The Inner Game of Tennis

The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

By: W. Timothy Gallwey

Narrated by: Dan Woren

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

An accessible, invaluable guide to mastering your “inner game” to ensure success on and off the court—part of the bestselling Inner Game series, with more than one million copies sold!

“Groundbreaking . . . [The Inner Game of Tennis is] the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes (“Five of my All-Time Favorite Books”)

Master your game from the inside out!

This phenomenally successful guide has become a touchstone for hundreds of thousands of people. Not just for tennis players, or even just for athletes in general, this handbook works for anybody who wants to improve their performance in any activity, from playing music to getting ahead at work. W. Timothy Gallwey, a leading innovator in sports psychology, reveals how to:

• Focus your mind to overcome nervousness, self-doubt, and distractions
• Find the state of “relaxed concentration” that allows you to play at your best
• Build skills by smart practice, then put it all together in match play

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Gallwey’s engaging voice, clear examples, and illuminating anecdotes will give you the tools you need to succeed.

©1997 W. Timothy Gallwey (P)2007 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Groundbreaking . . . The Inner Game of Tennis is just as relevant today as it was in 1974. . . . It’s the best book on tennis that I have ever read, and its profound advice applies to many other parts of life.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes (“Five of my All-Time Favorite Books”)

made me god tier in melee

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this and "The Art of Learning" are very good books that teach you the optimal way to practice and be consistent with any skill.

Which character – as performed by Dan Woren – was your favorite?

Narrator was a bit boring but the content was well worth it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, there is a lot of information in this book that needs absorbed and breaks are key to this process. Listening in one sitting will have you miss a lot of the information, this is definitely a book that should be re-read as well.

Any additional comments?

PPMD and Tafokints recommended the book for Smash Bros, definitely worked out. Tennis is just used for examples in this book, you should be paying attention to the underlying process of improvement he goes over in the book.

Also if you liked this book, definitely check out "The Art of Learning", which is a just as good book and one that many prefer, I however have just started listening to it so I don't have an opinion of it yet.

Solid book

optimal for people looking to improve at a physical activity but definitely recommended for everyone

What a great book!

I don't play tennis and I'm not interested in it. However the topics apply to life in general - highly recommended. One of the best books I've read this year

Timeless knowledge

Every human should be exposed to contents of this book. The newfound awareness is empowering.

the inner game, As Told through tennis

this book came highly recommended from my high school jazz instructor, and Young musical prodigy Jacob Collier. it's hardly about tennis in essence, but rather how to approach Mastery over one's mind. a crucial read for anyone who has to perform at their Peak, whether it's in tennis, improvisational music, or otherwise.

This book changed my game…and my life!

I’m a basketball player, not a tennis player. This book was the best book on basketball mental performance that I’ve ever read.

I’ve long had an issue with performance anxiety, leading to massive differences between how I play in practice and pickup games and how I play in games that matter.

This book changed all of that.

Moreover, it changed how I approach every activity I undertake during my waking hours. It’s that powerful and that relevant, if you’re willing to put its wisdom into action.

This is currently my go-to book anytime I don’t know what to read next or want to take a break from anything else I’m looking at. It’s a great daily habit to keep everything top of mind, and then so I can forget it and just play.

10/10 would recommend. Now, on to my 2nd re-read.

Classic

This book is good again--for the third time! I get more out of it each time I read it.

E

Well Done!

Excellent book with actionable paths for improvement. One of the most under appreciate area of performance.

For anyone who wants to perform

What made the experience of listening to The Inner Game of Tennis the most enjoyable?

I was surprised at how spiritual it sounds to me. It's there, right underneath the surface. The ending anecdote about being stranded in a snow storm, actually brought tears to my eyes, it was really moving...

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Inner Game of Tennis?

Apart from the above mentioned passage, the description of his teaching style vs the traditional one. So eye opening, gentle, and powerful.

Have you listened to any of Dan Woren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but for a while, I thought it was the author reading it, he commanded the material so well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of self I and self II are so recognizable that it feels like meeting an old friend...yourself, that is.

Any additional comments?

This is the original inner game and I have heard people say that it's the most powerful one. the principles described here are universal to all sports and all activities where performance and pressure play a part, such as for example music. I'm a musician and I'm not going to get the Inner Game of Music. This is the root and the original!

Fantastic!

I have seen immediate results by using the techniques described in the this book. I highly recommend it.