Some interesting looking stuff.

twice to fully understand it...but the reasoning and applicable lessons are well worth it.

I am, admittedly, an overzealous sports dad. I have one boy who has a goal of playing D1 basketball. The other has recently decided he wants to be a D1 soccer player. We have discussions on what that means and the level of sacrifice that goes into reaching that goal. I let them know that as long as they have those goals, I'm going to push them to do the things necessary to achieve them and I'm also going to do all of the homework necessary so I can teach them every aspect of what they'll need to be successful.

The Inner Game of Tennis argues performance is limited more by mental interference than by physical technique. Too many people think that guys like Kobe and Steph were/are great because they were naturals. There is no such thing. Their greatness stems from A) Relentless work and time in the gym and B) an understanding of the mental side of the game, concentration, judgment, self doubt, conscious instruction and how it can impair you, and overall how to control and master the mental component of one's performance.

It sounds a bit over the top and perhaps boring to some, I'm sure....it is. But the boys and I are on a mission so were all doing what it takes. Even if their goals change, the lessons we talk about from this book and other similar ones are well worth it and apply in many other walks of life.

Understand about Murder in LE. I’m only reading it because I have been told that I’ll recognize some names from some stories that people have told me over the past few years.

the book is what i guess one might call historical fiction, in that its reconstructed from a lot of source material and intended to be a close to accurate as possible... but theres a narrative and dialogue exchanges. (supposedly the dialogue is constructed from diaries and journals and accountings... but who really knows)

anyway, its set around the time of the revolutionary war, and tells the story of the expansion into ohio and kentucky through the lens of this simon kenton. kenton was born in the east to a farmer, but he had a restless and adventurous nature and wasn't suited for that lifestyle. he got in a fight over a girl and knocked a guy out. fearing he'd killed the man, he left everything behind and took off into the woods. thats kind of where the adventure begins, as he has to find a way to live in the frontier.

its appealing to me probably because ive spent a lot of time in ohio and kentucky and know the land. but its a great was to get insight into the lives and experiences of early settlers and pioneers who navigated new terrain and maintained tense relations with the indian tribes that suddenly shared it with them. make no mistake, there are some vicious scenes described. (particularly on the part of the indians, who would torture captives).. but theres also balance, as the latter part of book also weaves in the story of tecumseh, the shawnee chief. so you get a good look from that perspective as well.

its very long, and is more historic than fiction, but if you like wilderness and adventure and American history, its satisfying.