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Psych
StrongFirst is proud to present the definitive text on achieving excellence in any sport through the power of your mind.
If you desire to align your chakra with your Zodiac sign or wish to figure out why it is your parents' fault, you have picked up a wrong book.
PSYCH is 100% psychobabble free. It is the step-by-step manual to athletic superiority for men and women who take charge. The author became a world champion and record holder in a sport for which he had zero genetic predisposition--using the meticulously researched and professionally applied strategies he reveals on the pages of PSYCH.
PSYCH and be awesome.
--Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman, StrongFirst
From the Introduction to PSYCH by Dr. Judd Biasiotto
"When I first started powerlifting, I was at best a joke. In my first seven meets I finished dead last. I wasn't just beaten either, at times, I was absolutely destroyed. It wasn't uncommon for me to find myself two or three hundred pounds behind the leaders going into the deadlift. After the deadlift, well, the leaders weren't even in sight. I hate to admit this, but some guys could have beaten me without even benching. Their squat and deadlift totaled more than I totaled on all three lifts. Heck, at that time, even women and children could beat me. There was even a joke going around that the U.S.P.F. [powerlifting federation] was going to revoke my lifting card because I was impersonating a powerlifter. At least I think it was a joke. My little sister Mary Jean would say, 'Judd, you have to quit competing you are embarrassing the family.' She was serious.
Obviously, I've come a long way in the sport. During my career, I had literally gone full circle-from one of the worst lifters to ever step on a lifting platform, to one of the best. And I did all that with a body that is not genetically constructed for powerlifting. In fact, it's been said that I have the body of an 11-year-old stamp collector and that my legs are so skinny they look like a pair of pliers in shorts.
How did I do it? Well it wasn't the way I stacked or staggered some anabolic drug. In fact, I've never taken any drugs. The way I achieved world class status was through my mind. I learned to play the game of powerlifting above my shoulders. Through scientific means, I learned to take control of my environment, the people in it, and best yet; I've learned to take control of myself. The secret to my success and strength lies in these abilities.
The best part of all this is that you can achieve these abilities just as I have. That's what this book is all about. It's designed as a learning manual and was written with the intent of presenting a systematic approach to prepare you for powerlifting competition.
The methods in this book are based on scientifically validated research. They will work whether you believe in them or not. The only thing that is required is understanding and practice. If you apply the concepts outlined for you in this book, I flat guarantee you that your competition results will increase significantly. I'm not just blowing smoke here either; I'm speaking straight from the stone tablets."
About the author
Dr. Judd Biasiotto has worked as a sports psychologist with numerous amateur and professional athletes and sports teams, including the Kansas City Royals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cincinnati Reds.
Built, by his own admission, "as an eleven year old stamp collector", Biasiotto took on the sport of powerlifting. For a long time he finished dead last in every meet he entered.
If you desire to align your chakra with your Zodiac sign or wish to figure out why it is your parents' fault, you have picked up a wrong book.
PSYCH is 100% psychobabble free. It is the step-by-step manual to athletic superiority for men and women who take charge. The author became a world champion and record holder in a sport for which he had zero genetic predisposition--using the meticulously researched and professionally applied strategies he reveals on the pages of PSYCH.
PSYCH and be awesome.
--Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman, StrongFirst
From the Introduction to PSYCH by Dr. Judd Biasiotto
"When I first started powerlifting, I was at best a joke. In my first seven meets I finished dead last. I wasn't just beaten either, at times, I was absolutely destroyed. It wasn't uncommon for me to find myself two or three hundred pounds behind the leaders going into the deadlift. After the deadlift, well, the leaders weren't even in sight. I hate to admit this, but some guys could have beaten me without even benching. Their squat and deadlift totaled more than I totaled on all three lifts. Heck, at that time, even women and children could beat me. There was even a joke going around that the U.S.P.F. [powerlifting federation] was going to revoke my lifting card because I was impersonating a powerlifter. At least I think it was a joke. My little sister Mary Jean would say, 'Judd, you have to quit competing you are embarrassing the family.' She was serious.
Obviously, I've come a long way in the sport. During my career, I had literally gone full circle-from one of the worst lifters to ever step on a lifting platform, to one of the best. And I did all that with a body that is not genetically constructed for powerlifting. In fact, it's been said that I have the body of an 11-year-old stamp collector and that my legs are so skinny they look like a pair of pliers in shorts.
How did I do it? Well it wasn't the way I stacked or staggered some anabolic drug. In fact, I've never taken any drugs. The way I achieved world class status was through my mind. I learned to play the game of powerlifting above my shoulders. Through scientific means, I learned to take control of my environment, the people in it, and best yet; I've learned to take control of myself. The secret to my success and strength lies in these abilities.
The best part of all this is that you can achieve these abilities just as I have. That's what this book is all about. It's designed as a learning manual and was written with the intent of presenting a systematic approach to prepare you for powerlifting competition.
The methods in this book are based on scientifically validated research. They will work whether you believe in them or not. The only thing that is required is understanding and practice. If you apply the concepts outlined for you in this book, I flat guarantee you that your competition results will increase significantly. I'm not just blowing smoke here either; I'm speaking straight from the stone tablets."
About the author
Dr. Judd Biasiotto has worked as a sports psychologist with numerous amateur and professional athletes and sports teams, including the Kansas City Royals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cincinnati Reds.
Built, by his own admission, "as an eleven year old stamp collector", Biasiotto took on the sport of powerlifting. For a long time he finished dead last in every meet he entered.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2012
116 people are currently reading
1211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 10, 2018
The book started out decent, as he explains and uses research that it really is "nurture" instead of "nature." He uses the example of African Americans being great at basketball, which is true, but only because that they have more than likely played it all of their lives. And, since everyone thinks African Americans are just naturally good at basketball, it leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy. But once that was out of the way, I think the book went downhill, at least for me. He explains some psychological / physiological terms, but constantly reiterates that "anything is possible as long as you have control of your mind." I'd say this book is a great introduction into ways this is possible, but nothing more. Use this book as an intro into a few concepts about mind and body control, then find another book on a specific process you think you'd like to try. For me, that's meditation. This book has a lot of overlap with MBCT, which I find helped my lifting more than anything. I'd recommend Mindfulness by Mark Williams if you're curious about MBCT or meditation.
My biggest takeaway from the book is that the mind is very powerful, and once you're able to control it instead of letting it control you, you can accomplish great things.
My biggest takeaway from the book is that the mind is very powerful, and once you're able to control it instead of letting it control you, you can accomplish great things.
November 11, 2022
Dr. Judd Biasiotto is an author that goes on my list of ‘people to google when I want to feel inadequate about myself as a human being’. This guy broke 14 world records as a powerlifter, worked with several MLB teams as a lead sports psychologist, and managed to find the time to crank out a few books, his most popular being ‘Psych’, the one I am taking a look at today.
A sort of self-help, memoir hybrid, ‘Psych’ gives a behind-the-scenes look into the psychology of athletics. Dr. Biasiotto’s voice and experience certainly shine through in his coverage of everything from cognitive strategies for coping with anxiety to how music and color affect our performance.
Overall, I thought it was a great read. If you are an athlete, interested in psychology, or a self-help book connoisseur looking for a read that isn’t bullshit, check Psych out.
If you’re looking for more like it, try checking out Secrets of Strength by Earle Liderman or any of Pavel Tsatsouline’s works, which is where I actually got the recommendation for this book.
A sort of self-help, memoir hybrid, ‘Psych’ gives a behind-the-scenes look into the psychology of athletics. Dr. Biasiotto’s voice and experience certainly shine through in his coverage of everything from cognitive strategies for coping with anxiety to how music and color affect our performance.
Overall, I thought it was a great read. If you are an athlete, interested in psychology, or a self-help book connoisseur looking for a read that isn’t bullshit, check Psych out.
If you’re looking for more like it, try checking out Secrets of Strength by Earle Liderman or any of Pavel Tsatsouline’s works, which is where I actually got the recommendation for this book.
February 10, 2017
Great read if in doubt of personal physical capability. Running theme of the book is 'what the mind conceives, the body believes'.
A must read for serious athletes, coaches, trainers.
Some amazing step by step guides on several meditation techniques also.
A must read for serious athletes, coaches, trainers.
Some amazing step by step guides on several meditation techniques also.
February 16, 2022
A decent survey of different mental modes & methods for athletics, albeit out of date. Doesn't give enough time to any of the subjects. I wish he would talk more about the more questionable methods and the strength of placebo with those, but maybe he just assumes it is a given. If one is at all familiar with mental training methods, this isn't going to give much new insight, but it is an important reminder that you have to put the methods into action for them to work.
Broad overview of methods discussed
1. Visualization
2. Meditation (especially when dealing with anxiety)
3. Positive self-talk
4. Hypnosis
5. Biofeedback
6. Exposure Therapy
7. Logotherapy
8. Flotation Tanks
9. Qigong
10. Biorhythms
12. Environmental Manipulation
Broad overview of methods discussed
1. Visualization
2. Meditation (especially when dealing with anxiety)
3. Positive self-talk
4. Hypnosis
5. Biofeedback
6. Exposure Therapy
7. Logotherapy
8. Flotation Tanks
9. Qigong
10. Biorhythms
12. Environmental Manipulation
December 17, 2018
A Dated Waste of Time
I bought this book on a whim (was on my Amazon reading list, but I cannot remember who or where it was recommended). A complete waste of time exploring psychological hypotheses with no real recipe given on what does work. The author tries too hard to be funny and colloquial in his writing - it only comes across as if the book should not be taken seriously.
I bought this book on a whim (was on my Amazon reading list, but I cannot remember who or where it was recommended). A complete waste of time exploring psychological hypotheses with no real recipe given on what does work. The author tries too hard to be funny and colloquial in his writing - it only comes across as if the book should not be taken seriously.
December 23, 2020
Most ppl get this book wrong, it’s not about science of reality, it’s about the psychology of giving everything that is possible in you, despite being up against reality and the worst odds. It’s old school a classic but as such not dated even though the science of it is.
March 14, 2018
Good book... but not written in a way instructional books should be. Highly entertaining though.
January 31, 2022
Complete bullshit. Don't waste your time.
March 31, 2023
Very good to reassert certain concepts if you are already familiar with self-suggestion, hypnosis, psychic driving, etc. and how they can be used effectively.
October 24, 2025
very informative - overlaps but proceeds Decks Mindset but less rigorous wrt to controlled studies. definitely recommend!
July 27, 2022
A must-read for athletes, especially other powerlifters. This book is a dissemination of the mental side of athletics (with a heavy lean on powerlifters/ Olympic lifters but can be applied to anyone). Has great walk-throughs of mediation and other practices that the author uses. The only real critique is that for a book written in 2012 some of the references and frames of mind are somewhat outdated.
June 29, 2019
A journey of a regular guy to become a world champion in power lifting. According to him when he decided to start powerlifting even his sister laughed not speaking about many other people.
He mostly focuses of psychological aspect of the journey and his view is that mental fitness is the most important contribution to success of an athlete.
He talks about Qigong as useful technique. Mentions factors such noice and lightning. Significant attention is given to establishing long, medium and short term goals and focusing on short term goals every day.
Rather technical book which is not for casual read. Content is definitely worth reading.
He mostly focuses of psychological aspect of the journey and his view is that mental fitness is the most important contribution to success of an athlete.
He talks about Qigong as useful technique. Mentions factors such noice and lightning. Significant attention is given to establishing long, medium and short term goals and focusing on short term goals every day.
Rather technical book which is not for casual read. Content is definitely worth reading.
July 16, 2015
This books is so full of different techniques that is can become overwhelming to read cover-to-cover. You could probably spend a lifetime trying to develop all the tools that Judd offers (as he has). I suggest reading until you find a particular technique you want to acquire and begin practicing immediately. Spending time on a single technique will give you an appreciation for the amount of time and practice that goes into learning and incorporating the technique into your daily routines.
September 27, 2015
I took my time reading this, a chapter here and a chapter there - in between other books.
It is like an old freind now, and I find myself re-reading a few chapters which is not something I do often.
Stellar content on focus!
It is like an old freind now, and I find myself re-reading a few chapters which is not something I do often.
Stellar content on focus!
April 13, 2015
Awesome, awesome book. loved it. How to train the mind to perform like an all star.
November 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews