Sports Archives

Moneyball: The Differences Between the Book & Movie

Have you seen the 2011 film Moneyball? How does the film differ from the book it’s based on? In 2003, Michael Lewis released Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, which is the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics and their general manager, Billy Beane. An Academy Award-nominated film adaptation of the book was released in 2011, starring Brad Pitt as Beane and Jonah Hill as his assistant general manager. Let’s look at the differences between Moneyball by Lewis and the film adaptation of the same name.

Moneyball: Post-Reading Discussion Questions

Have you read Moneyball by Michael Lewis? Are you looking for discussion questions to further your understanding of the book? Baseball’s old guard—a consortium of coaches, scouts, general managers, owners, former players, and sports journalists—have rigid conceptions of what a good player is and how teams are supposed to win games. But the success of the 2002 Oakland A’s proves that much of it is hopelessly wrong. Here are some Moneyball discussion questions to consider.

How Physics Teaches Us the Importance of Understanding Others

Why is eyewitness testimony so unreliable? Is it possible to use leverage to get what you want—without taking unfair advantage of others? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish draw on models from science to help you figure out yourself and the world around you. They show how the theory of relativity can help you understand somebody you disagree with, and they explain how you can use leverage to get what you want in life. Keep reading to learn the importance of understanding others in a way that benefits everyone.

Sports Writing Tips: Avoid Doing These 2 Things

Are you a sportswriter or want to be one? Are you looking for sports writing tips? Sports writing is a form of nonfiction that reports on topics involving sports, such as athletes, games, and competitions. Zinsser notes two problems sportswriters face: making the story about them and flaunting their knowledge. Here’s why you should avoid both.

The Art of Learning: Book Overview

What is Josh Waitzkin’s book The Art of Learning about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin argues that a passionate commitment to learning leads to both competitive success and a fulfilling life. He explains what he learned in becoming the U.S. Junior Chess Champion as well as World Champion in Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands, arguing that excellence comes from unwavering focus, tenacious training, and creative self-actualization. Here is a brief overview of The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin.

How to Avoid Exercise Burnout

Do you work out until exhaustion? How do you avoid exercise burnout? According to Joshua Waitzkin, the key to avoiding training burnout is to build a rhythm of exertion and relaxation. Not only does alternating between effort and rest help prevent overexertion and injury, but it also increases performance. Here’s how balancing exertion and rest can help prevent exercise burnout.

How to Beat the Competition: 3 Lessons From War

What war strategies can be applied to business? When you’re ready to secure victory, what can you learn from war? Robert Greene asserts that life—including business—is a war between you and the forces or entities that seek to control you, hold you back, or destroy you. To be successful, you need to win the war, and to win the war you need winning strategies. Greene discusses three war strategies you can use to beat out the competition for good: targeting the source of your enemy’s power; targeting a vulnerable spot; and breaking down a problem, eliminating one piece at a

What Is the Athlete Mindset? Tai Chi Champion Explains

What makes a “next-level” athlete? How does mindset affect athletic performance? Elite athletes didn’t become successful thanks to their physical prowess alone. The greatest Olympic athletes also put work into honing their mindset. According to tai chi champion Josh Waitzkin, one of the keys to developing the athlete mindset is to learn how to handle mistakes while winning. If you dwell on the mistake, you’ll lose your cool and your subsequent performance will suffer. Here’s how to develop an athlete mindset, according to Waitzkin.

How to Develop a Skill: The Science of Skill Mastery

How do you develop a skill in the most effective and efficient way possible? Is there a method to make mastering skills easier? According to Josh Waitzkin, the author of The Art of Learning, the fastest and most effective way to master a skill is to build individual elements of the skill into memory “chunks.” Memory chunks are combinations of multiple elements, like how to shuffle, deal, and count cards—and networks of chunks. Here’s how to develop a skill and make it stick, according to Waitzkin.

Why Is It Important to Know Your Competitors?

Why is it important to know your competitors? What can you learn about yourself? Robert Greene, the author of The 33 Strategies of War, says that clearly identifying your competitors is not just a prerequisite for developing a plan to overcome them. Seeing the contrast between you and your competitors helps to unify and motivate your forces. It also can reveal a clearer path to victory. Read more to learn why it’s important to know your competitors.