Customer Reviews

The Mental Edge

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a hard book to rate-it really all depends on the reader. For me, it came off kind of as `Chicken Soup for the Athlete's Soul.' A little hokey for my tastes.

The entire thing can be summed up in two sentences: 1: Keep an unfailingly positive attitude, and 2: Spend a bunch of time visualizing success. The rest is mostly not-so-useful expansions on those (admittedly useful) ideas or inspiring anecdotes about little choo choos that could. If you're looking for concrete meditation or mind control techniques, you'll probably want to look somewhere else.

I'm not trying to be negative about the book. I think a lot of people would find it really inspirational and helpful. You just need to be aware of what it is and what it isn't before you buy...

This is really a very book that overcomes an all too common presentation flaw:

Why is it good: The Mental Edge provides the clearest and most comprehensive program for developing metal training routines that can/will improve performance. And if you are good at some endeavor - you have already learned the base skills needed -- from there on it is mental. Again, of all the books (too many) on trying to understand and develop procedures .. this is the best

The all too common flaw: The constant digressions regarding annecdotes and exhortations of "you can if you only believe." The content is great but in many cases the presentation would embarrass Shirly McLain.

Nonetheless, I would encourage anyone with a sports objective to read (grit their way through). The specific recomendations are again the best compilation and application of mental training I know of

The Mental Edge is the mind body connection! I am a girls' high school volleyball coach in CA and the team uses Mr. Baums techniques religously. These techniques never allow the mind to get in the way of the body. The athlete learns to bombard his/herself with positive thoughts of previous success! The book is a must for any serious athlete. I have had the pleasure to work personally with Mr. Kenneth Baum and I am a better person, coach, and athlete because of our association! Results come quickly!

I am a magazine journalist and athlete, and write primarily about health and fitness--to the tune of about 40 articles a year. When I found this book I immediately decided to pitch a feature story on these techniques because they are DIFFERENT. There is so much out there on mental training that basically says, "Strive for excellence." Yawn! HOW? This book shows how. It covers a couple of basic concepts, visualization and positive self-talk, but delves into other techniques even I had not heard of. And I've interviewed many other trainers, coaches, etc. like Ken Baum. I think that's why such a top athlete like Karch Kiraly subscribed to these methods. The author's ideas called "Success History Search" and "Performance Cues" have been extremely helpful to me in the gym. When you write about fitness and work out all the time, it can get boring--but these ideas helped me break a plateau and move to an even better level of fitness.

I bought this book for my 13 year old son while he was in the middle of his season. He was in a batting slump and each time up to bat I could tell he was very nervous and had a hard time making contact with the ball. He has always been a good ball player but this season his confidence was shot. After he read the book and did the excercises (before each game) his batting was back to normal. He ended the season with a .455 batting average and had the most RBI's on his team. I even had parents ask me what happened because he looked so much more confident. This is not magic and will only work if you are committed to your sport and are serious about improving. After reading this book you will understand that mental training is just as important as physical training.

I followed the suggestions of the reviewers here. While some seemed over-enthusiastic, I now understand why. This book IS that good.

I would recommend it to anyone. It gets you to where you want and it doesn't talk over your head.

I can see why Mr. Baum is the top Sports Motivational Speaker in the country! I had read an article about him in Men's Journal and then was talking to a friend of mine who saw speak at a seminar in Los Angeles in front of about 5000 people. He said that he was the BEST speaker of the bunch, so out of curiosity, I bought the book.

After reading part of the book, I improved my game so greatly that I couldn't believe it. I then applied many of the strategies at work and cannot believe how much I can get done now! I even got a bonus because of an account I was working on. --OOPS! Back to sports & the book:

The author does a GREAT job of putting things in easy to use excercises and speaks in an understandable language that talks to you, not above you.

I strongly recommend this book whether you are a professional athlete looking to hone in on the zone or come out of a slump, a high school athlete seeking a scholorship, a college player eying the draft, or simply Joe Weekend who just likes to have fun on the golf course or the hoops court with the fellas!

I ain't no playa...but I now CRUSH like one! Thanks to Mr. Baum!

"While it's true that an individual's physical training and workouts are crucial factors, the extra edge or advantage is just as likely to come from the mental game." ~Kenneth Baum

Kenneth Baum conducts seminars across the United States and Canada. His clients have included players from the Seattle Supersonics to the U.S. World Cup soccer team.

"The Mental Edge" presents a program you can use to maximize your sports performance. Kenneth Baum shows why seemingly average athletes can excel at their sport while athletes with great potential will at time never reach their goals. This step-by-step program is designed to improve your game.

Whether you want to meet your workout goals or you are a professional athlete, Kenneth can guide you past your frustration and into the next level, a place where you can improve your performance by up to 40 percent.

"The Mental Edge" is filled with examples of how this program has worked for athletes who were able to shed their self-defeating beliefs.

By Chapter Three I was quite inquisitive and could not wait to hear what I could do to improve my own workouts.

Kenneth Baum presents ideas that made absolute sense. One of his first ideas included an analysis of what you have been doing that caused defeat and once I figured out that I was not making my workouts a priority, I was able to be more consistent and started to see some results I had not seen in 8 weeks! In one week, by the sheer consistency of my workouts, I had lost inches, finally! I know this seems logical, but I had been working out for months and nothing was happening. By putting aside my disappointment and visualizing a new me, I started to change into the new me. You might also want to post the "10 Perception Stretchers" on your wall because they are inspirational.

"I don't like the results I'm getting. What do I need to do differently?" ~Kenneth Baum

There is an area in this book where you can "Create An Action Plan." The "Power Talk" is an interesting way to promote "belief in yourself." There is also a section on how to defeat the "Mental Saboteurs of Your Game."

This book also has information on the "Performance Zone Nutrition Program" which can be designed for your unique metabolism and sport.

The ideas in "The Mental Edge" are working for me and have worked for professional athletes. No matter what your level is now, you can move to a higher level of performance. It could really just depend on how you think! "The Mental Edge" will take you to peak performance and beyond. If "Just Do It" isn't working, try "Just Think It."

~The Rebecca Review

Begin like you want to finish, has helped sink more tough putts than any technique I've ever tried. The Mental Edge is full of useable techniques that improves your game quickly. THE BEST SPORTS PERFORMANCE BOOK ON THE MARKET AND AN ABSOLUTE FOR GOLFERS!

I wonder if the two negative reviews were written by the same person who might just be a writer of one of the lesser, competing books? .....Hmmmmm!

Anyways, I found this book that someone had left behind on an airplane in the pocket. I was with my team returning from a tournament. It's too bad that we didn't have this book PRIOR to the tourney! I'm certain that we'd have had a different reult. At any rate, I'm looking forward to the following season -- so is my team....I bought them each a book!

Mr. Baum, if you ever read this, thank you very much. I can already see the renewed enthusiasm from my team. I think you've made a world of difference in not just the sporting life, but also the everyday lives of many you may never have the chance to meet.

...and for the person who left this behind, thank you very much. I'm sure you did so by accident, and if you contact me at my above email address, I'd be happy to return a NEW book to you. I may even buy you the audio tapes. :O]

Go Titans!