In his acclaimed national best seller, A Fighter’s Heart, Sam Sheridan took readers with him as he stepped through the ropes into the dangerous world of professional fighting. From a muay Thai bout in Bangkok to Rio, where he trained with jiu-jitsu royalty, to Iowa, where he matched up against the toughest in MMA, Sheridan threw himself into a quest to understand how and why we fight. In The Fighter’s Mind, Sheridan does for the brain what his first book did for the body. To uncover the secrets of mental strength and success, Sheridan interviewed dozens of the world’s most fascinating and dangerous men, including celebrated trainers Freddie Roach and Greg Jackson; champion fighters Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, and Marcelo Garcia; ultrarunner David Horton; legendary wrestler Dan Gable, and many more. What are their secrets? How do they stay committed through years of training, craft a game plan, and adjust to the realities of the ring? How do they project strength when weak, and remain mentally tough despite incredible physical pain? A fascinating book, bursting at the seams with incredible stories and insight, The Fighter’s Mind answers these questions and many more.
The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Sheridan (A Fighter's Heart) examines what contributes toward a successful mental approach in professional fighting, interviewing people such as mixed martial arts icon Randy Couture, legendary college wrestling coach Dan Gable, and tai chi master Josh Waitzkin. The author gains some interesting insights from his investigation. Losing, it turns out, is a crucial component behind a fighter's success. Confidence is fine, but ego is an evil thing, with humility being a great equalizer. Those interested in pugilistic psychology may find some value in Sheridan's reporting; for others, too often the sources' lessons sound similar, and the book frequently drifts into a lengthy, somnolent discourse on fighting styles. Sheridan also can't stay out of his own way; his first-person prose is clunky and long-winded. His misguided attempt to merge elements of memoir and sports journalism derails the book, keeping it from succeeding in either genre. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Starting with the premise, “We are all fighting something,” Sheridan follows his successful A Fighter’s Heart (2006) with a wide-ranging exploration of how great “fighters” succeed. Among those he profiles are 1972 Olympic gold-medal-winning wrestler Dan Gable, ultra-runner David Horton, mixed martial artist Randy Couture, 2004 Olympic gold-medal-winning boxer Andre Ward, and even chess wizard Josh Waitzkin (from Searching for Bobby Fischer). Some are defined not by their victories but by their defeats (boxer George Foreman); others need “killers in the room” (MMA champs); others win by a certain stealth (Ward)—not to mention thousands of hours of training. To explain just why these men do what they do, Sheridan says that fighting, in whatever forms that it takes, forces you to “learn who you are.” Like its predecessor, this book should find an audience well beyond the ring. --Alan Moores
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By M. E. Bobola
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Fighter's Mind is an incredible look at the mental part of competition and life. Through the lens of combat sports, Sam Sheridan goes around the world in search of answers to various questions about how top personalities think about fighting. The book is laid out in the form of short sections about each of the people that Sam talks to. People like Dan Gable, Freddie Roach, Greg Jackson, Renzo Gracie, and Randy Couture answer Sheridan's excellent questions with thoughtful and insightful responses that are presented in such a way that you get a very good look at how they think about the fight game and what in their lives have made them reach that point.
Sam also covers areas outside of fighting, but areas that are thematically related. He talks to David Horton about endurance running, and he talks to Josh Waitzkin about moving from chess to tai chi to jiu-jitsu. In each section, Sheridan lets the subject be as concise or explanatory as they need to be on the page. He interjects his own experience into the responses, always at the correct time and always with an astute bit to enhance what the passage is about.
I'd say that this isn't just the best combat sports book I've read. This is the best sports book I've read. It's the best psychology book I've read. It is as thorough a meditation on the human passion for fighting and testing oneself as has ever been written. If you are at all interested in mixed martial arts, boxing, traditional martial arts, the human mind, or competition, you owe it to yourself to check this book out. As far as Sam Sheridan's catalogue of modern combat sports goes, I can definitely say that he is the A.J. Liebling of this generation.
Sam also covers areas outside of fighting, but areas that are thematically related. He talks to David Horton about endurance running, and he talks to Josh Waitzkin about moving from chess to tai chi to jiu-jitsu. In each section, Sheridan lets the subject be as concise or explanatory as they need to be on the page. He interjects his own experience into the responses, always at the correct time and always with an astute bit to enhance what the passage is about.
I'd say that this isn't just the best combat sports book I've read. This is the best sports book I've read. It's the best psychology book I've read. It is as thorough a meditation on the human passion for fighting and testing oneself as has ever been written. If you are at all interested in mixed martial arts, boxing, traditional martial arts, the human mind, or competition, you owe it to yourself to check this book out. As far as Sam Sheridan's catalogue of modern combat sports goes, I can definitely say that he is the A.J. Liebling of this generation.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Crimson
Format:Paperback
With interviews from some of the best fighters and trainers in mixed martial arts and boxing, The Fighter's Mind is replete with the insights and words of wisdom of the elite in the fight game. The author travels to different top-notch gyms across the country, asking about the mental side of fighting.
With interviews from Frank Shamrock, Freddie Roach, and Greg Jackson and many others, you get to go briefly inside the minds of the best of the best. At about midway through the book, however, you pretty much get the point: if you want to great at fighting (or anything) you need to have a burning desire to be great, an obsession, really. That obsession, coupled with unshakable self-confidence in oneself, is what creates champions (among other things, of course).
The only problem I had with this book is that it kinda lost steam towards the end. After reading about two-thirds of the book, you begin to see the common thread between elite warriors, and it starts to get a little redundant. Ok, work very hard, want it more than anything else, and just believe, never give up...gotcha. And some fighters spoke of fighting in a very philosophical, poetic way that didn't make much sense, or at least not at first. The author goes into that tangentially in the final chapter titled "The Long Koan."
Overall, a decent book. It has all the ingredients to inspire and motivate, even if you have no serious interest in fighting.
With interviews from Frank Shamrock, Freddie Roach, and Greg Jackson and many others, you get to go briefly inside the minds of the best of the best. At about midway through the book, however, you pretty much get the point: if you want to great at fighting (or anything) you need to have a burning desire to be great, an obsession, really. That obsession, coupled with unshakable self-confidence in oneself, is what creates champions (among other things, of course).
The only problem I had with this book is that it kinda lost steam towards the end. After reading about two-thirds of the book, you begin to see the common thread between elite warriors, and it starts to get a little redundant. Ok, work very hard, want it more than anything else, and just believe, never give up...gotcha. And some fighters spoke of fighting in a very philosophical, poetic way that didn't make much sense, or at least not at first. The author goes into that tangentially in the final chapter titled "The Long Koan."
Overall, a decent book. It has all the ingredients to inspire and motivate, even if you have no serious interest in fighting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This a a great look at the concept of excellence or mastery. The author is a Brazilian jujitsu guy so there is a lot of attention paid to BJJ and MMA which gets boring if you're not also into that but the tenants and principles are well founded and well thought out. There is some repetition in the book but I didn't find it as bothersome as other reviews I've read of it. To me the repetition worked well to further support the points this author was making. There are no great discoveries here just reaffirmation of old principles but they are things we all need occasional reminders of.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's Behind the Game?
This book is an intelligent exploration of the motivations and rewards involved in physical competition. Read more
Published 6 days ago by roberta b. zabel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sheridan Dilevers Again!
The Fighter's Mind is another great piece from adventurous author Sam Sheridan. I first read A Fighter's Heart in '06 and fell in love with the sport and his writing. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Brucewillpete7
5.0 out of 5 stars
Think Like a Fighter
What follows are thoughts that occurred to me while reading The Fighter's Mind by Sam Sheridan.
We are all fighter's. Life is a fight. A struggle. Read more
We are all fighter's. Life is a fight. A struggle. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Randy Ehrler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
Great book for ANY athlete, or someone who is simply interested in MMA fighting, such as myself. Easy to read.
Published 25 days ago by eweathers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great purchase
Great read. Loved the many aspects the author focused on when it comes to understanding the mindset when it comes to pushing themselves hard.
Published 1 month ago by thezerotheory
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting reading
Every new chapter a new experience and perspective from a different fighting discipline. Sam Sheriden also shares his own experience with each one.
I recommend this book !
I recommend this book !
Published 1 month ago by David S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Check this book out
Alots been said already about this book. My favorite chapter was the one on Greg Jackson where he came from and more info. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jeremy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
I really enjoyed this book. Sheridan moves deftly from interviews to techniques to Zen Buddhism. I learned a great deal about some amazing athletes and would recommend this book... Read more
Published 2 months ago by TheFarceIsStrongWithThisOne
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tell me that you noticed!
I was going to buy this book but I perused the reviews.
This book was published February 2nd 2010. There's a review dated January 24th 2010! Read more
This book was published February 2nd 2010. There's a review dated January 24th 2010! Read more
Published 2 months ago by redpepper
5.0 out of 5 stars
The fighter's mind: inside the mental game
Delivery was quick and effective. The book was in excellent condition and properly packaged. The book is also a great read and ideologies can be applied to not only fighting, but... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sandy
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