Customer Reviews

Slaying the Dragon: How to Turn Your Small Steps to Great Feats

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Michael Johnson is not only an athlete, but an intellectual as well. He spells out how it took him six years to improve his 200 meter race 1.7 seconds. What is 1.7 seconds? It is the difference from being a good athlete and a world class athlete. This book teaches everyone how to improve themselves in order to achieve their dreams, whether it is in athletics, business, or education. I read this book in a matter of hours, it is a quick read and has invaluable insight into how to slay your dragon--a term Michael coins referring to how to reach your goals. If you have a dream and want to reach it, but have fallen short of victory, this is a must read.

I am a high school English teacher and plan to use bits of this book in my classroom to help my students learn to establish goals and achieve them.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

When I bought the book at a used book store, I had no idea what it was like. I just wanted a book for my 13 year-old son to read and maybe enjoy. We had been to the '96 Games and had seen the 200M race so I thought he could relate even though my son hates to run. I had him read a few pages out loud each day so I could hear his pronounciation but within a few days I began to realize what this book has to offer. I also noticed a change taking place in my son as he read the words. I really can't do justice to the book but I can tell you the message Michael Johnson has for young people has the power to change lives. I am grateful to Mr Johnson for what he has given my son.

Most athletes dont write their own stuff by themselves. Usually they have a professional writer help them out be cause most athletes, (and im not trying to be judgemental against athletes, im an athletes myself) aren't as good writers as others are. And i'm sure Michael Johnson did have help in rearanging certain grammatical errors and reorganizing the structure of his book, but overall it is a book that Michael Johnson wrote himself. It is one of the very few books that you can say written by a man who is not a writer that you can say "WOW" too. This wonderflly done piece of literature is a great read for student athletes and yound men and women who are aspiring to become something great in whatever profession they are in.

I would also like to say something about the author of the very terribly written review about Michael Johson. First of all, do not pay any attention to the review for it almost doesn't represent the book in any way. These reviews are meant to be a review of the book, not anything else. secondly, if any thinks Michael Johnson faked his hamstring pull, you should take a good look at the athletic doctors report on Michaels injury during the 150 meter race between Donovan Bailey. It will say that there was definate "tearing" in the muscle. Don't make pre-conceived ideas about an athlete who injures him/herself.

Firstly, I would like to know how the previous reviewer came to the conclusion that this book was ghost written. Having seen Michael's refreshingly articulate and informative punditry whilst working for the BBC on recent major athletics events, I do not see why there'd be a need to get someone else to write a book that's fairly short anyway. Also, it does not seem consistent with his attitude to get someone else to write this book (without even a reference to any 'collaborator' being involved within the book). In addition, the inside cover contains the following: 'The moral right of the author has been asserted'. Case closed.

So, what's the book about? In Michael's own words:

'To me, that's the ultimate responsibility and challenge of being a role model-not to sign autographs in a timely fashion or to live a stainless life, but to offer up a life or a philosophy, flaws and all, to help other people negotiate their own way. That's what I hope to do in this book'

In the book, he uses the progression of his athletics career as an illustrative tool to reinforce the various aspects of his philosophy. Whether it be major defeats and how he learnt to accept them and deal with them, or major successes (the book ending with his remarkable feats at the 1996 Olympic games)-he presents a systematic approach not only to athletics but to anything in life where there exists a concept of 'performance'.
I would go as far as to say that the approach presented in this book and the degree to which Michael Johnson stuck to it provided much of the difference, for the better, between him and his rivals. As Ato Boldon said: "Nineteen-point-thirty two, that's not a time. It sounds like my dad's birth date."

I've got to admit, Michael Johnson is my all time hero. I'm a big track and field enthusiast, and I just had to get my hands on this book. I want to take my track and field career to Michael Johnson's level of greatness. I was surprised when I started reading "Slaying the Dragon." I was ready for some great training techniques to improve my physical strength and endurance; but this book goes so much deeper then that. It's really a counselor in disguise as a book. It helps you improve your everyday life from all aspects. It gives you good ideas on how to set goals, and achieve your objectives. I found that you can apply this book to just about anything and it will produce results; whether it is on the track, in the classroom, or at the office. I will use this book to help me balance my sports career with the classroom. After reading this book I now have a direction and destination to strive for. No matter what your "dragon" is, this book can help you overcome it. If you give this book a chance, I gaurantee success in all aspects of your life. It's a must read book.

This book was first recommended to me my freshman year in high school by my band director. He used it often for inspiration. It became sort of a joke in the band room when he referred to it. Well I finally read it and I now know why he talked about it so much. It was a great book. The way Michael Johnson referred to little things in life such as asking someone out, studying for a test and facing all the other dragons that are in our way is what I liked about it. I thought it would be only about running so it was a nice surprise the way he enterwove the running and life experiences. So I highly recommend this book because it does inspire you to never let go of your dreams. Even the big ones that seem like only "a ten year old's fantasy". So to all the dreamers out there, read this book and keep dreaming. :0)

This book not only gives you guidelines for track, it also helps you in the real world. He tells you how to slay your own dragon and how to commit yourself to something. He helps you to deal with distractions and failures(if you come upon any). This book is a must get cause it helps you in life as well as track.

Michael Johnson is undoubtedly the greatest long-sprinter EVER. In fact, his 19.32sec world record in the 200M is in my humble opinion the single most mind-boggling race ever, and qualifies Mr. Johnson as one of the greatest track and field stars of all time.

What is often overlooked, however, is Mr. Johnson's consistency over his career. He once had a consecutive win-streak of 400M races that spanned a number of *years*. Quite simply, he very rarely lost any of the races he entered.

This book offers great insight into Michael Johnson's mental toughness, and explores the mindset of what made him great. True, this man's single-mindedness and no-nonsense determination may come across as slightly monomaniacal and somewhat opinionated to the average reader, but for any athlete that has dreamed of excelling, his words are truly inspirational.

I really enjoyed this book because of how accessibly it was written. You don't have to be a track and field fan to appreciate the universal message Mr. Johnson is trying to get across. This book can be used as a motivational tool, and I think that any book that you can read and then come away with something is a book well worth reading. And this is such a book.

Track and field athletes are not usually known for their intellects or even candor (with the possible exception of Carl Lewis), but Michael Johnson also succeeds here in impressing how much of an intelligent, well-rounded man he is... there is no doubt that he will succeed in his life after his track career has ended. Although supremely confident in his racing abilities-- and who wouldn't be?-- Mr. Johnson never comes across as arrogant or condescending. What I like best about this book is how it almost seems as if it were written purely for the benefit of the reader, as if Johnson had something that he felt he could share, to be read by others for their own benefit. In fact, 'Slaying the Dragon' feels like a message that Mr. Johnson felt compelled to share, and it is written in the humble spirit that he has simply worked very hard to get where he is.

I have to like such a humble message coming from such greatness. We will not see another sprinter like Michael Johnson for a long time. But we can still enjoy his words and his message, which were written in such a helpful and giving way. I came to this book in awe of this man's accomplishments, and came away with a respect for his character.

I just wish this book gave information on where he can receive fan mail!

This is not your average "read-about-a-successful-athlete" book just for the sole purpose of some inspiration for track and field or just for dreaming about being like Mike, or any other athelete. It is much more. Michael Johnson takes his struggles and triumphs in his life and relays to the reader how he learned proven success principles that helped him accomplish the tasks that he had set out to do and has done a fantastic job in giving the exact same principles in everyday, easy to read and understand language. He even states in his book that these principles can be applied to whatever goals or tasks or dreams you want to achieve and puts them in an excellent sequential form from the start of the pursuit of one's dream or goal, to making a plan of action to reach them, along with what to do when disappointments;failiure;set-backs;distractions in life come along (and they will) and how to overcome them, and then finally, to making those dreams and goals a reality. To the reader of these comments, I think the point has been made clear. GET THIS BOOK, PERIOD!!

Fast athlete who doesn't live the fast life which demotes many of our prominent public figures. Great testimony for kids to emulate. Sorry this is not in print for more to read.

Especially enjoyed his confession of faith and the way that affects his running, both in track and in life. Michael, you will receive the crown of victory for running the race of faith. God's blessings to you, and all will be blessed by reading your book.