Lessons from the Edge: Extreme Athletes Show You How to Take on High Risk and Succeed

"Lessons From The Edge" is a marvelous compendium on Extreme Sports, written by an expert who has obviously spent her life challenging herself physically, intellectually and emotionally. Karinch has tackled a subject that encompasses a wide variety of human endeavors -- some as old as mountain-climbing, others as new as urban luge -- and made it informative and comprehensible to both the initiated and novice. It is a subject that is increasingly familiar to the public via widening media coverage and even in fanciful depictions in advertising: e.g., the sky-surfing man catching a can of refreshment as he hurtles earthward. Hair-raising accounts of the dangers, deprivations and ultimately, the exhilarations, of (among others) mass sky-dives and cross-terrain treks illustrate the motivations and rewards that drive these adventurous competitors. Some are household names like Picabo Street while others compete in (often happy) obscurity. Their very real stories and observations give flesh to the "bones" of the book; i.e., information on each salient aspect of the sports, from training and nutrition for endurance (and survival) to preparing for competition with the right gear and the right attitudes. "Lessons From The Edge" also explores how the cutting edge of technology has fostered the development of new extreme sports and made both old and new ones more exciting, less dangerous and available to a larger number of participants and spectators. All the while, David Brooks's photography catches the athletes at their breathtaking best. Finally, Karinch also demonstrates how even the non-extreme athlete can incorporate some of the valuable lessons learned on the edges of competition into his own game and into the game we all play -- the game of life.

Maryann Karinch has compiled some great stories about atheletes and their individual accomplishments. She focuses on ways in which they enhance performance through mental imaging, use of the mind-body connection and exercizes that improve performance and stamina.One great thing about the book is that these "lessons from the edge" can be carried over into our everyday lives leading to renewed self confidence, heightened curiosity and a sense of adventure in both work and play. I highly recommend this book to those of us who want to get the most out of the activities which give us joy and purpose.