks to men and women of every profession. If you are ready for the challenge of finding happiness, get this book and put The Great Eight into practice in your own life.

Few Olympic medalists have stayed in the spotlight as long as figure skater Scott Hamilton, who turned "pro," added "entertainment" elements such as the back flip to his repertoire, and took an ongoing principal role in the Stars on Ice touring production. He has been a sports commentator, played himself in a movie at age 50, and run the paces of Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice." Hamilton exudes a joie de vivre. He seems to have done something right. Here, in this inspiring book, he shares his "secret" with the world.

Twenty-five years ago Scott Hamilton won the Olympic gold medal in men's figure skating. Despite some mistakes on the televised, choreographed program, Hamilton took the top prize because he had scored so well on the prescribed technical routine. His specialty? The mandatory figure eights, which require precision, balance, stamina --- and endless practice. "Everything I've learned about how to find happiness stems from what I learned through the repetition and discipline of perfecting my figure eights."

Jumping off from that theme of "eights," Hamilton lays out eight principles for finding happiness that have served him well, despite professional setbacks, a battle with testicular cancer and, later, the trauma of a benign brain tumor. Each chapter, connected to some aspect of his sport/profession, outlines a self-help book that is so personal it also might be categorized as a memoir.

Hamilton's slow-start --- sickly --- childhood is covered in chapter 1: "Fall, Get Up, and Land Your First Jumps." Here he introduces the happiness found not just in winning but in "process." "I have always been happiest when I was doing just as I did as a beginner skater, putting one foot in front of the other and progressing, having the attitude that whatever comes of it comes of it."

The chapter covering his training years, "Trust Your Almighty Coach," has a spiritual overtone: "My long, winding journey to finding the right coach for me was not unlike my journey to finding God."

Chapters 3 and 4 are particularly strong: "Make Your Losses Your Wins" and "Keep the Ice Clear," which is about relationships --- Hamilton working through a fear of confrontation and learning to be direct in his communication. "Win by Going Last" has leadership advice, which served Hamilton well in his role in the Stars on Ice shows.

Portions of the book clearly speak to a middle-aged reader (facing baldness, career challenges); even so, I intend to give it to a teenage boy who has been temporarily sidelined in sports because of an injury. Virtually every page provides solid advice that promotes courage and a bright outlook for one's future, even if that future includes a change from one's original plan --- a topic addressed in chapter 7, "Learn a New Routine."

There may not be anything here that hasn't already been presented by Norman Vincent Peale, the positive-thinking persona of a previous generation. But Hamilton packages it in a fresh framework that is engaging, easy to read and downright inspiring.

--- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

A sports star that has not been arrested, acting badly, taking steroids, defending himself in the press and not abusing animals? Yes, they do exist and Scott Hamilton is the first to come to mind when thinking about a good role model as well as a world class athlete. He has written a very uplifting and inspiring self-help, feel good book about the ups and downs we all face in life and Scott has faced some big ones.

A cancer survivor and gold medalist gives his insight on overcoming lifes challenges. This book is a good easy read that I found inspiring as well as informative. Scott challenges the reader to find his/her own happiness in all life has to offer, good and bad. Highly recommended.

This book didn't really get me excited. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked it up... I was thinking perhaps of a more powerful writing style.

It was a great narration on Scott Hamilton's life and beliefs... but it was a pretty dull read.

When contrast presented itself, the pain was drawn out while the victories are snapshots. In this book pain is like a 2 hour long movie compared to victory which is only a fleeting glimpse at photo.

An example of this is in one heading in the book called "A slippery Start". It begins with a miserably cold day and ends with the statement about experiencing a lifetime's worth of physical trauma.

These surround a brief moment of "tentative skating".

I would hope the focus on negativity, is meant to contrast the power of Scott's personal philosophies but I just didn't enjoy reading it.

It is almost like everything begins by focusing on the pain then a moment of elation is added at the end.

I would much more have preferred hearing about the power of the victories first so the pain could be a nice way to illustrate the power and meaning of the victories... in this case you start with a lot of bad and get a sprinkle of good.

A lot of god with a dash of bad to illustrate the point would have kept me more excited.

The beginning of Chapter 5 is a great example: Three paragraphs explaining a bad situation and only 1 single sentence on how to deal with it. And, even then he offers no results that demonstrate the way to deal with it will actually work. Or even an explanation of how it might work.

Then when he does offer more it is droning on about the same DOGMA that you hear everywhere.

I wanted to enjoy this book but it is just filled with cliche' advice and examples that have little meaning because they glorify the pain endured but trivialize the real power behind Scott's beliefs.

Eh... I wouldn't buy it if I lost my copy.

This book is a well written autobiography. Scott has analyzed and shared with us both his weaknesses and strengths. He openly shares the keys that have led him to happiness and success both on and off the ice. Nice tie in with the title- The Great Eight- 8's are pretty important in ice skating and these truly are 8 great principles that can be applied to life.

This book is unbelievably quotable. I'd consider it a worthwhile purchase for any motivational speakers(be sure and have your highlighter ready) and a must read for for those who desire to win and/or achieve.

Quirky side note: I so totally have mental dyslexia! I always seem to mix up famous folks- this time I spent half my read figuring out Scott Hamilton was NOT in Star Wars- I was thinking of Mark Hammel- gymnast vs. ice skater who knew... I did half way through. At least I think as an adult I've figured out the differences between Bill Cosby and Bing Crosby:) !