Mind Over Water: Lessons on Life from the Art of Rowing

by Craig Lambert

In this wise and thrilling book, Criag Lambert turns rowing--personal discipline, modern Olympic sport, grand collegiate tradition--into a metaphor for a vigorous and satisfying life.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Business, Self Help, Personal Development

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Craig Lambert, Ph.D. is the author of Shadow Work: The Unpaid, Unseen Jobs That Fill Your Day (Counterpoint Press, 2015). He was a staff writer and editor at Harvard Magazine for more than two decades. Lambert’s work has appeared in publications ranging from Sports Illustrated to Town & Country to The New England Journal of Medicine. He is also the author of Mind Over Water: Lessons on Life from the Art of Rowing (Houghton Mifflin, 1998). He graduated from Harvard College and received his doctorate, also from Harvard, in sociology.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may get round writing something on this. In the meantime here's a nice quote:

"Every act of communication involves a signal to noise ratio. The key factor is ratio: it is a matter of foreground-background. Many of us try to strengthen our communications by increasing the signal. But as media multiply and levels of signal rise higher and higher, modern society has become an unrelieved shouting match. To get attention and have one’s message clearly received, the essential is not more signal, but less noise. Communication means creating a quiet channel in which the desired signal will appear and so produce a high ratio of signal to noise. We do not need more input, but less distraction. Suppress noise."

[Books Ring Mah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really really liked this book. I have lots of things underlined, that maybe, someday, when insomnia rears its wicked head, I'll add here.

Lots of passionate stuff about rowing: the physical demands on your body, the team unity, the amazing sound of the oars skimming over water...

BLISS.

Did you know that some coaches think stroke seat should be red haired with a strong jaw, indicating a fiery temperament, and strong will? That a good stroke is aggressive and fiercely competitive? Hmmm. Maybe I'm sitting in the wrong seat.

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

What intrigued me: Sometimes I judge books by their cover and it works out pretty well.

What I liked: This book had an interesting structure. A linear story about a specific race day interspersed with memories and musings about rowing. There are a lot of great quotes in this book about motivation, achieving your goals, and mental toughness.

I also appreciated that he shared specific rowing exercises that I am going to try on my rowing machine!

What I didn't like: There are a lot of $10 words in this book. At first, I thought it was me, but then he used the term pas de trois in a baseball analogy and I realized it was Lambert being pretentious.

Favorite quote: "The fatal trap is entertaining our doubts, for then we get stuck inside our own minds, insulated from the steady stream of feedback that reality is continually offering."

A full review will be on my blog soon.

[memo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book because I've recently picked up rowing and I love the feeling I get while I'm sculling as well as the sense of accomplishment it gives me when I've had a good session on the water. I didn't really know what to expect, so I was pleasantly impressed by the first quarter of the book. I really loved how Lambert manages to flow from rowing anecdote to life lesson to actual rowing technique tip. The reason why I'm not giving more than 3 stars is that the pace of the book becomes a bit stale around the middle - picking up again slightly towards the end. It's almost like the pace of a rowing race, ironically, but he doesn't finish quite as strong as he started.
Still, I think Lambert really nails what it feels like to be on a single scull - that immense peace that being in harmony with yourself and the boat and the water - and for that, I'm giving 3 stars.

[Lisa Keuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sports metaphors can tend towards the cliche'. And many of the rowing/life comparisons have been made before. But I did glean a few new insights into enduring pain, finding balance, and learning from mistakes.

[Kavita Nagavekar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not find this book as interesting as I had expected. I thought it will have learnings from Water's stillness and how it should reflect on our lives etc...but this is really about Rowing. Unfortunately, I did not come across more of life lessons as the book claims.

[Don Buswell-Charkow · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book on rowing and life’s lessons

This book made me want to take up rowing again. I had rowed as a teenager but then had no real opportunity thereafter. Now retired; I am inspired to build a rowing scull and get back on the water

[Joe Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book always wonder how I would have fared in that sport. My dad wanted me to get into it just didn't like the other sports . Local Rowing club burned down a few years before I was in high school was back up and running and the school I went to restored it as a sport but I was graduated out .

[Jessica Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wondering book!

[RYAN MIRANDA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book about Rowing. There were a few slow spots but had pieces of wisdom.

[Ash Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do feel like there was a lot of good advice in this book, however it really could have been organized a bit better. There were times where Lambert was kind of just rambling.

[Grace Sandhofer-Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can tell Craig Lambert knows his rowing-- as a newcomer to rowing, I found this book comforting, and it has some beautiful, and quotable, prose. I did find myself a little lost at times, as the timeline goes from the present to an introspective view, making it difficult to follow sometimes.

[Sadie Nistler! · Rating 4 out of 5]

more memoir than psychology

[Bas Kreuger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning! Only rowers need to read on, the rest can quit as I think they wont be able to fathom the true value of this book.
Lambert uses rowing as a metaphor for spiritual growth and succeeds in it. Sometimes a bit longwinded about it, but almost always spot on in his descriptions of what rowing is, not just in a physical sense, but more in a way of life and a philosophy.
Rowing is a unique and sometimes for outsiders a strange sport in which great physical exertions must be made (training 9 - 10 times a week) for seemingly little reward.
The sensation of flying over the water under your own (and your teams) power, being literally shackeled to your boat and mentally and moraly unable to stop rowing (you never quit) and the things the sport bring to its participants, is captured brilliantly by Craig Lambert

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about rowing, as much as any book is about its setting. The real value of the book is in the learning and growth that take place within the author: he learns about accepting his limitations—and improving them. He learns about becoming a better individual—and thus a better teammate.

There are some references to god and such that I find misguided, but all things considered, I really enjoyed the book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief but well written book on rowing. Lambert touches on the technical and philosophical aspects of the sport, both from the perspective of an inexperienced Harvard freshman fulfilling a PE requirement and as a fortysomething athlete trying to meet the distinct challenges of the Boston's Head of the Charles Regatta. A thoughtful little book - enjoy.

[Stuart Ridgway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and researched book with a very heart felt and honest outlook. He describes the rowing and it's environment beautifully with the interjection of life lessons subtle and thought provoking. Thumbs up from me.

[Bumby Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a Harvard Man. Actually, it is very well written. It would have never crossed my mind that Catching Crabs, could be a metaphor for life long lessons, as well as, team building. A great read.

[Rose O'Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the author is clearly a strong to do what he did, it is very uplifting to read about a regular kind of guy who stretches beyond his limits. His details about rowing were also very satisfying.

[Alison Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is true to its title. The author shares anecdotes from his rowing (mostly on the Charles River) and draws lessons about life from his experiences. He's a good writer and a great and curious thinker. I learned more about rowing from his explanations and also appreciated his "lessons."

[Olivia Howe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought his analogies to rowing didn’t make a lot of sense, especially he mentioned tennis a lot. Before reading this I was expecting for him to give more technical insights into rowing, but he had a few good insights

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i miss rowing.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rowing is wonderful...this book is crap.

[Phil Hulse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowing & life.... it's all the same discipline....

[Jill S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a zen of rowing!!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

My dad saw this at a house sale and thought I might like it. Much description of being a middle-aged sculler among the super-competitive on the Charles River.

[Jen Hsieh]

Should read. Was a coxswain in HS.

[Andrew Flack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be a must-read for all 9 in any varsity boat. Anyone could understand and appreciate this book, but I think someone in rowing might get the most out of it.

[Torrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dad recommended this to me...

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A meditative book about rowing, loaned to me by a friend as I began learning to balance (and row) in a scull. Not a book for everyone, but a great motivator for new rowers.