Elite athletes play out their lives in the most public of arenas. Everything they do is analysed in real time and then picked apart in the pub and in the press afterwards. 'Why did they miss that penalty?', 'What made them fall at the first jump?', 'That press conference was a bit weird.' We can all speculate, but what's really going on? Gary Bloom is a sports psychotherapist. He works with footballers, cricketers, rugby players, jockeys, Olympians and many other athletes besides. They might seem like superheroes on the pitch, but in the dressing room they're just like anybody else, subject to the same emotional pressures that affect us all. In Keeping Your Head in the Game we peer into this highly confidential world. We follow the journeys of ten athletes in their therapy sessions with Gary, from a rugby player arrested for a drunken brawl, through a homesick cricketer on tour, to a snooker player struggling with his feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Structured around the emotions we all experience on a daily basis - shame, anger, fear, jealousy and envy, love -chapter by chapter, the inner traumas that have an impact on the performance of these sports personalities are revealed, explained and resolved.Seeing how they overcome their demons is a powerful way of tackling your own and, as Gary says, happier players play better - in sport and in life.
Steven L. Bloom Book order (chronological)
Steve Bloom is a screenwriter known for his exploration of psychological tension and moral dilemmas within his characters. His work often delves into the complexities of human relationships and the darker facets of human nature. Bloom's distinctive style is characterized by sharp dialogue and unexpected plot twists that keep readers thoroughly engaged. His narratives provoke reflection on ethics and the consequences of individual choices.
The Perfect Date
- 264 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Per fare un favore a un conoscente, Brooks si offre di accompagnarne al ballo scolastico la cugina, mollata in asso dal suo cavaliere alla vigilia della serata. Come ricompensa riceve una mancia di trecento dollari dalla famiglia di lei. La voce si diffonde velocemente tra le ricchissime famiglie della zona e presto Brooks diventa il "finto-fidanzato" che tutte si contendono, il ragazzo ideale con cui partecipare - senza rischiare brutte sorprese - ad eventi sociali di ogni genere. Per Brooks è un'occasione imperdibile di uscire con ragazze bellissime e ricchissime - tra le quali, perché no?, anche quella dei suoi sogni -, e soprattutto di mettere da parte i soldi necessari per potersi iscrivere a un'università prestigiosa. Tutto bene, se non fosse che a furia di vestire i panni del ragazzo perfetto di turno, inizia a perdere di vista chi è davvero e cosa è davvero importante...