The Fighter's Mind

December 14, 2009
Sheridan (A Fighter’s Heart
) examines what contributes toward a successful mental approach in professional fighting, interviewing people such as mixed martial arts icon Randy Couture, legendary college wrestling coach Dan Gable, and tai chi master Josh Waitzkin. The author gains some interesting insights from his investigation. Losing, it turns out, is a crucial component behind a fighter’s success. Confidence is fine, but ego is “an evil thing,” with humility being a great equalizer. Those interested in pugilistic psychology may find some value in Sheridan’s reporting; for others, too often the sources’ lessons sound similar, and the book frequently drifts into a lengthy, somnolent discourse on fighting styles. Sheridan also can’t stay out of his own way; his first-person prose is clunky and long-winded. His misguided attempt to merge elements of memoir and sports journalism derails the book, keeping it from succeeding in either genre.