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laurab2125's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, but I thought it went on a little too long -- after awhile, the studies seemed to be kind of the same, or at least reaching the same sort of conclusion. That said, it was illuminating and well-written.
t_roth32's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook
While I enjoyed this book, I found it equal parts depressing and interesting. So much to learn on the future and you can tell we are only on the edge of science.
While I enjoyed this book, I found it equal parts depressing and interesting. So much to learn on the future and you can tell we are only on the edge of science.
realreads's review against another edition
3.0
interesting topic; the book covers a bunch of research and the stories of various athletes. however, the writing gets a bit tiresome and wordy; I could have done without the parts of the book that gave background on the various people.
smartysteve30's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great. There were pacing issues but overall a great read.
dieu's review against another edition
5.0
I found this information entirely fascinating because I love science, especially when it pertains to the human body and mind. Books like this can be particularly dry but this book was not. I don’t know if much of the science has changed since it was written but I think it’s a solid book to read if you’re interested in sports. I find that it helps me gauge my goals and expectations better, rather than haphazardly setting a fitness goal based on the people around me (who happen to be men full of testosterone). It has also helped me keep an eye out for my knee health when I run because women are prone to ACL tears, something I had no idea about because I didn’t really play many sports as a kid. Additionally, the author was a scientist before becoming a writer so he had a better grasp on understanding the scientific literature. I’m excited to read his second book, Range.
I read both the audiobook version and the paperback version. I cannot for the life of me understand why the reader chose to put on the most awful accents when he quotes people in the book. The accents are BAD and make it harder ti understand.
I read both the audiobook version and the paperback version. I cannot for the life of me understand why the reader chose to put on the most awful accents when he quotes people in the book. The accents are BAD and make it harder ti understand.
choirqueer's review against another edition
4.0
Since I generally have absolutely no interest in sports, I would not ordinarily have chosen to read this book. But I made some ignorant comments about the subject matter when a friend was discussing the book a few months ago, and since I am allergic to being the kind of person who makes ignorant comments about a book I haven't even read, I had to go out and find the book so that I could actually know what I was talking about. It was clear that this topic was important to my friend, and I wanted to better understand it.
I can honestly say that I am really glad I read this book. I learned a lot of very interesting things. It is written well enough that even someone like me, who knows nearly nothing about any sport at all, could understand it. It presents the facts in a clear and interesting way, demonstrating both the science and the narratives behind each piece of information. It also seemed to me that the author did a really good job of navigating the potentially thorny issues inherent in making comparisons between different ethnic/racial groups, though I would be interested to hear others' perspectives on this.
I can honestly say that I am really glad I read this book. I learned a lot of very interesting things. It is written well enough that even someone like me, who knows nearly nothing about any sport at all, could understand it. It presents the facts in a clear and interesting way, demonstrating both the science and the narratives behind each piece of information. It also seemed to me that the author did a really good job of navigating the potentially thorny issues inherent in making comparisons between different ethnic/racial groups, though I would be interested to hear others' perspectives on this.
kejadlen's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 - A fantastic read for anyone who's into sports, genetics, and/or performance.