About the Book
In This Is Your Brain on Sports, Jon Wertheim, bestselling coauthor of Scorecasting (with Toby Moskowitz) and You Can't Make This Up (with Al Michaels), teams up with Tufts psychologist and acclaimed author Sam Sommers (Situations Matter) to take readers behind the scenes of the world of sports to show us why athletes (and commentators) so often resort to war metaphors to describe what they do on the field and on the court; how athletes are able to put aside the death of loved ones and other traumatic losses on game day-and why they often perform better in the face of such tragedy; why athletes choke under pressure; how neuroscience can help explain why sports fans love to root for a loser, thanks to "effort justification'; the power of self-handicapping in inspiring performance; and how the certainty of a finish line can lift you to overcome your physical limits. A fascinating journey into the psychology, behavioral science, and latest findings on athletic performance, This Is Your Brain on Sports promises to be THE book for sports fans of all backgrounds on better understanding how athletes win and lose.
About the Author :
JON WERTHEIM is the executive editor of the most respected and popular sports publication in America. In addition to his encyclopedic knowledge of the professional sports world, he is the author of such New York Times bestsellers as Scorecasting and You Can't Make This Up. SAM SOMMERS is an experimental psychologist at Tufts University who studies the psychology of everyday life, and the author of the critically acclaimed book Situations Matter.
Review :
"Wertheim and Sommers wield serious research to diagnose the myriad symptoms of the human brain on sports, and what they find is, by turns, hilarious, slightly frightening, and always illuminating."
-- David Epstein, author The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance "Smart, funny, and brimming with insights."
-- Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Stumbling On Happiness
"It was only after delving into this unique tome that I learned that Mookie Wilson was available for bar mitzvah greetings via telephone, or that I can go elk hunting with Ryan Klesko for a mere nine grand. This information alone is worth many times the cost of this eye-opening and entertaining book."
-- Bob Costas
"Eye-opening, captivating, and hilarious, This is Your Brain on Sports shines a fascinating and scientific spotlight on human nature. Wertheim and Sommers offer expert lessons for athletes and sports fans, sure, but also for business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, parents, youth sports coaches, and more."
-- Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence
"A rollicking read that offers dozens of sparkling insights into social psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics. Wertheim and Sommers are the perfect writing duo -- one part Watson and Crick, another part Brady and Gronkowski."
-- Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human
"Wertheim and Sommers have achieved the Holy Grail: a book that's as fun as it is informative."
-- Adam Alter, Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology, Stern School of Business, and New York Times Bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink
"Not just an entertaining read, but a book filled with wisdom that will help fans, athletes, coaches -- and executives - understand sports a little differently and a little better"
-- Ivan Gazidis, chief executive Arsenal Football Club
Wertheim and Sommers wield serious research to diagnose the myriad symptoms of the human brain on sports, and what they find is, by turns, hilarious, slightly frightening, and always illuminating.
David Epstein, author The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
"Smart, funny, and brimming with insights."
-- Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Stumbling On Happiness
"It was only after delving into this unique tome that I learned that Mookie Wilson was available for bar mitzvah greetings via telephone, or that I can go elk hunting with Ryan Klesko for a mere nine grand. This information alone is worth many times the cost of this eye-opening and entertaining book."
Bob Costas
"Eye-opening, captivating, and hilarious, This is Your Brain on Sportsshines a fascinating and scientific spotlight on human nature. Wertheim and Sommers offer expert lessons for athletes and sports fans, sure, but also for business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, parents, youth sports coaches, and more."
Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence
A rollicking read that offers dozens of sparkling insights into social psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics.Wertheim and Sommers are the perfect writing duo -- one part Watson and Crick, another part Brady and Gronkowski.
Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human
Wertheim and Sommers have achieved the Holy Grail: a book that s as fun as it is informative.
Adam Alter, Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology, Stern School of Business, and New York Times Bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink
"Not just an entertaining read, but a book filled with wisdom that will help fans, athletes, coaches and executives understand sports a little differently and a little better"
Ivan Gazidis, chief executive Arsenal Football Club
"
Wertheim and Sommers wield serious research to diagnose the myriad symptoms of the human brain on sports, and what they find is, by turns, hilarious, slightly frightening, and always illuminating.
David Epstein, author "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance"
"Smart, funny, and brimming with insights."
-- Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of "Stumbling On Happiness"
"It was only after delving into this unique tome that I learned that Mookie Wilson was available for bar mitzvah greetings via telephone, or that I can go elk hunting with Ryan Klesko for a mere nine grand. This information alone is worth many times the cost of this eye-opening and entertaining book."
Bob Costas
"Eye-opening, captivating, and hilarious, "This is Your Brain on Sports"shines a fascinating and scientific spotlight on human nature. Wertheim and Sommers offer expert lessons for athletes and sports fans, sure, but also for business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, parents, youth sports coaches, and more."
Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of "Presence"
A rollicking read that offers dozens of sparkling insights into social psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics.Wertheim and Sommers are the perfect writing duo -- one part Watson and Crick, another part Brady and Gronkowski.
Daniel H. Pink, author of "Drive" and "To Sell Is Human"
Wertheim and Sommers have achieved the Holy Grail: a book that s as fun as it is informative.
Adam Alter, Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology, Stern School of Business, and "New York Times" Bestselling author of "Drunk Tank Pink"
"Not just an entertaining read, but a book filled with wisdom that will help fans, athletes, coaches and executives understand sports a little differently and a little better"
Ivan Gazidis, chief executive Arsenal Football Club
"
"It was only after delving into this unique tome that I learned that Mookie Wilson was available for bar mitzvah greetings via telephone, or that I can go elk hunting with Ryan Klesko for a mere nine grand. This information alone is worth many times the cost of this eye-opening and entertaining book."
Bob Costas
Wertheim and Sommers wield serious research to diagnose the myriad symptoms of the human brain on sports, and what they find is, by turns, hilarious, slightly frightening, and always illuminating.
David Epstein, author "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance"
Wertheim and Sommers have achieved the Holy Grail: a book that s as fun as it is informative. I can t think of a better place to demonstrate the foibles of the human mind than in the world of sports, where rabid fandom and superstition meet epic rivalries and impossible comebacks. If you ve ever wondered why so many people devote so much time to playing, analyzing, and watching sports, this book is for you.
Adam Alter, Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology, Stern School of Business, and "New York Times" Bestselling author of "Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave"
"Not just an entertaining read, but a book filled with wisdom that will help fans, athletes, coaches and executives understand sports a little differently and a little better"
Ivan Gazidis, chief executive Arsenal Football Club
"Eye-opening, captivating, and hilarious, "This is Your Brain on Sports" shines a fascinating and scientific spotlight on human nature. Wertheim and Sommers offer expert lessons for athletes and sports fans, sure, but also for business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, parents, youth sports coaches, and more."
Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of the forthcoming book "Presence
" Is there anything more satisfying than snagging a cannon-launched T-shirt at a crowded ballpark? Absolutely not. But this book comesveryclose. "This is Your Brain on Sports" is a rollicking read that offers dozens of sparkling insights into social psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics.Wertheim and Sommers are the perfect writing duo -- one part Watson and Crick, another part Brady and Gronkowski.
Daniel H. Pink, author of "Drive" and "To Sell Is Human
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