Beneath the Armor of an Athlete

Beneath the Armor of an Athlete was a very enjoyable, quick read. Please don't be misled by the word "quick," though; some readers associate that with fluffiness of content. This book's content is anything but. In fact, it occurred to me that this book might be useful in school curricula in the areas of sociology, psychology, and even writing adaptation. Its significant social issues and the author's cinematic style of storytelling make it a good candidate for many academic outlets. A friendly word of warning: some of the lessons divulged and issues raised might make you angry. They did me! I threw the book across the room a few times. Isn't it funny how easy it is to see what we would change in others, and how difficult it is to change things in ourselves, even when we want to? And that's part of the beauty of this book: the themes running throughout it are universal and timeless. For example, the fear of "not being good enough" and how that fear can become a pattern of behavior causing us to forget who we really are and how we want to be takes on a character all its own in this book. The search for peace and for what makes each of us truly happy is a path each person must experience for her-/himself. The author seems well on her way to discovering her own peace through this effort. I enjoyed Beneath the Armor of an Athlete and plan to read it again in a few years just to see how timeless it really is. ---Anonymous

Hi, I am Marc Anderson and I have enjoyed the development of women's amateur wrestling for years now. I have recently read the book BENEATH THE ARMOR OF AN ATHLETE Real Strength on the Wrestling Mat by Lisa Whitsett. Lisa is an accomplished amateur wrestler and has made her mark on the sport. Her book details her life in the sport she loves and it shows that she fears no one except herself and the possibility of failure. It shows how she battles her inner demons to become the best wrestler she can be and is an honest and frank appraisal of her efforts. I highly recommend this book to any young person who is interested in becoming a wrestler, especially females. It is my hope that Ms. Whitsett will write a second book about her life in the sport that will bring the reader up to date on her current efforts to advance women's amateur wrestling.

All too often we hope to catch a glimpse of something worth our attention, and this is definitely one of those times.This original and revealing book certainly packs an astounding punch, especially in the descriptive style for which the author takes.In allowing us into HER mind (and the unique world of many amateur wrestlers), Lisa Whitsett transforms herself into an "educator extrodinaire", by ultimately giving us a first hand lesson on what it's like to face ourselves, and the inner demons that forever attempt to cripple us from within.Tremendous introspective to the very "soul" of a grappler!-J. Reggie RobertsHigh School wrestling coach (20 years)

Lisa's personal battle with the emotional strain and anxiety of athletic competition is clearly depicted in this excellent book. Every athlete will be able to relate to the pre-competition stress, and fear of failure. The book is well written and easily read. Highly recommended for any athlete who has experienced the brain strain associated with competition.

A very revealing look at the world of competitive wrestling and the toll extracted from its participants. A compelling story that makes you want to keep reading to find out how it all plays out. A must read for parents of children in competitive sports or any activity where the joy of the activity has the potential to get lost in the pursuit.