The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

I had heard a lot about this book described in an almost mythical tense as a classic generalist strategy lesson hiding inside of a book on tennis. In my view it certainly deserves a share of its strong reputation; Gallwey brilliantly outlines the concepts of the “inner game” and “outer game,” how those two mindsets influence one’s effectiveness in important activities, and how one’s ability or inability to focus in the moment can be perhaps our most elusive yet important pursuit.

Some of the book was a bit cheesy and some if it was (as a former not so great competitive tennis player myself) seemingly not generalizable advice. Yet this still brings a perspective I haven’t been able to find yet in the academic physiology or strategy world, and for that reason, it’s a worthwhile read.