Golf's Three Noble Truths: The Fine Art of Playing Awake

by James L. Ragonnet, Thomas Moore (Afterword)

In this enlightening and practical book of brief essays, author James Ragonnet focuses on total growth. According to Ragonnet, few golfers ever manage to lower their scores, improve their skills, achieve their full potential, or ultimately attain peace of mind, despite expending enormous amounts of energy, time, and money. Sadly, most golfers experience only a short buzz of initial growth followed by a protracted and frustrating period of stagnation. Simply stated, golfers (unlike cyclists, weight lifters, or most other athletes) tend to stagnate. An experienced teacher and learning specialist, Ragonnet addresses this thorny problem. To truly grow, Ragonnet insists, golfers must learn the fine art of "playing awake." By nourishing their powers of awareness, golfers become able to observe accurately, interpret correctly, and remediate effectively exactly what's happening around them. At the book's core are three Buddhism-related awareness , balance , and unity . The book consists of such entertaining chapters as "Spinning Your Wheels," "Dead People Don't Play Golf," "No Mind, Right Mind," "The Four Kinds of Horses," "Deep Longing," "Be Thou a Happy Golfer?" Each chapter, focusing on growth, guides readers to become not only the best golfer but also the best person possible. As the book's growing golfing and non-golfing audience attests, this is not your average golf book. This book says something first, something different, and something better.

196 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2007

Reviews

[Steven Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected it to be. Instead, it turned out to be much more in a different way. The lessons in this book will help me enjoy the game and not worry so much about score. If your looking for a read that will help you enjoy the game without the pressure of getting better, this is it.

[Rob Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to be a better golfer, and a better person, read this book.