The Battle

Reviews

The years of O'Connell and O'Driscoll were as close to a golden age as ever Ireland will get and O'Connell's book tells you how it all happened ... It should be mandatory for every Irish squad member to read O'Connell's book to better understand what it takes to make a team The intense physicality of his rugby upbringing is an abiding theme ... along with humour, the craic and an extensive knowledge of how teams work I found The Battle entrancing Excellent ... [an] eye-opening account of the never-ending battles he fought Fascinating ... the recollections of life with the British and Irish touring team leap out as highlights A fascinating insight into what has driven him and how his approach to the game changed over time. The inner tensions of possibly the most intense competitor of his generation are laid bare in The Battle. Revelatory ... Unflinchingly charts his personal evolution ... He is not at all easy on himself It is pure O'Connell ... Players and coaches from all sports will have the pencil out, finding nuggets Absorbing and compelling ... The O'Connell who dominates this book is the one who becomes fixated on the mentality of champions O'Connell has emptied the tank here. ... What has come out ... is a psychological profile that is almost shocking at times in what it reveals about the bloody single-mindedness of the competitive gene A fantastic book He is a standard-bearer for the country and someone whose principles, moral compass, ideals and heroic virtue make us wish our children would aspire to be someone like him An exceptional book ... tremendously honest Engaging, honest and insightful. Terrific Honest, fair and devoid of self-pity ... reflects on his life without a shred of hypocrisy or recrimination A stunning achievement p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Calibri; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} Provides many revealing insights into the mind of a born winner Brilliant, bruising Expand reviews