Books › The mindful athlete
The mindful athlete
234 pages
A charismatic blend of hard-won personal redemption and practical mindfulness strategies for achieving peak performance.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down with a wise, battle-tested mentor who has seen both the absolute bottom and the pinnacle of human achievement. The narrative moves at a steady, engaging pace, seamlessly weaving a raw personal history of injury and addiction with actionable, focused strategies for success. The mood is deeply inspiring and contemplative, grounded in a charismatic voice that effortlessly connects ancient mindfulness practices with modern pop-culture touchstones like Bruce Lee and Yoda. It is an uplifting, transformative experience that speaks not just to elite competitors, but to anyone seeking to quiet their mind, overcome personal obstacles, and unlock their highest potential through the power of focused awareness.
- Mood
- inspiring
- contemplative
- focused
- Tone
- charismatic
- earnest
- instructive
- resilient
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- overcoming addiction · mind-body connection · peak performance · personal transformation · mindfulness in action
- The writing
- Charismatic and accessible, blending personal narrative with practical philosophy and pop-culture wisdom.
- The arc
- Moves from the despair of injury and addiction to the clarity and triumph of mindful mastery.
- Who it's for
- Anyone seeking to elevate their performance and find inner focus, from athletes and executives to artists and everyday goal-seekers.
Content notes
- substance abuse
- addiction
- injury
About the book
"Michael Jordan and countless other NBA stars credit George Mumford with transforming their game. A widely respected public speaker and coach, Mumford shares his story and strategies in The Mindful Athlete. His proven techniques transform the performance of anyone with a goal, be they an Olympian, weekend warrior, executive, hacker, or artist. A basketball player at the University of Massachusetts (where he roomed with Dr. J, Julius Erving), injuries forced Mumford out of the game he loved. The meds that relieved the pain of his injuries also numbed him to the emptiness he felt without the game and eventually led him to heroin. After years as a functioning addict, Mumford made meditation the center of his life. He kicked drugs, earned a master's degree, and began teaching meditation to inmates and others. Mumford went on to partner with coach Phil Jackson, a long-time mindfulness practitioner, working with him and each of the teams he coached to become NBA champions. His roster of champion clients now includes executives and Olympians. With a charismatic style that combines mindfulness with lessons from icons like Yoda and Bruce Lee, Mumford delivers an engrossing story and an invaluable resource. "--
Description from Open Library.
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