Publisher's Weekly Review
Noted sports performance psychologist Baum, with coauthor Andelman (The Profiler), shares his process for achieving success in this helpful and ambitious book. The key to Baum's system is developing the mental edge needed to overcome obstacles and take advantage of opportunities. To achieve this edge, he offers a precise system that generates a lasting drive based on individual values, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques including changes in posture, self-talk, and visualization. While Baum justifiably extols the power of a madeup mind, the greatest strength of his program is helping readers to determine what they really want via desire and reward statements, a personal action plan that acknowledges strengths and limitations, and a belief system. He also provides tactics to help rewire your thoughts and showcases ways to reinforce a positive attitude. These steps culminate in achieving a maximum performance state, where the success mindset kicks in automatically. Baum's logical program is highly recommended for those willing to commit to get what they want out of their careers and their lives. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel & Goderich. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
These two business books, both by sports enthusiasts, focus on the cognitive aspects of business and life success. Sport and business performance psychologist Baum (The Mental Edge) with Andelman (coauthor, The Profiler) discusses how to reach peak performance by using "mental edge techniques," among them positive thinking, goal setting, meditation, and visualization, in which readers see themselves succeeding in difficult situations. Baum stresses the need for self-motivation and time management, and provides exercises that guide readers to discover what they truly want to achieve and to focus on the positive in every situation (e.g., a loss is still a learning experience). Golf enthusiast Myers (3 Off the Tee: Targeting Success) uses golf analogies to urge readers to stay focused, make decisions, and take their best shots. Her book is patterned around golfing the front nine, and the achievement of each goal is represented by sinking the ball (e.g., "1st hole-enable awareness," "4th hole-revisit your mental-stability boot camp," etc.). Within this framework, she encourages readers to up their likability factor, combine passion and creativity, and leave a legacy. VERDICT Both books have something to offer, but Mind Over Business is more sophisticated and expands on the usual goal-achievement literature. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
