Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance

by Bernie Williams, Dave Gluck, Bob Thompson

Bernie Williams' ability to play major league baseball at a high level was directly influenced by his musical training and his deep understanding of the similarities between musical artistry and athletic performance. Through a series of conversations, narratives, and sidebars, the authors (Bernie Williams, Dave Gluck, and Bob Thompson) discover and reveal the influence of music and its rhythms on the game of baseball. Readers of Rhythms of the Game will gain an insight into the similarities between musical artistry and athletic performance. The book is written for musicians and athletes looking to improve their level of performance on the stage or on the field, as well as for a general audience interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying influence of music on the game of baseball.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Music

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Bernie Williams was signed to the New York Yankees when he was 17-years-old as a free agent. He is a 5-time All-Star, a 4-time World Series Champion and Gold Glover, and the 1996 ALCS MVP. He is also a critically acclaimed musician. His first two recordings are The Journey Within (2003) and Moving Forward (2009). In 2011, Hal Leonard Books published his book Rhythms of the Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance co-authored with Bob Thompson and Dave Gluck. "

Reviews

[SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Usually books like this take a long time for me to get through, and yes it did take me a month, but I had to read a few other books while I was reading this one. I find that reading books like this usually mean more self-contemplation needs to happen between the lines, but I feel like the authors did a great job of jumpstarting the self-contemplation, and in a lighthearted way.

I am not a baseball fanatic but I am familiar with a few of the greats, and it was fun to learn more about how being a good musician correlates with being a great ballplayer.

One quote I really liked was, “failure is actually a prerequisite for improvement and success, the mark of every true champion.”

[Marianne P · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much more in this book than just baseball and music. Certainly history and many wonderful stories! Practical lessons in mindfulness and positive psychology. The extensive bibliography will keep me reading for months to come. I intend to re-read this as there is so much detail and so much advice that is relevant to everyday life.

[Motez Bishara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is fantastic. Bernie is one of the few people on earth who can boast a successful career in sports and follow it up with a career in music. Why not write a book explaining the link between the two?

Like I said, the premise of the book is fantastic, the execution, however, isn't quite as smooth as a Williams line drive from the left side of the plate. On that note, why is the book adamant about linking just baseball to music, when so many other sports seem more melodic in their rhythms? Soccer, for one, has a palpable samba feel when Brazil play, and nothing says hip-hop more than a game of street hoops.

Williams teams up with two writers and scholars accomplished in the world of music, who also happen to be rabid sports fans. In between their musings, plenty of leading personalities add full or half-page analysis on the various topics at hand. The problem is, no matter who's doing the writing, it's a pretty dry read.

In addition, the points that are made too often come off as platitudes. For example, both athletes and musicians need to master the arts of discipline, concentration, working hard during breaks in the year, finding an 'on/off switch', developing intuition, and turning failure into positive learning experiences.

The book was an enjoyable read in parts, but ultimately, i'm happier listening to Bernie play guitar, or watching him swing for the Yanks.