A history of the interplay of sports and politics around the world

Playing Tough is an entertaining and thoroughly enlightening look at the unique and surprisingly outsized role that sports have played in politics and history. Ever since the bread and circuses of Rome, sports have been used as a tool to entertain the masses and to instill civic pride. Abrams shows both the positive and the negative ways in which sports and politics have coalesced, from the rabid nationalism of the 1936 Nazi Olympics, the political grudge match of the Louis and Schmeling fights, and the "futbol war" between Honduras and Costa Rica to the inspiring stories of South Africa's rugby nation-building and Muhammad Ali's brave antiwar stance, which nearly cost him his career. Abrams is an informed and impassioned writer who chronicles the profoundly creative and destructive influence that sports have on the political life of our nation and the world. This book will be of interest to any and all sports and politics enthusiasts and is a wonderful introduction for course creation and adoption.

Hockey is a game of speed, agility, power, and skill. It’s also a game of intimidation, urgency, pressure, and isolation. The best players aren’t just physically gifted; they’re also mentally tough. They step on the ice with poise, tenacity, and focus. With Hockey Tough, so can you. Hockey Tough builds on the physical skills by strengthening the mental factors that apply directly to the game. You’ll learn how to control your emotions and maintain composure, stay focused in clutch situations, play aggressively—not carelessly—and improve the team’s performance game in and game out. Throughout, performance consultant Saul Miller presents the training techniques he has taught hockey players and teams for more than 40 years at every level from college to European leagues, from Olympics to NHL. With insights, anecdotes, and advice from elite players, such as Sidney Crosby, Daniel Sedin, Brendan Gallagher, Ryan Getzlaf, and Mark Messler, Hockey Tough is essential to becoming a complete player on and off the ice.

There is only one sport, outside of actual combat disciplines, where two participants can square off in old fashioned, bare-knuckle pugilism without facing swift ejection. Hockey has long held a place for two willing combatants, and it has been said that "no one goes for popcorn during a fight." Fans know what to expect on the ice from players with nicknames like Knuckles, The Grim Reaper, The Bruise Brothers, or The Hammer. Yet off the ice, the men who step into these brutish roles are often the kindest, gentlest and most popular players on a team--not to mention some of the best storytellers to ever lace up skates.Tough Guys honors the experiences of these NHL enforcers throughout history. Author and longtime broadcaster Dale Arnold profiles fighters across eras, sharing their journeys, struggles, and moments of glory.

No one trusts a quitter... More than anything Boots Raymond wants to be a quarterback for the Apollos. But because of his size, the coach assigns him to a tackle position-and there's no arguing with the coach. Boots rebels and almost quits the team. It seems that nothing can change his mind, but his brother Tom intercepts and teaches Boots something valuable he learned from playing football and being a soldier.

This entertaining way to learn economics “will delight and inform anyone who enjoys rigorous thinking and the unexpected conclusions it delivers” (Jamie Whyte, author of Crimes Against Logic). Can you outsmart an economist? Steven Landsburg, acclaimed author of The Armchair Economist and professor of economics, dares you to try. In this whip-smart, entertaining, and entirely unconventional economics primer, he brings together over one hundred puzzles and brain teasers that illustrate the subject’s key concepts and pitfalls. From warm-up exercises to get your brain working, to logic and probability problems, to puzzles covering more complex topics like inferences, strategy, and irrationality, Can You Outsmart an Economist? will show you how to do just that by expanding the way you think about decision making and problem solving. Let the games begin! “Ingenious…enables you to think like an economist without incurring a Keynesian headache or a huge student loan.” —George Gilder, author of Life After Google “Entertaining as well as edifying. Read it, expand your mind, and have fun!” —N. Gregory Mankiw, Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics, Harvard University

In this best seller tennis book, Carlos Goffi, a world-renowned tennis coach and former coach of John and Patrick McEnroe, offers a unique and proven program for winning. Tournament Tough was originally published worldwide in 1984 and recently updated/republished also as a Kindle EBook. Intended as much for parents as for young players, and ALL COMPETITIVE PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF AGE, Tournament Tough aims to help each tennis player realize his or her full competitive potential."There are tennis coaching books that stand the test of time. Bill Tilden's Match Play and the Art of Spin, Timothy Galway's Inner Game of Tennis, Brad Gilbert's Winning Ugly, and so does Carlos Goffi's Tournament Tough: A Guide to Playing Championship Tennis." www.Elitetennis.org

This study and its companion, "Joan Robinson and Economic Theory" looks at Joan Robinson, her impact upon modern economics, her challenges and critiques, and the advances made in the science and art of economics. It studies her ideas, themes and concerns from many different perspectives.

ESPN basketball analyst and former Duke player Jay Bilas looks at the true meaning of toughness in this New York Times bestselling book that features stories from basketball legends. If anyone knows tough, it’s Jay Bilas. A four-year starter at Duke, he learned a strong work ethic under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. After playing professionally overseas, he returned to Duke, where he served as Krzyzewski’s assistant coach for three seasons, helping to guide the Blue Devils to two national championships. He has since become one of basketball’s most recognizable faces through his insightful analysis on ESPN’s SportsCenter and College GameDay. Through his ups and downs on and off the court, Bilas learned the true meaning of toughness from coaches, teammates, and colleagues. Now, in Toughness, he examines this misunderstood—yet vital—attribute and how it contributes to winning in sports and in life. Featuring never-before-heard stories and personal philosophies on toughness from top players and coaches, including Coach K, Bob Knight, Grant Hill, Mia Hamm, Jon Gruden, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Curtis Strange, and many others—Bilas redefines what it takes to succeed.

Many books have been written of what it was like growing up in east London during the forties, fifties and sixties but the authenticity of this latest east London book is at its best, it tells of what it was like being born into a large family of four brothers, a sister, two half brothers and five half sisters sleeping five to a bed, regular trips to the Pawn Shop on rent day, living on stews, bread pudding and coconut cake, its a roller coast ride of family life, of love, hate, jealousy and tears. Credits to Vestry house museum London borough of Waltham forest for allowing photographs to be in the book.