Harnessing Anger: The Inner Discipline of Athletic Excellence [Paperback]

Peter Westbrook (Author), Tej Hazarika (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 1998

To Peter Westbrook, "harnessing anger" means controlling one's fury and channeling it in a positive direction. Westbrook's success in what he once called "that strange white sport" is really just one expression of the self-discipline that has led him to beat the odds, again and again.
In Harnessing Anger, Westbrook tells how he came to be the first African American to win a national gold title in sabre fencing. The son of an African-American father and a Japanese mother, Peter was aised by his mother alone in poverty in a Newark ghetto. Becoming a fencer at an early age gave him the confidence and the discipline to use an ancient martial art to his advantage both in swordplay and when facing the vicissitudes of daily life in the inner city.
The autobiography of this six-time Olympian, 13-time U.S. National champion and the only book on his amazing life, Harnessing Anger tells us how Westbrook has overcome strong adversaries on and off the fencing mat.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A six-time Olympian and 13-time U.S. national champion, Peter Westbrook is one of America's most decorated athletes. As a fencer, he toils in relative obscurity, yet his accomplishments in and out of the arena are legion. As a black man in a white sport, he's become an Arthur Ashe with sword instead of racket, a pioneer with deep community roots. Westbrook's chronicle is a sharply told tale of controlled rage and inspiring self-discovery, filled with fascinating insight into an incredibly demanding, psychologically challenging, and fiercely competitive sport. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Westbrook may not be a household name among the general public, but in fencing circles, he is legendary. A former U.S. champion and Olympic medalist, he came to fencing from an unlikely direction: the inner city. Westbrook's compelling account of his remarkable life begins with his Japanese mother, who convinced him to try fencing. A Newark teenager in the 1960s, Westbrook brought anger to the sport: anger over his largely missing father, his poverty, and his status as a biracial man in a racist society. Westbrook harnessed his anger and used it to his advantage as a competitor, but in his personal life he had difficulty setting aside his warrior mentality along with his saber. Young athletes--fencers especially--will benefit from Westbrook's motivational message and enjoy the exciting match accounts. The rest of us can identify with--and learn from--a man who had to keep the very quality that led to his success from becoming a negative factor in his life. An outstanding sports autobiography. Wes Lukowsky --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press (September 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888363673
• ISBN-13: 978-1888363678
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Fencing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biography of fencer, Peter Westbrook, April 2, 2002

By 

Stable (PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harnessing Anger: The Inner Discipline of Athletic Excellence (Paperback)

The book was a page turner,finished in 3 hours. It tells the tale of peter shifting his energy into a sport instead of getting in to gang activities. It also speaks of the racism that Peter experienced avancing as a black fencer in a mostly white
sport. I especially enjoyed his adventures on the subway and
how he reacted in confrontational situations! A must read for
subway travelers!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pen and the sword cooperate., July 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Harnessing Anger: The Way of an American Fencer. (Hardcover)

Peter Westbrook is one of the true gentlemen of fencing. He is also one of the great competitive fencers of the twentieth century. Needless to say, his rise from tough "street kid" to Olympic medal winner makes interesting reading. This book is a definite must for all fencing enthusiasts, but it should also have appeal for anyone who likes personal stories of challenge and perseverance