The world’s greatest athletes are too busy or too exhausted to flip pages in a book, right? Not at all. It’s not uncommon to see the Shaklee Pure Performance Team athletes wrapped up in a good book while traveling, between events, or even as part of their focused training regimen. Check out some of our team’s favorite titles that may interest you this summer. After all, with the 2020 Games in Tokyo postponed until next summer, we’ll all have a little more time for good reading!
Allison Baver, Speed Skating (2006, 2010 bronze medal, 2014)
- Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, by Peter A. Levine
This book helped me to psychologically, spiritually, and physically overcome injuries, including breaking my right leg and then coming back to win a bronze medal in the 2010 Winter Games!
Amy Cozad Magaňa, Diving (2016, 2020 hopeful)
- Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell provides multiple examples of people who become successful by spending thousands of hours perfecting a craft. I recommend this book because it is a reminder that accomplishing lofty goals is very difficult and time-consuming.
Bradie Tennell, Figure Skating (2018 bronze medal)
- Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass is a young adult fantasy series about an assassin, a long-lost princess, and a ruthless king. I recommend Maas’s series because it has so many twists, turns, and surprises and the main character is brilliant and amazing. It is my absolute favorite series!
Caryn Davies, Rowing (2004 silver medal, 2008 gold medal, 2012 gold medal)
- The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, read by Jeremy Irons on Audible
The Alchemist is an inspiring novel about a boy following his personal legend from Andalusia to the pyramids of Egypt and back. I especially recommend the Audible version read by Jeremy Irons because you can feel his voice pulling you into the story just as you must feel the soul of the world pulling you toward your own personal legend.
Jamie Corkish, Shooting (2008, 2012 gold medal)
- The Infinite Game, by Simon Sinek
Simon uses many examples to explain business as an infinite game versus a finite game and the benefits of businesses taking on the infinite game mentality. I recommend this book even if you are not a businessperson to help understand business and how you can apply this concept to other aspects of life.
Lily Zhang, Table Tennis (2012, 2016, 2020)
- Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng
Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in the 1990s, this book tells the story of two very different families that become inextricably linked and how they navigate their increasingly complex relationship. I highly recommend Little Fires Everywhere because Ng provides extremely multifaceted and captivating backgrounds for each character and tackles important themes such as identity, motherhood, class, race, and much more.
Megan Bozek, Hockey (2014 silver medal)
- Then She was Gone, by Lisa Jewell
A girl goes missing and a secretary’s mom tries to unravel the madness. It keeps you reading!
Matt Emmons, Shooting (2004 gold medal, 2008 silver medal, 2012 bronze medal, 2016)
- The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss
This book contains information from quite a few different business books and gives good advice on how to be effective, fulfill financial goals, and also have time to enjoy what you’ve earned.
Tracy Barnes, Biathlon (2006)
- Freedom Flight: The Origins of Mental Power, by Lanny Bassham
A short but life-changing book that helps give a little perspective on how to deal with stressful situations in life and focus on the things that we can control.
Valerie Arioto, Softball (2020)
- Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics, Business, and Life, by Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch, PhD
Thinking Body, Dancing Mind shares exercises and experiences about taking care of yourself and doing the inner work to achieve high performance and happiness. I am passionate about being intentional about doing the inner work and self-care to live a more productive and purposeful life of joy!
Whether for inspiration, instruction, enrichment, or just pure escape, reading and high achievement go together quite nicely, as proven by the Shaklee athletes!
